Power

12 Jan

Blog

Tineco Floor One S5 Review: Dual Vacuum Mop With Power Scrub

January 12, 2022
Posted by Samson

Tineco-Floor-ONE-S5 wash floor

Tineco Floor One S5

RRP $ 500.00

"Tineco Floor One S5 is a dual-purpose vacuum and mop that can remove any dirt, wet or dry."

benefits

Versatile: Dual vacuuming and moping means that no pre-vacuuming is required
All debris and liquids picked up when testing
Cleans itself after use
Pretty calm
Ideal for households with pets, children

disadvantage

iLoop sensor appears to be intermittent
Internal dirt filter is small and can get clogged quickly
Only runs for 35 minutes

We're at an interesting point for home automation. All of the futuristic robots that we have been promised for decades are finally coming to fruition, and nowhere is that more true than in robot suction technology. But sometimes you need more than one autonomous robot to fulfill your commandments. Sometimes you need to grab the tools and get done. Enter: The Tineco Floor One S5.

What is different about the Tineco Floor One S5?

Tineco-Floor-ONE-S5 in action when picking up grain on the floor.

The Tineco Floor One S5 is a completely wireless multi-purpose stand. It's a wet and dry vacuum and mop with some unique features that set it apart from other embroidery models. Underneath, Tineco S5 has a soft microfiber roller that draws in dirt and spills and scrubs them away.

This vacuum cleaner and mop does it all: it sucks up dust, dirt and wet dirt and at the same time scrubs the floor surface with its rotating roller.

The S5 comes with a free-standing charging and docking station. Fortunately, there is no app or smartphone connection – it is only switched on and cleaned.

The S5 has a telescopic handle that is quite easy to adjust and the head unit swivels to get into tight spaces.

Use of Tineco Floor One S5

The S5 needs its fresh water tank, which is filled with fresh water. The tank seems a little small, but the fact is that this device doesn't use a lot of water and it doesn't seem to need it.

The Tineco S5 cleans with just water or water plus a cleaning solution and you only need about half an ounce to improve your cleaning. When it's on, the power pulls the machine forward with its scrub rollers to clean more deeply. During my tests, a single pass scrubbed dirt, including things like muddy dog paw prints.

The rotating brushes under the Tineco S5 are able to supply dried mess with rotating roundhouse kicks.

I tried the Tineco Floor One S5 in various real situations at home. I've just used it as a vacuum, and when I check a vacuum I test it on fine particles like flour, splashes like rice or oats, and larger chunks like crackers.

The vacuum breathed everything in, but it left some kind of sticky mess in the recovery tank and the internal scoop-shaped filter charges quickly. Even so, it did a really good job of keeping the mess out of the water.

Tineco Floor ONE S5 filter full.

When it came to the wiping functions, I was able to try it out on muddy paw prints, damp dirt, and even spilled liquids.

Here the Tineco S5 was really a winner; Unlike some robot mopping robots that simply wipe your floor with a damp cloth, the rotating brushes under the Tineco S5 can give rotating roundhouse kicks on dried dirt and inhale spilled milk, wine and coffee.

I tested the S5 on tile and hardwood and it did a good job on both, not leaving the floors too damp or streaky.

In the end, it was pretty impressive how well this wet and dry vacuum and mop worked.

This vacuum cleaner and mop is self cleaning

When you're done cleaning, it's time to pour out the dirty water tank – a surprising barometer of how dirty the floors are, and heavily polluted water has gone straight down the drain! A built-in sieve in the dirty water tank enables quick and easy hair removal.

When the vacuum cleaner has been emptied and the dirty water container has been rinsed, place the Floor One S5 back in its docking station. The device can automatically detect dirt and debris, so a voice may prompt you to start a cleaning cycle by pressing the self-cleaning button. Two minutes later, the entire interior should be fresh again.

This vacuum cleaner and mop also has impressive self-cleaning capabilities.

Tineco Floor One has sensors

The vacuum cleaner uses a so-called iLoop Smart Sensor, which detects where dirt deposits are on the floor. If the LED light on the screen is red, he's seeing more dirt, so you should still do a few more passes. If it's blue, it's not that bad. The Tineco S5 also automatically adjusts the water and detergent flow, giving you more solution to remove major spills. In my tests, I've found this to work intermittently. Once I took out the S5 to treat a dried-on red wine stain, but the lights didn't change at all. Even so, it does a good job of running from the ground.

I got a few lights sometimes in follow-up tests, but it seemed to depend on things like the color of the flooring and the light or shadow that speckled the floor. The bottom line of this feature is that, in my opinion, you don't really have to worry about it as you can see for yourself if there is dirt or spills on the floor and the Floor One S5 will clean itself really well on its own. But it's a nice gimmick, I suppose.

The 2.1-inch LCD screen of the Tineco Floor One S5 shows cleaning information and all warnings as well as the remaining battery level, as well as when your water tanks are empty or need to be refilled – useful information that you have at a glance.

Battery life

Floor One S5 should run for around 35 minutes on a single charge. Since it lives on its charging base, it was always ready for me to use so I can't really tell how long it will take to fully charge.

Our opinion

Overall, I am very happy with the performance of this floor cleaner. It removes dried-on dirt from my tile and wooden floors. I love the versatility of wet-dry performance here as it eliminates the need to worry about vacuuming and then mopping.

Disadvantage? It's not quite as manoeuvrable as some of the other stick vacuums and mops I've tried, and the internal dirt filter is small, making it difficult to get rid of larger, lumpy spills. Even so, it works very well and we like to use it as it cleans the floors in our twin pet home well and thoroughly.

Is there a better alternative?

There are several wet and dry vacuums and mops on the market. Roborock just released their Dyad, which is a similar concept, and Dreames H11 Max is out there too, as are some models from Bissell. For the most part, the features, price, and availability seem to be on par, so be sure to keep an eye out for a sale at this point or find your key features and a comparison shop. There are a lot of great opportunities in this area right now.

How long it will take?

The Tineco Floor One S5 feels pretty sturdy and comes with an additional roll. I expect it will be a permanent addition to my home for the foreseeable future.

Should you buy it?

I can definitely recommend the Tineco Floor One S5 for your hard floors. It's a surprisingly powerful and versatile floor cleaner that makes the job easier.

Editor's recommendations

15 Dec

Blog

The Benefits of Hill Running — More Speed, Better Mechanics, and Power

December 15, 2021
Posted by Samson

I grew up in the late 70s and 80s, have been an athlete my whole life and have loved soccer since I can remember. So one of my favorite mainstream media training stories as a kid was the hill legendary running back Walter Payton used to condition himself in the off-season. Search all over the internet and you can find stories about Payton's alien conditioning, how he brought athletes from all sports to exercise, and how they all ultimately knocked out from exhaustion. He's one of the most prolific runners in the NFL, arguably one of the greatest of all time, and the hill was his secret.

I've been training for almost twenty years now and I'm obsessed with mountain running. I owe that to Payton, and since speed is the ultimate goal in all of my programs, hills (or stairs for those of you who don't have a suitable hill nearby) are an absolute must in any speed or conditioning program. I've spent the majority of my career between Cal Poly and San Jose State, and both places have significant hill / stadium slopes that are perfect for pounding my athletes.

Why hill

Power and strength are crucial when it comes to speed, especially during the acceleration phase. Forty yard jumps, tall running backs shooting through a seam, a batter racing down the first baseline to hit a throw, or a forward exploding to the hole, the sudden surge of speed is the most important factor. It is the first three to five steps that determine the success of the effort.

Check out the NFL combo. When you see the athletes running into their 40s, it's the start that makes the best time. Conversely, if you see a man stumble out of the gate or take a sloppy step, rest assured that the time will be less than impressive.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgUP_u604NA (/ embed)

Mountain running teaches the drive phase of a sprint like nothing else can. Because of the incline, the runner has to use the forefoot to climb. One of the most important speed training cues we use is that the forefoot is responsible for speed and the heel is responsible for braking. Even tall guys who, due to their size and tendency to heel contact, come up first when running on level ground, are forced into a “suitable” sprint position. Think of the lean angle that world class sprinters use on the first 50-70 meters of a 100 meter run – this is the position we want to teach and the hill does it for us automatically.

The most obvious benefit is the burden that mountain running puts on its feet. I've always thought that parachuting, tape running, and partner hauling were silly considering all of these devices or routines are aimed at the benefits of time on the hills. In addition to squats, Olympic weightlifting and / or kettlebell training, nothing will improve leg strength and explosiveness like sprinting up a hill.

Use mounds for side applications

Since the vast majority of the teams I train for speed don't really have the ability to run straight in their sports where they would benefit from on-track training (think top speed), we devote almost all of our time to Change of direction training. Many children have little or no understanding of how to turn. They have no understanding of where their body is in space, they insist on using their toes to slow down, and most of the time they have little control over their swing when running.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ymA2RlXnKg (/ embed)

Due to the incline of the hill you have chosen, the runner must of course bring his drive foot into a "toe-in" position when climbing sideways. If they don't, their efficiency will drop and they will almost instinctively feel the need to adjust. When you are on level ground, one of the most important lessons I teach is a subtle toe-in on the outside leg of a turn. This does two things. First, it allows the runner to fully access the big toe while riding. Second, it is directionally in sync with the goal they are trying to achieve. Believe it or not, this is something many of these kids don't own when they first show up. And what you get when you don't have this technique is a slow, feeble attempt to redirect yourself.

Next, gravity is a tyrant. The natural slope of the hill requires a very strong push. One that is required on level ground when the athlete is trying to accelerate. If I can get a kid to drag their bum up the hill, either sideways or straight, then they have context and I can get that kind of understanding on level ground.

The benefits of backward hill sprints

Running backwards on the mountain is the perfect way to pound your athletes. The hill I use is behind our sports complex in Cal Poly and is about 35 meters long with an incline of about 14 percent. Steep. We have integrated running backwards into the final phase of our mountain training. Part of that is because I want my kids to be very uncomfortable, part of functional speed for my defensive backs and linebackers, and the other part is that they develop some level of resilience.

When I was in college we had to walk around the outside of the Begley Building at EKU. In all fairness, it was a deliberate way of making us miserable. The slope changes outside were constant and there was a close relationship with misery because we were told to do this for 15 minutes or more without a break. It was a total jolt, but it taught us a lesson – learn how to penetrate pain. Nothing careless, just a burning sensation on your legs that would almost choke you on your own vomit.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Bv5g-JRFA (/ embed)

The foot drive that walking backwards when going uphill is basically nowhere else to be duplicated. It teaches the kids how to push off the forefoot with whatever they have. Remember that acceleration is in the front of the foot and braking in the heel. The runner trains the right pressure, the right place and the economical use of the feet.

Hills teach running efficiency

Again, due to the incline, the runner is brought into a position in which he has no choice but to give everything. Due to the distance, they have to go up a hill, casual jumping or sessified hopping only makes the ascent 10 times longer. Because they want it to be over as soon as possible, you get a natural full effort.

Hopping has proven to be the hardest part for my children. Other things might hurt more, but jumping makes them work as hard as possible, coordinate their movements as efficiently as possible, and their anaerobic energy system burns them up completely. It is a pleasure to watch.

Selected image: KieferPix / Shutterstock

10 Nov

Blog

Urbanista Los Angeles Review: Free Power On Sunny Days

November 10, 2021
Posted by Samson

Man wears Urbanista Los Angeles.

Urbanista Los Angeles

RRP $ 199.00

"As long as you spend a lot of time in the sun, the solar-powered headphones from Urbanista Los Angeles will free you from charging."

advantages

Solar charging really works
Secure fit
Real-time power meter in the app
Huge 80 hour battery

disadvantage

Only works under optimal conditions
No EQ settings

Urbanistas $ 199 Los Angeles – the very first set of solar powered wireless headphones – are here. And yes, they actually charge up when exposed to natural and electric light. But what is it like to use them and how much light do they need? We tried them to see them.

Power meter

Urbanista makes several models of wireless headphones and true wireless earbuds, but the company never felt the need to develop a companion app for iOS or Android. Due to its ease of use, no app was required. But if you decide to sell the world's first solar powered headphones, you really need a way to show people how this whole solar thing works. So Urbanista made their first mobile app, and it's, ahem, brilliant.

Once you've connected the Los Angeles to your phone via bluetooth, the app allows you to switch to a screen that has a huge power meter on it. On the left side of the display, the amount of energy that the headphones sip from the ambient light is shown in yellow. On the right, the amount of electricity that the cans consume is shown in red.

In an ideal world there would be a constant balance between yellow (your profit) and red (your consumption), so if you started your day on a full battery, you'd end the day just like that. In theory, you could then repeat this balancing act every day and never have to plug the Los Angeles into a charger.

Mad Dogs and English

Urbanista Los Angeles. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Oh, and as you may have guessed, this is easier said than done. Noel Coward famously wrote that only crazy dogs and English people go out in the midday sun, and if you follow that behavior too, you will not only keep the battery from draining, but you will end up harvesting more energy than you use. But unless this describes a typical day for you, the more likely you will break even or end up in a performance deficit. That's because the Los Angeles solar panel – completely hidden in a perfectly normal-looking headband – needs a lot of direct light.

As I type this in my home office, I am sitting about three feet directly under a light fixture powered by a single 100 watt equivalent LED lamp. And while the frosted glass of the lampshade scatters the light laterally, the underside of the shade is actually a clear lens that tends to concentrate the amount of light that is aimed directly at my head. Nevertheless, the Urbanista app shows that the Los Angeles can hardly draw 0.1 mA of current, while the power consumption of the headphones is 2.3 mA. In other words, I use 23 times more energy than I absorb.

Urbanista Los Angeles is held under a light. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It could be worse. Right now I'm not using Los Angeles Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or Ambient Sound Modes and I'm not listening to any music. If I were to activate these functions, the current would jump up to 7.5 mA or up to 10 mA depending on the selected volume etc. At this speed, the headphones' impressive 80-hour battery capacity would last for exactly 80 hours and no more.

To significantly increase the power drawn, I had to hold the headphones directly under the light and even then the power meter indicated I was barely running on a break-even basis.

None of this is a criticism of Los Angeles' solar technology or their Powerfoyle solar technology – I don't know of any solar module that could deliver significantly more power with the same area. But it is a reminder that Urbanista's promise of “virtually infinite game time” should be seen as worthwhile rather than fully achievable. It's worth noting, however, that on a bright October day in Toronto I got a 45 minute walk with ANC and tunes at 50% volume, and when I returned (after trying a little bit to stay on the sunny side of the street) I still had as much battery life as when I left.

Sunny sounds

Urbanista Los Angeles seen alongside Urbanista Miami. Urbanista Los Angeles (left) and Urbanista Miami. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Urbanista based the Los Angeles on its Miami wireless headphones, and the two models share more than looks. Her sound signature is very close, with very good clarity about the frequencies and with a slightly forward approach that works well on beat-heavy tracks.

I think it's very good that Urbanista has found a way to keep this balance across the entire volume range. There is no distortion as you approach the top of the dial. As long as you are in a quiet place, even the lower volumes will provide good overall sound quality.

Of course, if you don't like the Los Angeles vote, there's not much you can do. Although Urbanista created the app for these cans, it didn't add any EQ adjustments.

But one big change from Miami to Los Angeles is Urbanista's decision to remove the 3.5mm analog input jack from the right ear cup. Perhaps more room was needed for the Los Angeles' larger battery, or perhaps it was a cost-saving measure. Regardless of the reason, it's an odd choice for a socket set that is meant to free you from worrying about a power outage. Should the 80-hour battery ever run out, the lack of an analog input means no more melodies until you find some sun or a socket.

Stands still

Man wears Urbanista Los Angeles. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

One of my favorite aspects of Los Angeles is how safe they stay in place. I have a pretty small head and I find that some headphones just don't clamp tight enough to keep them from slipping. But the Los Angeles are impressively stable and haven't moved the entire time I've been wearing them. I don't recommend exercising with full-size headphones, but if that's your thing, the Los Angeles will be happy to keep you company.

The only thing missing in the comfort department is more space for the ears. The ear cushions are deceiving: They enclose a large part of the ear cups and make them look plush and deep. But they're really incredibly flat, with only a few millimeters for your ears. Over time, I found that this created bruises.

The controls are easily accessible, with buttons on the side of each earcup so your thumbs can quickly find them. However, the play / pause, volume up / down, and skip track controls on the right earcup are very small, very close together, and quite difficult to distinguish. I have no idea how you would use them with gloves on.

Ordinary ANC

Urbanista Los Angeles. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The best noise-canceling headphones can pretty much eliminate external noise, but don't expect this level of performance from the Los Angeles. Instead, think of it as noise reduction. When activated, ANC takes away the annoying background noise such as traffic or the constant roar of a fan or aircraft engine. But it's just a respite from the very lowest frequencies – the higher pitches will still come through.

Transparency mode (or ambient noise, as Urbanista calls it) is similarly effective – it definitely brings in the outside world, but it doesn't quite destroy the feeling that you're still wearing headphones.

My biggest criticism here is that the Urbanista app lets you decide whether you want to use the ANC button to turn ANC on and off, turn ambient noise on and off, or let ANC on> environment on> cycle off. But you can't set it to just jump back and forth between ANC on and Ambient on, which are arguably the two most important settings.

Good for calls

Urbanista Los Angeles.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Urbanista Los Angeles.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Urbanista Los Angeles.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Urbanista Los Angeles.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As with most full-size headphones, the call quality is pretty good. It's not great, but it is perfectly adequate for speaking, even in moderately noisy environments. Sometimes the ambient noise cancellation circuitry can lower the volume of your voice when it tries to silence the other noises, but this will only be an issue if you insist on answering calls at busy intersections.

Who are they for?

The Los Angeles are essentially a good set of wireless headphones that happen to have a solar panel built into the headband. If you spend most of your listening time outdoors, in sunny or even partly cloudy conditions, you will enjoy the promised benefits of unlimited performance. But for most of us, this benefit is fleeting at best: we might not have to plug in the headphones that often (especially given the impressive 80-hour battery), but we still have to plug them in. Is this? Worth the $ 50 premium Urbanista charges over the similar $ 149 in Miami? Sun seekers would probably say yes.

Editor's recommendations

29 Oct

Blog

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD: Extra Power and Efficiency

October 29, 2021
Posted by Samson

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD

RRP $ 37,350.00

"The Tucson Hybrid sets the bar for efficiency and performance paired with technology."

advantages

Unique look
Luxurious cabin
Seriously efficient
Impressive technology
Charges

disadvantage

Intrusive touch controls
Wireless smartphone compatibility only with standard screen

Hyundai designers have made a name for themselves as some of the best in the business over the past few years. Fancy designs will only get you so far, however.

It's good that the completely redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is so much more than just a pretty face. There is a lot of substance underneath. So much so that the Tucson Hybrid sets the high water mark in its class. In the pursuit of improved fuel economy, the Tucson Hybrid also comes with a healthy performance boost over the regular Tucson.

The compact hybrid scene is still relatively new. There are few competitors, and all of them match or improve the Tucson Hybrid's fuel economy. There is the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Honda CR-V Hybrid. Not exactly a crowded market, but there are some heavyweights. Seeing the Tucson Hybrid hold up against just such an established group speaks volumes for how far the model has come compared to the previous generation.

The base 2022 Tucson Hybrid starts at $ 30,235 with the required target fee of $ 1,185. Our test car with exceptionally soft carpeting was the top Tucson Hybrid Limited, which is priced at $ 38,730.

Interior and exterior design

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD Front

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD taillights

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD rear end

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

With so many SUVs on the streets these days, designers are struggling to find ways to distinguish their models from others. Others may obviously have problems, but Hyundai designers are thriving, producing hits at an impressive rate. When we say the Tucson Hybrid looks different than anything else on the market, we mean it. Identical twins, the Tucson and Santa Cruz even look like weird ducklings in the Hyundai family.

Usually something that looks this good requires some kind of compromise on the inside.

It starts with the weird grille, which has a jewel-like finish and is part of what Hyundai calls a "Parametric Dynamics" design. The daytime running lights of the SUV are integrated directly into the radiator grille and provide a fascinating view at night. The rest of the package is just as impressive, with enough wedges and chiseled lines to cosplay as a 190s sports car.

Usually something that looks this good requires some kind of compromise on the inside. Fortunately, there are no compromises to be found. In contrast to the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which eats its way into the cargo space, the hybrid fits the regular Tucson. There is 38.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 74.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. Rear passengers get 41.3 inches of rear legroom, more space than any direct competitor for the Tucson Hybrid.

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the driver's seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the driver's seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the passenger seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Views of the interior and rear seats of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The Tucson Hybrid's interior design may not generate the same shock and awe as the exterior, but it feels especially upscale for a compact hybrid at this price point. Our limited test equipment included leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate and ventilated front seats. The natural rounding of the air nozzles and the course of the center console appear modern and yet remain functional. Materials also feel classy as others in the segment tend to use hard plastics that look and feel unsightly. A couple of glossy black panels are a fingerprint magnet, but that's the biggest problem we could find.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited infotainment system. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Typically, automakers tend to reserve their best features for higher trim levels. That's not exactly the case with the Tucson Hybrid. The standard 8-inch touchscreen offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, satellite radio, two USB ports on the front and back, and Bluetooth. The Limited equipment we tested included a 10.25-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument, wireless device charging, navigation, and a Bose audio system. Oddly enough, the larger touchscreen loses compatibility with wireless smartphones for old-fashioned wired connectivity. That's an annoying decision given all of the other high-end features that the larger touchscreen is paired with.

While the 10.25-inch touchscreen is one of the reasons for upgrading to a higher level of equipment, the 10.25-inch digital instrument feels like it could be more useful.

The larger touchscreen offers crisp graphics and simple menus, but you lose rotary knobs and traditional buttons for functions like adjusting the volume and adjusting the radio. All buttons on the center console of the SUV are touch-sensitive and picky. The volume buttons have to be pressed several times, for example, in order to sensibly increase or decrease the system volume of the audio system. The smooth look of the center console is appealing, but we prefer a classic switchgear.

Inside view of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

While the 10.25-inch touchscreen is one of the reasons for upgrading to a higher level of equipment, the 10.25-inch digital instrument feels like it could be more useful. For example, it lacks the customization that Volkswagen offers in its digital cockpit instrument cluster. The available Bose audio system sounds good, but I still fondly remember the old Harman Kardon system. However, if you're more interested in tuning things than pumping the cabin with noise, Hyundai offers a unique "nature sounds" setting to play quieter sounds like "rainy day", "warm fireplace" and "busy forest".

Hyundai offers its SmartSense suite with advanced security features for many of its vehicles, although the suite's features differ depending on the vehicle. The standard safety features of the Tucson Hybrid include front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic warning. Also standard is the safe exit warning, which warns you if you open the door and if a vehicle is approaching from behind.

Higher equipment variants, such as the Limited we tested, are equipped with parking sensors, a parking camera with all-round visibility and a remote-controlled intelligent parking assistant. While the system doesn't work nearly as smoothly as it does in the displays, it can be helpful in making sure you leave enough room in tight spaces.

Experience at the wheel

The Tucson Hybrid comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a 44.2 kW electric motor for a combined output of 226 hp. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive as standard. This value makes the Tucson Hybrid one of the most powerful hybrids in its class. The CR-V Hybrid (212 PS), the RAV4 Hybrid (219 PS) and the Escape Hybrid (200 PS) all fall behind slightly. It even beats the regular Tucson gasoline engine by 39 horses.

Look at what's under the hood of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Unsurprisingly, it also delivers more straight-line oomph than the regular Tucson. The hybrid powertrain lets most of its muscles play off the line, but still has a lot of pulling power on the autobahn. Unlike other hybrids, the Tucson Hybrid's powertrain uses a six-speed automatic transmission instead of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It delivers well-timed shifts, which can be a problem with CVTs, and even allows manual shifting with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, although they feel out of place.

Whether you're driving around town or taking the final leg of a road trip, the Tucson Hybrid offers a comfortable, smooth ride. The sophisticated driving style of the SUV is reminiscent of some of the past classes. The hybrid powertrain ensures that it stays quiet inside, but a sharp step on the gas pedal brings a lot of engine noise into the cabin.

Take the Tucson Hybrid around a curve and it will surprise you with crisp steering and confident handling. Unlike other hybrids in the class, the Tucson Hybrid doesn't sway wildly around corners, making it one of the more athletic options in the class.

Gas mileage and safety

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The Tucson Hybrid falls behind the competition in terms of fuel economy, but is still insanely efficient. The entry-level blue is rated at 38 mpg combined (38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway) while the rest of the lineup is rated at 37 mpg combined (37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway). The Escape Hybrid leads the segment with an overall rating of 41 mpg, while the RAV4 Hybrid follows just behind with an overall rating of 40 mpg.

In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2022 Tucson received a “Top Safety Pick +” rating. The SUV received the grade “Good” and the top grade “Superior” for its front crash prevention technology in all crash tests. The headlight ratings range from “acceptable” to “good”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet crash tested the 2022 Tucson.

Hyundai offers a 5-year base warranty of 60,000 miles and a 10-year powertrain warranty of 100,000 miles. A 10-year guarantee with 100,000 miles applies to the hybrid components of the SUV. These are above average for the guarantees for the segment. Honda, Toyota and Ford all offer their hybrids with a three-year base warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles. Toyota and Honda cover the battery components of their hybrid vehicles with a 10-year guarantee of 150,000 miles, depending on the purchase condition.

How DT would configure this car

Since the Tucson Hybrid has a slightly lower fuel consumption than its competitors and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the smaller touchscreen, we think the basic blue is the best choice. It's also not about sparing on features, as it comes with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, Hyundai's SmartSense safety features and an electrically adjustable driver's seat.

Our opinion

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid isn't the most fuel-efficient compact SUV on the market, but it's still one of the best options. Not only is it more enjoyable to drive and more sophisticated than other options, but it also offers more power and more impressive technology. It's the gold standard for the segment.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Honda CR-V Hybrid all match or have better fuel economy values than the Tucson Hybrid. But they all offer smaller cargo areas, less legroom in the rear, smaller touchscreens and only wired smartphone compatibility. The Escape Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid are slightly cheaper than the Tucson Hybrid, but have interior materials that match their lower prices.

Unless you're looking for a luxury hybrid from Lexus, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln or Volvo, the Tucson Hybrid is the best choice in the affordable compact class.

Should you get one?

Yes sir. The Tucson Hybrid is the best of its kind.

Editor's recommendations

07 Oct

Blog

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD: Extra Power and Efficiency

October 7, 2021
Posted by Samson

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD

RRP $ 37,350.00

"The Tucson Hybrid sets the bar for efficiency and performance paired with technology."

advantages

Unique look
Luxurious cabin
Seriously efficient
Impressive technology
Charges

disadvantage

Intrusive touch controls
Wireless smartphone compatibility only with standard screen