2021 Hyundai NEXO

The Hyundai Nexo is a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle only sold in California. While the Korean automaker offers several pure electric vehicles it, along with Honda and Toyota, has taken a secondary approach to zero-emissions driving with its fuel-cell technology. The only other hydrogen-powered models on the market are the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity FCEV. Both are sedans, so the Nexo stands alone in offering a crossover experience with hydrogen power. 

Not many people are likely to experience it, however, because it’s sold only in California, currently the only state where it’s possible to live with a fuel-cell vehicle. While there are individual Hydrogen stations in Hawaii and Connecticut, the only network of such stations exists in California, largely between the San Fracisco Bay and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

The Nexo is three years deep into its first generation, but it’s tough to say where it will go from here. Even in California, the land of hydrogen and honey, this SUV is a tough sell to anybody who isn’t a super early adopter. It’s more expensive than comparable gasoline or electric-powered crossovers or SUVs and the fact that owning one means never travelling out of state could easily be a deal breaker. Among conventional crossovers, buyers might shop the Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan or the Toyota RAV4, but at the Nexo’s price and given its eco-friendly mission, they’re just as likely to seek out the Tesla Model Y or the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV.

Hyundai Nexo Performance

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles still run on electricity, but the “juice” for their operation comes from a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen instead of electricity stored in a battery. Rather than rely solely on a battery pack, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use smaller batteries to store surplus power that can be drawn upon when needed. The Nexo is powered by an electric motor that produces 161 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. A single-speed reduction gear transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. Even with its decent torque number, the Nexo is far from quick, taking well over eight seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. Even so, it’s a comfortable vehicle with a composed ride and predictable handling. 

Hyundai Nexo Fuel Economy

The Nexo can return up to 380 miles of range per tank of hydrogen fuel in its most efficient Blue trim. Adding equipment and larger wheels lowers the range of the Limited trim, which only manages 354 miles. Those are good numbers, especially when compared to the Hyundai’s fossil fuel-sipping counterparts, but it’s important to remember that filling with hydrogen can cost two to three times the price of a tank of gasoline. To help buyers skirt that expense, Hyundai provides $13,000 worth of fuel for the first three years of ownership.

Hyundai Nexo Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space

The Nexo’s interior looks and feels as futuristic as the fuel that powers it. The front seats are spacious and well padded, and the large windows afford great outward visibility in most directions. Adults will find reasonable space in both rows of seating, and the Limited model’s large sunroof gives the cabin a light and open feel. The front seats offer 39.4 inches of head room and 41.5 inches of leg room, while rear passengers enjoy 38 inches of head room and 38.6 inches of legroom. With the back seats folded up, the Nexo brings 29.6 cubic feet of space, but the area opens up to 56.5 cubic feet with the rear seats down. These numbers are a little on the small side or a compact crossover and a bit below the Tesla Y, but much better than the XC40 Recharge.

Warranty

The technology that goes into the Nexo may be exotic but the warranty is not. As with more conventional models, the Korean automaker backs the Nexo with a five-year, 60,000 mile limited warranty and a ten-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Both are among the longest in the industry and much longer than Toyota’s offering on the FCEV Mirai.

Is The Hyundai Nexo Worth it? Which Nexo is the best value?

The Nexo’s over-$60,000 price tag and limited fuel supply severely limit its appeal, even among people able to spend that amount of money on a non-premium vehicle. A fuel-efficient premium hybrid SUV or EV crossover would make more sense for most, especially if any sort of out-of-town driving is on the table.