Compare the2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Chevrolet Bolt

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Bolt doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Bolt doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Bolt doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Bolt’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Bolt.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bolt doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Bolt have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid weighs 492 to 646 pounds more than the Chevrolet Bolt. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Bolt last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bolt’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Bolt. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bolt ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Bolt’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Bolt.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid second among compact SUVs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Bolt isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 61 more horsepower (261 vs. 200) than the Bolt’s electric motor.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel and a full charge is 421.5 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Bolt’s range is only 259 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 30 minutes for only a 45% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 50 hours.

For better stopping power the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bolt:

For better traction, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has larger tires than the Bolt (235/55R19 vs. 215/50R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Bolt.

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Bolt has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Bolt (108.5 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 4.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Bolt.

The front grille of the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Bolt doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 14.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bolt (108.2 vs. 93.9).

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom, 3.3 inches more rear hip room and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bolt.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Bolt’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bolt with its rear seat up (31.9 vs. 16.6 cubic feet). The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bolt with its rear seat folded (66.3 vs. 57 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Bolt doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, just waiting momentarily behind the back bumper can open the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s power liftgate, leaving your hands completely free. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Bolt doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Bolt has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Bolt doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

When two different drivers share the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Bolt doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Bolt’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel and charge port door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Bolt doesn’t offer a locking charge port.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Bolt’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Bolt’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bolt doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Bolt doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Bolt offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bolt doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid and the Chevrolet Bolt, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Chevrolet Bolt by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.