So here I am again at the wheel of another plug-in hybrid SUV automobile and I may well wonder “well, how did I get here?” Unlike the Talking Heads’ whimsical answers to their famous existential question, the answer to my conundrum is, first, the Hyundai press office and, second and third, fashion and fiscal incentives. I know what I’m doing, you know.
We’re talking specifically here about a Hyundai Tucson Ultimate 1.6 plug-in hybrid with a six-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. It’s a fine but flawed car. The finery is immediately apparent. Although the model has been around for about five years now, it’s recently been treated to what the car trade terms a “refresh” and used to be known as a facelift, which sounded a bit too disparaging and, well, honest.
