Hyundai NEXO

Automakers are increasingly bullish on electric vehicles. Nearly every automaker now offers an EV or has announced plans to develop one. Some even plan to convert entire fleets to electric within 10 to 15 years. Still, EVs have their challenges: limited range, limited charging locations, lengthy charging intervals. Some automakers — Toyota, Honda and BMW among them — are hedging that hydrogen can be a viable gasoline replacement. With the 2021 Hyundai Nexo, you can count the South Korean carmaker among that number as well.

The Nexo is a crossover SUV that fits between the compact Hyundai Tucson and the midsize Santa Fe. The Nexo's size gives it more utility than its two primary sedan-based rivals, the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity, which cede a significant chunk of interior and cargo space to accommodate large hydrogen fuel tanks. The Nexo also rides higher off the ground, which should help its appeal with crossover and SUV fans.

Enhancing its forward-looking technology, the Nexo comes stocked with desirable comforts and safety features, such as heated seats, navigation, and Apple and Android smartphone integration. But you'll pay handsomely to drive the future because the Nexo is priced more like a luxury SUV than your typical Hyundai vehicle. You'll need to buy it in California, the only state where the Nexo is sold, and you'll also need to accept a limited hydrogen refilling network that makes long road trips impractical if not impossible.

The Clarity and Mirai also cost roughly the same, so there's no discount in the hydrogen game yet. Buyers inclined to sedans will find much to like in the Clarity and Mirai. The Mirai, in particular, has been thoroughly redesigned for 2021 and now looks more like a Camry than the slab-sided puffer fish of the former generation. Overall in this group, we like the Nexo for its SUV practicality. But the limits of hydrogen infrastructure confine the Nexo to a niche audience.

Which NEXO does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Hyundai Nexo is a five-passenger crossover SUV that uses a hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor combination with 161 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. The Nexo comes in two trim levels: The base Blue model can travel up to 380 miles before its hydrogen tank needs to be refilled, while the top-trim Limited can go 354 miles. Standard features include:

Blue

• LED headlights
• 17-inch wheels
• Power-folding, heated side mirrors
• Keyless entry
• Push-button ignition
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• 60/40-split folding rear seats
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Cargo cover

The Blue also comes with:

• 10.25-inch digital instrument display
• Navigation system
• 12.3-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Dual USB ports
• Six-speaker audio system
• Wireless charging pad
• Household-style 110-volt power outlet

Driver assistance features include:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Nexo and the car in front)
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)

Limited Comes with all of the above features, plus:

• Roof rails
• 19-inch wheels
• Sunroof
• Automatic wipers
• Hands-free liftgate
• Heated steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats
• Eight-speaker premium audio system
• Automated remote parking (the Nexo can park itself without driver intervention; can be triggered while you're in the car or on the outside using the key fob)
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
• Blind-spot monitor camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when the turn signal is activated)
• 360-degree surround-view display (uses cameras in all four directions to compose a single image of the car's surroundings)