Awards for new and used models
On September 7, Hyundai announced three awards at the 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards. The IONIQ 6 N won Best Electric Performance Car. The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid was recognized in the Used Family Hybrid SUV category, and the previous-generation Santa Fe was recognized in the Used Seven-Seat Hybrid category.
According to the company, the decision was made by the What Car? tester team. So, this is an assessment of a specific publication and its categories, and not a universal rating of all cars in each market.
Compare the same generations
A special mention of the previous Santa Fe: the award does not automatically carry over to all generations with that name. Similarly, it is necessary to distinguish the plug-in hybrid Tucson from the gasoline or other hybrid version. They have different components and usage scenarios.
Rating as the beginning of verification
The rating helps to form a list of candidates, but the condition of a used copy is checked separately. For PHEVs, find out the serviceability of the battery, charging and gasoline part. For a family car, evaluate the trunk with the seats occupied, child seat mounts and seating comfort. After that, compare the total purchase price with real needs.
