The 2026 Hyundai Tucson gets 26 to 38 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel) at 38 mpg; the best regular gas version is the 2026 Tucson FWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) at 28 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Tucson ranks 5th (tied with 1 other) of 66 for combined mileage (38 mpg), 4th (tied with 1 other) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($1,650 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 2nd of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (103 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 18 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Tucson's best version, 3 other models get the same and 213 get less. The 2026 Tucson's cheapest version costs $1,650 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 16 cost less, 3 the same and 206 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 2026 RAV4 AWD SE & LE | 42 | $1,500 | 209 |
| 3 | 2026 Ford Escape | 2026 Escape AWD HEV | 39 | $1,600 | 225 |
| 3 | 2026 Lexus NX | 2026 NX 350h AWD | 39 | $2,000 | 225 |
| 5 | 2026 Hyundai TucsonThis car | 2026 Tucson Hybrid Blue | 38 | $1,650 | 103 |
| 5 | 2026 Mazda CX-50 | 2026 CX-50 4WD (Hybrid, Automatic (variable gear ratios)) #2 | 38 | $1,650 | 233 |
| 7 | 2026 Honda CR-V | 2026 CR-V AWD (Hybrid) | 37 | $1,700 | 237 |
| 7 | 2026 Jeep Cherokee | 2026 Cherokee AWD | 37 | $1,700 | 241 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Tucson FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L: 25 mpg city, 33 highway, 28 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Tucson version is $2,200 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The CX-50 costs $564 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the CX-50 costs $2,820 less to fuel than the Tucson (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Tucson (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Tucson | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda CX-50 | 2026 CX-50 4WD (Hybrid, Automatic (variable gear ratios)) #2 | 38 mpg | $1,650 | same figure | same | - |
| 2026 Ford Escape | 2026 Escape AWD HEV | 39 mpg | $1,600 | 1 higher | $50 less a year | Compare |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 2026 CR-V AWD (Hybrid) | 37 mpg | $1,700 | 1 lower | $50 more a year | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version. For plug-in hybrids the miles per gallon and the yearly figure are for driving on gasoline only; the file gives no blended cost, because it depends on how often the car is charged (range is gasoline plus electric; the electric-only range has its own column).
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Range mi | Electric range mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel)Hybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-wheel | 40 | 35 | 38 | $1,650 | 235 | - | - | cheapest |
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid BlueHybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-wheel | 38 | 38 | 38 | $1,650 | 234 | - | - | cheapest |
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid (All-wheel)Hybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-wheel | 36 | 37 | 36 | $1,750 | 243 | - | - | +$100 |
| 2026 Tucson Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (AM-S6) | All-wheel | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,800 on gasoline only | 103 | 420 | 32 | - |
| 2026 Tucson FWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 322 | - | - | +$550 |
| 2026 Tucson AWD | 4-cyl 2.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 24 | 30 | 26 | $2,400 | 337 | - | - | +$750 |
2026 Tucson Hybrid (All-wheel), 4-cyl 1.6 L: all-wheel drive costs $100 a year more in fuel than front-wheel drive (36 against 38 mpg combined).
The cheapest-to-run hybrid, the 2026 Tucson Hybrid Blue (38 mpg, $1,650 a year), costs $550 a year less in fuel than the cheapest-to-run gas version, the 2026 Tucson FWD (28 mpg, $2,200 a year).
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Tucson; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel) puts out 235 grams per mile; across the 6 tested versions the figure runs from 103 to 337.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel): fuel economy score 7 (5 to 8 across versions), greenhouse gas score 7 (5 to 9 across versions).
Cost per 100 miles uses electricity at $0.15 per kWh (as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA). Plug-in hybrid range counts gasoline too.
| Version | Range mi | Charge at 240 V | MPGe | kWh per 100 mi | Cost per 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid | 420 | 2 h | 77 | 44 | $6.60 |
2026 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid: on gasoline alone the agency's file gives $1,800 a year (15,000 miles); on electricity, 44 kWh per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh comes to about $990 a year if all 15,000 miles were driven that way. The real cost depends on how often the car is charged, so no single yearly cost is shown for it.
Best combined figure of the Tucson gas version, hybrid and fuel-cell version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Best fuel-cell (MPGe) | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 28 mpg | none | 50 MPGe | 7 | 10 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 28 mpg | none | 50 MPGe | 7 | 10 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 27 mpg | none | none | 6 | 11 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 26 mpg | none | none | 4 | 12 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 25 mpg | none | none | 4 | 13 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 25 mpg | none | none | 4 | 13 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 29 mpg | 38 mpg | none | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2023 | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | none | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2024 | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | none | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2025 | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | none | 5 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 28 mpg | 38 mpg | none | 6 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 5 versions were tested then and 6 now; the best figure went from 38 to 38 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel), 4-cyl 1.6 L | 38 mpg | no like-for-like version in 2025 | no match |
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid Blue, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 38 mpg | 38 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tucson Hybrid (All-wheel), 4-cyl 1.6 L | 36 mpg | 35 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, 4-cyl 1.6 L | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tucson FWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tucson AWD, 4-cyl 2.5 L | 26 mpg | 26 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID SUV HEV AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 5 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 67 complaints, 5 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: TUCSON, TUCSON HYBRID, TUCSON PLUG-IN HYBRID.
104 complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 45 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 | |
| Electrical System | 20 | |
| Service Brakes | 16 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
21 of the 104 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 11 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: TUCSON, TUCSON HYBRID, TUCSON PLUG-IN HYBRID.
6 recalls are on file for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: TUCSON, TUCSON HYBRID, TUCSON PLUG-IN HYBRID.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Tucson Hybrid and Elantra vehicles. The front strut assembly fasteners may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the front strut assembly fasteners and perform a wheel alignment, as necessary, free of charge.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 22, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles.
Fix: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles.
Fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Tucson itself is at 38 mpg.
More Hyundai models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel) with 38 mpg combined (40 city, 35 highway). Among the regular gas versions it is the 2026 Tucson FWD at 28 mpg.
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson costs between $1,650 and $2,400 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel) at $1,650; the dearest is the 2026 Tucson AWD at $2,400. For the plug-in hybrid versions the table and the calculator above give the cost of driving on gasoline only ($1,800 a year at 15,000 miles); no blended yearly cost is shown, because it depends on how often the car is charged. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Tucson Hybrid Blue: 38 mpg combined (38 city, 38 highway); 2026 Tucson Hybrid (All-wheel): 36 mpg combined (36 city, 37 highway); 2026 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid: 35 mpg combined (35 city, 35 highway); 2026 Tucson AWD: 26 mpg combined (24 city, 30 highway).
In the agency's tests the best hybrid, the 2026 Tucson Hybrid (Front-wheel), gets 38 mpg combined and the best non-hybrid, the 2026 Tucson FWD, gets 28 mpg: 10 mpg more for the hybrid.
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is 5th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Lexus NX at 39 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Mazda CX-50 at 38 mpg.
The 2025 model had 5 tested versions and the 2026 model has 6. The best figure went from 38 to 38 mpg (no change).
The 2026 Tucson Plug-in Hybrid takes 2 hours for a full charge at 240 volts and uses 44 kWh per 100 miles, about $6.60 per 100 miles at $0.15 per kWh.
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 HYUNDAI TUCSON SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 HYUNDAI TUCSON HYBRID SUV HEV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 5 variants; the first 2 are shown.
104 complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Forward Collision Avoidance (45 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 6 recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Hyundai Tucson: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Tucson: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.