Overview
There are two hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) on sale in the U.S. at the moment, the 2024 Hyundai Nexo compact crossover and the Toyota Mirai sedan. Instead of needing to be plugged in like more common battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), an FCEV uses compressed hydrogen to create power in a fuel cell stack. The stack in turn powers a small battery—much smaller than the pack in a normal BEV—and that battery powers electric drive motors. The benefit of an FCEV over a BEV is refill time: It takes around five minutes to top off hydrogen tanks, comparable to refilling a car with gasoline or diesel. In the Nexo, this returns up to 380 miles of emissions-free driving between refills. The downside is the nearly nonexistent national hydrogen refueling infrastructure, so the Nexo and its Mirai counterpart are only currently sold in California, where about 63 hydrogen fueling stations exist. Those stations are clustered in the Los Angeles and San Francisco locales so, even on the left coast, Nexo ownership might well be too inconvenient for most people.
What’s New for 2024?
Hyundai’s only made small changes to the Nexo for 2024, a template followed since the Nexo’s 2019 debut. Both Blue and Limited trims get a new activated charcoal filter and HVAC software logic to help reduce cabin odors. There are four Type C USB ports now instead of three Type A ports, and the rear hatch gains privacy glass. On the paint palette, Titanium Gray Matte replaces Shimmering Silver. For the Limited trim only, the rear side windows get one-touch up/down control.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The only choices buyers have with the Nexo are trim level and exterior color. Everything else is fixed. The base Blue trim comes with features like navigation, a digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment, and assistance tech like blind-spot monitoring and forward collision avoidance. The Limited adds a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, an extra-large sunroof, a hands-free power liftgate, Hyundai’s blind-spot view monitor, a 360-degree camera, a remote parking feature, and an upgraded Krell audio system. In our view, although the Nexo Limited’s range is 354 miles compared to the Nexo Blue’s 380 miles, the amenities justify the extra cost for the Limited.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The Hyundai Nexo’s 95-kW fuel-cell stack and 40-kWh battery pack power an electric motor rated at 161 horsepower with 291 pound-feet of torque. The motor drives the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox; all-wheel drive is not available. In our testing, the Nexo delivered a zero-to-60-mph result of 8.4 seconds, quicker than the Mirai. This acceleration figure also puts the hydrogen-fueled Hyundai in step with conventional, gasoline-powered compact crossovers. As with its fuel-cell competition, the Nexo is not a thrill to drive. Still, its electrically assisted steering is appropriately tuned—on the light side but with a steady feel. In our testing, the Nexo stopped from 70 mph in 169 feet, which is much better than the Toyota Mirai sedan.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Cruising range varies by trim. With a full load of 14 pounds (41 gallons) of compressed hydrogen across three tanks, the base Nexo Blue goes an estimated 380 miles. In the Limited, the added equipment and 19-inch wheels (versus the Blue’s 17s) decrease estimated range to 354 miles.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA’s MPGe ratings are slightly different between the two Nexo trims. The Blue has a combined rating of 61 MPGe (65 city/58 highway), while the Nexo Limited is rated at 57 MPGe (59 city/54 highway). Once you find a hydrogen station, refueling takes about five minutes. Anyone who buys a Nexo receives complimentary hydrogen fuel for the first six years or $15,000 worth of fuel (whichever comes first). If leasing a Nexo, the time period drops to three years. Hyundai also offers owners a free rental car for seven days per year for longer trips. For more information about the Nexo’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Interior space in the five-passenger 2023 Hyundai Nexo is on par with other compact crossovers. Adults fit comfortably in front or back, there’s 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, and folding the rear seats flat expands the load space to 57 cubic feet—close to what the Hyundai Tucson offers. The front seats offer only basic power adjustments and are upholstered in vinyl. The controls are equally plain, but high-tech and efficient. There’s a widescreen display for digital instruments and infotainment, and push-button controls for the transmission and HVAC. Overall, the Nexo cabin is a pleasant, simple, airy place to be, especially with the larger sunroof of the Limited.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment interface is standard in the Nexo, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are four Type C USB ports and a pad for wireless smartphone charging. Hyundai’s Blue Link app offers even more digital features such as remote engine starting (with seat preheating or pre-cooling), remote car finder, and a hydrogen-fuel station locator. Blue Link is complimentary for the first three years.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Every Nexo includes a forward-collision avoidance system with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited adds the blind-spot camera display in the instrument panel. For more information about the Nexo’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
- Standard lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Warranty coverage is a bit better than on the Toyota Mirai, as their fuel-cell components are guaranteed for eight years or 100,000 miles. Hyundai’s usual 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty applies to the Nexo. The company also now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance that bests mainstream rivals such as Toyota.
- Limited warranty five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance covers three years or 36,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2019 Hyundai Nexo Limited
VEHICLE TYPE
front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED
$62,845 (base price: $62,845)
MOTOR TYPE
Induction AC, 161 hp, 291 lb-ft; 1.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack
FUEL-CELL TYPE
proton-exchange membrane, 95 kW
TRANSMISSION
1-speed direct drive
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 12.6-in vented disc/11.9-in disc
Tires: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S, 245/45R-19 98W M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 109.8 in
Length: 183.9 in
Width: 73.2 in
Height: 64.2 in
Passenger volume: 101 cu ft
Trunk volume: 30 cu ft
Curb weight: 4059 lb
C/D
TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 8.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 44.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.3 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.8 sec @ 79 mph
Top speed (governor limited, C/D est): 105 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 169 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined/city/highway: 57/59/54 MPGe
Range: 354 mi
