Compare the2025 Hyundai TucsonVS 2025 Lexus UX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Tucson Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Parking Support Brake costs extra on the UX.

Both the Tucson and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Tucson is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Tucson	UX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	33%
Neck Stress	164 lbs.	371 lbs.
Neck Compression	14 lbs.	17 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	27/60 lbs.	376/433 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	36%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	163 lbs.
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	51/13 lbs.	345/566 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Tucson is much safer than the UX:

	Tucson	UX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/90 pounds	360/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/90 pounds	360/315 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	360/495 pounds	584/607 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Tucson is safer than the Lexus UX:

	Tucson	UX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	96
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	614 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Hyundai Tucson has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The UX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The UX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the UX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the UX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the UX’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tucson’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 8th.

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Tucson and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Tucson has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Tucson has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14.3 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tucson’s brake rotors are larger than those on the UX:

	Tucson	UX
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	11.1 inches

The Tucson stops much shorter than the UX:

	Tucson	UX
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tucson has larger standard tires than the UX (235/65R17 vs. 225/50R18). The Tucson SEL/XRT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (245/60R18 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson offers optional 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Tucson has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Tucson’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The UX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the UX (108.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The Tucson Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the UX AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Tucson has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (8.3 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Tucson to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The Tucson has 17.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (108.2 vs. 90.4).

The Tucson has 2.9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.2 inches more rear headroom, 8.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (38.7 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

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

Payload and Towing

The Tucson has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Tucson 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 UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Tucson has a much higher standard payload capacity than the UX (1288 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Tucson has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (1289 vs. 890 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Tucson and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tucson is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Both the Tucson and the UX offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the UX.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Tucson owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Tucson will cost $290 to $2230 less than the UX over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Tucson and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Lexus UX by almost 18 to one during 2023.

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