2026 Hyundai Tucson vs 2026 Tesla Model Y
The Hyundai Tucson wins clearly, 82.6 to 73.4, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
2026 Hyundai Tucson
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tuc…
2026 Tesla Model Y
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model Y Long Range RWD, is…
2026 Hyundai Tucson
Clear winThe Hyundai Tucson wins clearly, 82.6 to 73.4, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Hyundai Tucsonoverall 82.6 | 2026 Tesla Model Yoverall 73.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 74.3 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 22 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88.8 | 65.6 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 38.4 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 82.6 | 73.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Tucson: base trim SE FWD · Tesla Model Y: base trim Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Tucson wins
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (99 against 419 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (49.5 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Tesla Model Y answers
- It is rated 138 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,400).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
44 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,700 | $39,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,497 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5L GDI + MPI DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 187 hp | — |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.648 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in | 6.4 in |
| Overall height | 65.6 in | 63.8 in |
| Overall length | 183 in | 189 in |
| Overall width | 73.4 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 109 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 80.3 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 41.2 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 147 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.1 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 39.5 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.4 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 41.3 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,061 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut with coil springs | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), rack and pinion, column-mounted | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 38.6 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 325 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electronic | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 300 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 7 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 235/65R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 14.3 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Bluelink+ | Grok |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.6 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
148 features · differences first, then sharedSafety35 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian, Cyclist Detection (sensor fusion-type) | std | — |
| Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC) | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning Detection | std | — |
| Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | — |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | std | — |
| Airbags (Front - Advanced): Driver (1) / Front passenger (1) | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger side-impact FR (Thorax) airbags (2) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | std | — |
| Rearview camera with Parking Guidance | std | — |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | std | — |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) - Driver-selectable | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | std | — |
| Rear side airbags (2) | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| 5-position seatbelt reminder | std | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes | std | — |
| Anti-theft System integrated with remote keyless entry and panic alarm | std | — |
| Bodyside reinforcements | std | — |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TCS) and Brake Assist | std | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable; Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | — |
| LATCH Lower Anchors and Upper Tether Anchors | std | — |
| Occupant Classification System (OCS) - Seat weight sensor and seat track sensor | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (door logic-type) | std | — |
| Side air curtains with rollover sensors | std | — |
| Steering wheel haptic feedback (for LKA and BCA) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management | std | — |
| Immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) w/ Individual Tire Indicator | std | — |
Infotainment19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3" color touchscreen with AM/FM, HD Radio™, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio system with 6-speakers (ccNC Lite) | std | — |
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| Bluetooth controls (Voice recognition, Accept call, Hang up) | std | — |
| 15.4" Center Touchscreen | — | std |
| 16'' First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 7Speaker audio system | — | std |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Mute, Seek up/down, Mode) | std | — |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Bluelink+ Connected Car System | std | — |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| Controller OTA update capability | std | — |
| Front Dual USB Type-C ports (1 data/charge + 1 charge port (27W)) | std | — |
| Grok voice assistant | — | std |
| HD Radio™ Technology | std | — |
| MSRP (starting price, USD): $39,990 / $41,990 / $45,990 / $49,990 / $57,990 / $61,990 | — | std |
| Second row Dual USB ports (27W charging power) | std | — |
| SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (3-month trial subscription) | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ | std | — |
Convenience10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| Power door locks | std | — |
| Power Window Switches - Driver auto down/up | std | — |
| Proximity w/ detachable valet key (2) | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system with alarm and panic | std | — |
| Remote release Hood | std | — |
| Storage tray (below 12-volt outlet) | std | — |
| 12-volt outlet (2) - Front (1) / cargo (1) | std | — |
Climate5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| After-Blow logic | std | — |
| Cabin air filter | std | — |
| Manual air conditioning | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen-adjust air vents; Second-row manual-adjust air vents | — | std |
| Rear seat heater ducts | std | — |
Seating10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 Split fold-down & reclining rear seatback with adjustable head restraint | std | — |
| First-row heated seats | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| Cloth-trimmed seats (stain- and odor-resistant) | std | — |
| Dual tone with textile and vegan leather | — | std |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Remote release folding rear seats (from cargo) | std | — |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
| Rear center armrest with cupholders | std | — |
Interior25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| 4.2" Multi-Information Display | std | — |
| 3-spoke steering wheel | std | — |
| Assist grips (4) | std | — |
| Bag hook - 2nd row seat back | std | — |
| Central dome light (with delay) and auto cut-off | std | — |
| Cruise control buttons | std | — |
| Cupholders, Dual - Front center console-mounted | std | — |
| Door handles - Metal paint | std | — |
| Front center console - Fixed armrest storage box | std | — |
| Glove compartment with Damper | std | — |
| I/P switch illumination (hazard) | std | — |
| Illuminated power window switches | std | — |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Open center console | — | std |
| Rear coat hanger (1) | std | — |
| Roof trim - Gray | std | — |
| Tilt & Telescoping steering wheel | std | — |
| Inside rearview mirror - Manual day/night | std | — |
| Floor mats - Carpeted | opt | — |
| Front and Rear LED overhead lighting | std | — |
| LED Cargo area light | std | — |
| Seatback map pocket(s) | std | — |
| Sunvisors - Dual vanity mirror with cover, w/ sliding function | std | — |
| Trip odometer | std | — |
Exterior26 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Laminated Windshield | std | — |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
| Bi-LED headlights (high/low beam) | std | — |
| Body color door handles | std | — |
| Bodycolor side mirror housing | std | — |
| Chrome upper door window molding | std | — |
| Front variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Ground Clearance: 6.4" | — | std |
| Intermittent rear window wiper/washer (non-variable) | std | — |
| Knit textile roof | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | — |
| LED front turn signals | std | — |
| LED headlights; Auto high beams | — | std |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Overall Height: 63.8" | — | std |
| Overall Length: 188.7" | — | std |
| Shark-fin roof antenna | std | — |
| Side sills - Material Black | std | — |
| Weight (Curb Mass): 4,061 lbs | — | std |
| Wheels: 18" or 19" | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Solar glass - Front Door, Windshield | std | — |
| Mud Guards - Front/Rear | opt | — |
| Rear spoiler - Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | std | — |
| Roof-mounted Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) | std | — |
| Spare Tire - Compact Temporary Tire | std | — |
Powertrain10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Type - FWD | std | — |
| 0-60 mph: 6.8 sec | — | std |
| AWD Lock | opt | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Mode - Center-console mounted | std | — |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | std | — |
| Range (EPA est.): 321 mi | — | std |
| Supercharge in 15 min: 160 mi | — | std |
| Supercharging Max: 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Passive shock absorbers | — | std |
Cargo7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tow Hitch | opt | — |
| Cargo cover - Retractable | opt | — |
| Cargo tie-down anchors (6) - 3 on each side, 2 floor & 1 upper per side | std | — |
| Dual level cargo floor (n/a on PHEV) | std | — |
| Total Cargo Space: 76 cubic feet | — | std |
| Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs | — | std |
| Trailer pre-wiring | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Tucson
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Forward Collision Avoidance 26V316000 · 423,062 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 25V549000 · 29 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
- minor Electrical System 26V400000 · 96,310 vehicles
Tesla Model Y
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V558000 · 19 vehicles
- high Structure 26V445000 · 15 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V690000 · 12,963 vehicles
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
- moderate Exterior Lighting 25V658000 · 260 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V490000 · 6 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai TucsonSE FWD | Tesla Model YModel Y Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,700 (base trim) | $39,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,700 – $48,900 21 trims | $39,990 – $61,990 6 trims |
| Powertrains | PHEV, HEV, GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Tucson FWD | Model Y Standard RWD (18in Wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 28 | 138 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,400 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The Hyundai Tucson wins clearly, 82.6 to 73.4, on tech & comfort, price, safety. The Tesla Model Y is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Tucson scores 82.6 and the 2026 Tesla Model Y 73.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson starts lower — $29,700 against $39,990, a gap of $10,290 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson or the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
2026 Hyundai Tucson: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 6 recalls. 2026 Tesla Model Y: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 8 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Hyundai Tucson and the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Tucson wins: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 2, has drawn fewer owner complaints (99 against 419 filed with NHTSA), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (49.5 points against 19 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Tesla Model Y answers: it is rated 138 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,850 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,400). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.