2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell Electric

Hyundai offers the 2022 Nexo in 2 trims - Blue, the lower trim, is priced at $58,935, and the Limited, which is the higher trim, is priced at $62,385. Both the trims are powered by a permanent magnet brushless motor coupled with a hydrogen fuel cell. There are a diverse set of standard features that are loaded right from the base trim itself. Going for the upper trim, the Limited offers upgraded or added features that are plenty and make the car quite feature-loaded. Both the Blue and Limited come with an FWD drivetrain and single-speed transmission with drive mode selection and so on.

Which trim should you buy?

While the Limited costs are $3000 more than the base trim, it brings important features like power tilt‐and‐slide wide design sunroof, ventilated front seats, 440‐watt Krell 8‐channel external amp, 8 speakers, heated steering wheel, blind‐spot view monitor, and park assist. Henceforth, we strongly recommend you to buy the Limited trim as it is only a minor price difference. This difference gets you a ton of convenience features that will make your life simpler.

2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell Release date

In terms of the release date, there has not been much information from the brand. We are expecting that the 2022 model of the Hyundai will reach showrooms by the end of this year. Deliveries are also expected to start by then. The manufacturer has unveiled all of its cars and also provided press cars for the tests. However, in the absence of a clear confirmation as to when deliveries are about to start, one can only hope for cars by the end of this year. There has been a general delay for cars of the current model year due to the microprocessor chip shortage as well as the pandemic.

Hyundai packs the 2022 Nexo with a permanent magnet brushless motor that gets its power from the hydrogen fuel cell stack rated at 95kWh. Along with it you also have a 40kWh battery pack. The motor is mated to a single-speed transmission that propels the front wheels. The motor is capable of generating 161 horsepower and an impressive 291 lb-ft torque for effortless acceleration. Considering the Nexo to be a hydrogen-powered vehicle, it does fair in power and performance figures. It does 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds and covers a ¼ mile at 16.5 seconds.

With increasing pollution and emission levels, cars like Nexo are a boon to the greener approaches. The vehicle does not offer any thrills but the permanent magnet brushless motor feels smooth. The transmission is responsive and works well, and one need not worry about shifting it while driving in the city or other conditions. The Nexo is interesting to drive in the city conditions but may feel very uninspiring out on the highways. Other cars in its class have gone a long way ahead in terms of performance but that is not one of the priorities in this segment.

The Hyundai Nexo is the only Hydrogen-powered SUV here, and this is the reason behind its high price tag. The only other fuel cell electric cars are Mirai and Clarity but there are not exactly SUVs; they are sedans. The Jaguar, Audi, and Tesla in the competition are regular EVs. The Jaguar stays ahead of the others with greater power and torque figures but is priced quite high. On the contrary, the Tesla Model Y being the cheaper one of the lot offers respectable power and is able to match the Jag’s prowess. The Nexo cannot hold a candle to any of its competitors in terms of performance. They are simply way ahead and will leave the Hyundai in the dust.

The 2022 Hyundai Nexo is mediocre if we look at the power and performance of its rivals. However, being powered by hydrogen, Hyundai promises free fuel worth $13,000. The fuel efficiency depends on the trim you buy. The Blue offers 65/ 58/ 61 MPGe in City/ Highway/ Combined driving cycles respectively, while the Limited offers 59/ 54/ 57 MPGe in City/ Highway/ Combined driving cycles respectively. The SUV comes with a 41.4-gallon hydrogen tank which gives it a range of 380/ 354 in the two trims respectively. These are very respectable figures. 

The Nexo being powered by Hydrogen offers the best efficiency among all the SUVs here. It also comes with a 41.4-gallon hydrogen fuel tank which helps it in offering the best range of 380 miles. The rest of the SUVs are EVs. Among them, the Tesla Model Y offers the best range because of the big 75KWh battery pack. Even then, the range is a mere 326 miles. The I-Pace offers the least amount of range and will be worrying for someone going to take a long road trip on it. The same applies to the Audi eTron.

Being powered by Hydrogen, Hyundai has already achieved a milestone in the automobile industry. But, the brand didn’t rest there. They furthermore equipped the SUV with a sleek and classy interior. The cabin had been redesigned in the last model year. The 2022 Nexo comes with a sleek and futuristic interior that is loaded with class-leading features and is quite spacious. The cabin can seat 5 people with enough head and legroom on offer for the passengers. The seats are comfortable, wide, and well placed. The front seats are upright which offers the driver a wide view of the road. The rear is somewhat laid back and more inclined towards comfort.

On both the trims, the seats are covered in vegan leatherette upholstery. The front driver seat is an 8-way power-adjustable setup while the passenger seat is 6-way power-adjustable and they both come with adjustable lumbar supports. The Limited trim gets you heated front seats as well. The rear seats come with map pockets and can be folded into a 60/40 split. Essential standard features in the Blue include: carpeted floor mats, automatic temperature control, cabin air filter, leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel, rear center armrest, and LED central dome light. While on the Limited, added features like power tilt‐and‐slide wide design sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats come standard. 

All the SUVs are 5 seaters. The Tesla Model Y offers the best passenger space, both at the front and back. The Nexo, however, comes with the largest cargo capacity in the trunk which is followed by the Audi. You get a 29.6 cubic feet trunk which can be used to store small cargo items and luggage. Furthermore, the rear seats can be folded in a 60/40 split for an additional 56.5 cubic feet of space. This will swallow up most pieces of luggage one would need and will not leave one desiring for more. Standout interior features in the 2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell are:

• Vegan leatherette seat trim
• 8/6-way power adjusted driver/front passenger seats
• Ventilated and heated front seats
• 60/40 Split flat rear seatback
• Automatic temperature control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated, Tilt & telescopic steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 Nexo gets a practical set of infotainment and multimedia features. The Blue comes fitted with a 6-speaker audio system that is coupled to a 12.3” color touchscreen. This was upgraded from the 7-inch screen offered until 2020. You also get AM/ FM/ MP3, USB ports, wireless charging, and Navigation. The system also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Limited trim gets you an 8-speaker premium audio system by Krell which makes for a much better audio experience. Standout Infotainment features in the 2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cells are:

• 12.3‐inch color touchscreen with Blue Link Connected Car System
• Wireless Device Charging
• AM/FM/SiriusXM/HD Radio/MP3
• 6-speaker audio system
• Navigation
• 8-speaker premium audio by Krell

The 2022 Nexo comes unchanged for the new model year. There are a few elements that make the Nexo a pleasant SUV in terms of its exterior appeal. Its exterior styling can easily allure anyone with its futuristic design language. The streamlined body design with visible sharp lines gives it a pleasant and sporty look. Furthermore, sharper LED DRLs, headlights, as well as the approach lights below add to its appeal. The wide cross-hatch grille sits between the LEDs, looks well fitted, and suits the SUV’s futuristic design. Apart from these, the rear spoiler with roof cross rails makes it look even sportier. Below, the alloys wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches look amazing and add to the aesthetics.

The Audi e-tron has the largest dimensions in this comparison which makes it the heaviest among all the SUVs. It comes with the best ground clearance too. On the contrary, the Nexo comes with the shortest wheelbase and has the smallest body structure. The Nexo has a light and compact body, making it easy to drive and park in the city. Standout exterior features are:

• LED headlights and DRLs
• Approach Lights (Puddle)
• Roof‐mounted Center High‐Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) w/ LED brake light
• LED taillights
• Privacy glass
• Heated outside mirrors
• Power tilt‐and‐slide Wide design sunroof
• Rear spoiler
• Roof rails

The NHTSA hasn’t crash-tested the Nexo so the NHTSA ratings aren’t available. However, the IIHS has rated it “Good” and presented it with the 2021 Top Safety Pick + award. The 2022 Nexo gets all the necessary safety and driver-assistance features. All the wheels come fitted with disc brakes. You also get ABS, emergency brake assist, HAC, electronic parking brake, active hydraulic brake booster, and EBD. Standout safety features are:

• Forward Collision‐Avoidance Assist
• Blind‐Spot Collision‐Avoidance Assist
• Blind‐Spot View Monitor
• Rear Cross‐Traffic Collision‐Avoidance Assist
• Parking Distance Warning – Front & Rear
• Lane Following Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• High Beam Assist

2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell vs 2022 Jaguar I-Pace S

The Hyundai Nexo is the only hydrogen-powered SUV in the lot. It is nearly 10 grand cheaper than the Jaguar I-Pace. The Nexo comes with better standard features and a futuristic cabin. It has better fuel efficiency and a better range. The presence of larger cargo space gives it an edge over the Jaguar as well. The Jaguar I-Pace is a full-time EV compared to the latter being hydrogen-powered. Moreover, the Jaguar can be charged in an EV Charging Station which is available in the US, compared to the hydrogen refill stations being confined to California. Hence, the Nexo is at a disadvantage but Hyundai has responded by restricting sales only in California.

2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell vs 2022 Audi e-tron SUV

The Audi e-tron, even being expensive by $4000 offers a good value compared to the Nexo. The Audi packs a powerful electric powertrain and arguably a better-looking fascia. The Nexo however comes with newer technology, better efficiency, and range. It also features a shorter and lighter body and better safety features. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of personal choice. But like we have mentioned before, the convenience of electric vehicles and their support architecture being widespread is quite a big advantage nowadays.

2022 Hyundai Nexo Fuel Cell vs 2022 Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is cheaper by $15,000 and is the best SUV in the comparison. It offers a potent engine that offers respectable power and performance, better fuel efficiency with a bigger battery pack, the best passenger space, and a sports car look. The Model Y is a clear winner and remains miles ahead in the comparison. The Nexo has no option but to look uncompetitive in front of the Tesla. One cannot find reasons to recommend the Hyundai Nexo over the other car.

Hyundai has played its cards well by introducing the hydrogen-powered SUV in the market in 2019. It has turned out well and the technology was well accepted. The Hyundai Nexo brought a bigger 10.25” driver’s display for the 2021 MY and carries over unchanged for the 2022 MY. The SUV shines in efficiency and practicality. The motor feels smooth and offers enough power for daily commutes. The 2022 Nexo is a big step in bringing eco-friendly vehicles to the market and coming from a reliable brand like Hyundai, it’s a good buy despite being available only to residents of one state.