Hyundai has come a long way from being cars you’d buy because of heavy discounts to cars that are actually desirable. The Tucson has always been a bit of an oddball but with the newest generation, it may prove to be Toyota’s worse nightmare yet.
The standard 2-liter four-cylinder offers decent
flexibility with or without all-wheel-drive. Pick of the range however would go
to the 1.6 turbo which comes mated to a seven-speed automatic. You can option
for all-wheel-drive if desired but we wouldn’t bother with it unless you really
have to have the extra traction on slippery surfaces. Our tester (Tucson Sport)
came with all-wheel-drive and handled quite well when the roads got slightly
messy from an icy shower.
The Tucson feels much more upscale to drive than the
previous generation. Handling is secure but nothing to brag about, while
steering feedback is decent too. We’d strongly suggest looking elsewhere if you
are looking for a more engaging driving experience because the Tucson even when
equipped with the turbo engine is far from sporty. We do however applaud
Hyundai for improving quality and refinement. Wind and road noise are well suppressed
and only the sounds of the engine creeps in when you push the engine hard, even
then it is far from intrusive or annoying.
The front seats offer decent comfort and plenty of
adjustability. The steering also offers plenty of adjustments too. The infotainment
system is easy to navigate through and the touch screen menu is easy to use and
not as fussy as the one’s we’ve tested in Fords and Toyotas. Rear seat offers
plenty of comfort for three and the boot space is decent with the second row
seat in place and folded down.
No matter which Tucson you choose, all of them come
well equipped and will satisfy most buyers. SE trim comes with 17-inch alloy
wheels, rear-view camera, stain and order resistant cloth seats and 3.5-inch
monochrome LCD instrument cluster display. Eco trim comes with power driver’s
seat, fog lights, roof rails and drive select mode for the auto gearbox. Pick
of the range Sport trim comes with 19-inch alloys, hands-free boot
opening/closing; proximity key with keyless start and heated front seats. Top of
the range Limited comes with dual-zone climate control, leather seating
surfaces, LED headlights and auto-dimming rearview mirror.
SE and Eco trims come standard with a driver’s blind
spot mirror while Sport and Limited trims get blind spot detection system and
lane change assist. We’d love to see automatic emergency-braking with
pedestrian detection standard on the Limited trim. Tire pressure monitoring
system with individual tire pressure indicator is standard as well as
electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and brake assist. Roof-mounted
side curtain airbags come standard with rollover sensors in case of a side
collision or rollover accident.
The Ford Escape is slightly more engaging to drive
and the Nissan Rogue offers a third row seat. However, the Hyundai Tucson isn’t
all that bad. It offers decent kit standard and has low running costs from both
engines offered. You’ll probably want to step up to the Sport to get all the
goodies and all-wheel-drive really isn’t needed unless you absolutely have to
have the extra traction. Overall the Tucson is the best compact crossover you
can buy if you desire high content at a decent price but we wish that steering
feedback was improved then the Tucson would be even better.
Likes: Loads of features for very little money.
Turbo engine offers better flexibility and doesn’t cost much more. All-wheel-drive
adds extra traction when desired. Interior much improved with easy to use infotainment
system.
Dislikes: Resale value is questionable. Steering
feedback is more on the so-so side. We wish the driving experience matched the
looks.
No comments:
Post a Comment