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Hyundai Tucson Road Test
Hyundai’s Tucson is an
exceptionally fine compact sized SUV that is well priced, well mannered,
and sure to generate interest with a more refined exterior and well-done
interior. Available with either four or six cylinder engines, the Tucson
is built on a sedan car platform for a svelte ride and adequate
acceleration that makes this of interest to the more gentle SUV driver but
not to those who like to duel the snow plow driver for first rights on
winter roads.
We tested a A$30,000 model
and were very impressed with the Tucson’s ability to handle both family
transportation issues and its ease of driving. Of course, we would much
prefer if Hyundai put the 3.5 engine in the Tucson, but than why would
anyone consider their other SUV, the
Santa Fe. Indeed, Hyundai knows this and
is extensively redesigning the more upscale
Santa Fe
to help keep the separation
clear between the two. The problem is going to be in the pricing where
both SUVs are certain to tread on each other’s MSRP listings.
You can get the Tucson with
either front or all-wheel-drive and in Base, Elite and Elite S
configurations. The base comes standard with the 140 horsepower
four-cylinder engine and a five speed manual transmission. We recommend
you buy the slightly more expensive six cylinder powered Elite and Elite S
that have a 173-hp V6 and an automatic transmission if you intend to do
anything more than drive this Tucson on paved roads with light loads.
Mom’s view: Close
your eyes and you feel like you are in a Toyota RAV 4. When you look at
the outside it has Honda CR-V
lines. In other words, the Tucson looks like a mating of the two most
powerful sellers in the compact SUV field.
Nevertheless, the family
lineage stops there because the pricing of the Tucson is significantly
less than the Japanese brands and the warranty is significantly more.
Hyundai has done a fine job of putting together this product to a price
point of about A$30,000. The standard features, as usual with this
company, are quite generous and include full-length side curtain airbags,
front air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction control,
stability control, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, keyless
entry, cruise control, heated outside mirrors, roof rack side rails, a
rear intermittent wiper and a CD stereo system. Now that is a
well-equipped vehicle at any price, but when you are talking about the
A$30,000 range and they throw in a limited 10-year/100,000-mile warranty
you are talking serious bargain.
Driving the Tucson is very
sedanish. The suspension is soft, the ride compliant, and the effect is
quite Toyotish. When you need to fold the rear seats down you can do so
quickly and that creates a level cargo floor. You don’t even have to take
the rear seat headrests off to do this. Inside, the Tucson offers nearly
23 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seat up, and about 66 with
the seat folded. That is quite decent and the rear hatch isn’t too
difficult to reach, open, or close. The best exterior feature is the fact
the Tucson does not have one of those dangerous and difficult to handle
rear hatch mounted spare tires.
We did not test the four
wheel drive model, but it does have an Electronic InterActive Torque
Management system that routes up to 99 percent of the available power to
the front wheels under ideal traction conditions for the sake of fuel
economy. When the going gets rough all you need to do is relax. The system
automatically sends up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels. If
you wish, you can use the dash-mounted lock button to lock the driveline
into a 50/50-split when driving in snow or heavy rain.
Overall, I would rate the Tucson as the best compact SUV value for the
money, but note that we have not yet evaluated the new Kia Sportage SUV
that has many similar traits to the Tucson and is priced competitively. I
would tend to believe that the Hyundai’s resale might be stronger than the
Sportage.
Dad’s view: Not my
favorite compact SUV, the Subaru Forester is, but this is my favorite
Hyundai and perhaps the best bargain in the niche. Unless you only use the
Tucson for commuting stay away from the 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder
engine that even with continuously variable valve timing, only makes 140
horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque. Order the optional 2.7-liter V6
engine that produces 173 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. I really enjoyed the
larger engine in combination with the automatic transmission. It wasn’t
fast, but it wasn’t a snail either. We got about 22 mpg with this
combination and on regular fuel. If you are into comparison shopping I
would guess that the V6 engine is comparable to the four cylinder powered
units in the RAV4 and CR-V.
The larger fuel tank on the V6 Tucson enables you to make 350-mile highway
trips.
The main selling point,
outside of the pricing, was the Tucson’s ride quality. It was quite
composed even on mildly rain-gutted roads and only bottom-less potholes
disturbed its nature. On the other hand, I did not like the feel of the
brakes. They were too mushy feeling and you need a while to get accustomed
to its slow stopping when fully loaded.
There is little doubt the
Hyundai has become an acceptable manufacture in the SUV field. The
Santa Fe
is an exceptionally priced vehicle and the Tucson is even better. It does
make you wonder if the next model is going to be named for a trendy city
in Texas or California.
Young working woman’s
view: Very tempting indeed is my pronouncement about the Tucson. It
clearly fits with my life style, does not have that overbearing look of
large SUVs, is much more environmentally friendly, and is neat and proper
looking both inside and out. Very tempting just as it sits, but when you
toss in that warranty on the drive train, you have a compact SUV that is
going to be difficult to ignore by smart shoppers not caught up in the
brand name game.
There were some need for
improvement areas such as the lack of storage space in the cabin, brakes
that reacted too slowly for me, and the amount of cold air seeping through
the large window insulation moldings. In addition, you need to watch your
head when opening the rear hatch if you are tall, and although the rear
hatch window opens for easy access, it is difficult to tell when it is
closed. Finally, when you ask for more out of the V6 engine it lets you
know with a painful growl. Of course, I wouldn’t worry with that
powertrain warranty covering me well into my mid-30’s when my financial
security would be assured by frugal purchases such as this Tucson.
The long and short of it are
that the Tucson is on my short list of vehicles to seriously consider
buying. I can haul what I need, get that raised seating position I like,
and can enter and exit without any problems regardless of what I am
wearing. My only caveat would be to wait until the government crash scores
are published, but the Tucson’s big sister, the
Santa Fe,
fared well and I expect the Tucson to continue that family tradition.
Young college going
male’s view: Not too bad, but certainly not as athletic as it could be
with firmer styling and larger than 16-inch rims. Although my CD continues
to sell well on Tower Records (Simple Thoughts), I still have not reached
the level of financial security where a bargain priced vehicle does not
draw my attention. What I most liked about the Tucson was how not like a
Hyundai it looked. Gone was the guppy grill of the
Santa Fe
and the let’s use every thing on our French curve template side panels.
The removable mat in the cargo area was said to be washable, which is a
nice touch. The spare tire is where it belongs and not clinging to the
reach hatch like a pimple, and the tool kit is nicely fitted into a tray.
There was a lot of first-rate, and some bad for the Tucson’s report card.
The gauges were easy to read and reach. The steering wheel had a nice feel
to it and it even tilted. However, the seats weren’t all that comfortable
for me. They needed more lumbar padding and I was also not enamored with
the reduced visibility to the sides because of the size of the rear
pillars. The interior looked light and airy, but I would have preferred a
darker selection due to the inevitability of dirt and stains. The interior
is not that quiet and the radio reception was only adequate.
Would I buy a Tucson? Yes,
and no. I like a more rigorous handling vehicle and the Tucson is not. I
like pep and it isn’t here. Consequently I would say no. As for the yes
part of my brain, I would say warranty, value, cargo capacity, looks, and
ride height.
Family conference:
The Tucson is only a few percentage points away from being a top rung
vehicle. Unfortunately, bringing those few demerits up to snuff would
require more money added to the bottom line. This Hyundai rests in the
good enough column with the
Honda CR-V, and the Toyota RAV4 and a notch below the segment
leading Subaru Forester. Regardless, we could have never imagined a
Hyundai being so successful with SUVs this rapidly when their sedans have
struggled so long. Drive it and the Kia Sportage, which is a little
sportier, obviously.
Hyundai Tucson The Car Family Report Card Rating
Turning
radius 35.4 ft.
A
Gas
mileage 22/27/410
B
Cargo 66
cubic feet
B
Luggage
22.7 cubic feet
B
2.0
liter
C
140
horsepower D
136
lb.ft. D
Towing
1500 lbs.
B
V6
engine
B
Resale
(est.)
C
Warranty A
Family
Friendly A
Written by The
Car Family |
