Hyundai is here with another majestic SUV, right off the bat this car made everybody hold their breath. The Hyundai Palisade is already making heads turn and is now a bit smaller but just as enthused and desired Tucson is here to take the Australian roads from dawn till dusk.

Pros

• Excellent interior quality
• Huge boot
• Digital display and big infotainment as standard
  

Cons

• Looks are jarring
• Awkward rear seat shape
• Suspension feels on the firm side
  

What’s new?

• N Line trim gets the turbocharged 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain
• Minor feature reshuffling between trims
  

The Hyundai Tucson competes with cars like the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage. Needless to say, there are alot of competitors in this segment.

Exteriors

Styling Elements

The best thing about the Storm Trooper-like front grille design is the way they’ve placed the headlights. Divided headlight cluster seems to have a divided opinion as well. While there are some people who have enjoyed the design element of a spaced out cluster, people like me have preferred the more consolidated approach. Infact the way the Tucson has been designed, if you see one coming, you won't be confused about which car is coming. The front grille design might be jarring to some but no one can deny that Hyundai is going all in with the bold and statement front grilles.

The headlights are LED and the LED DRLs are textured right into it. The taillights also are LED lights now and the design of the taillight also has been changed. Another subtle but discernable design update is the contour lines running from the side-view mirrors all the way to the back of the car which makes it look even classier than before.

Colour Options

The Hyundai Tucson is offered to consumers in 11 vibrant colours you can choose from to showcase your style and make a statement. However, each colour other than the Engine Red comes at an additional cost. Following are the colours.

Abyss Black | Atlas White | Serenity White | Shimmering Silver | Ecotronic Grey | Shadow Grey | Cyprus Green | Jupiter Orange | Ultimate Red | Engine Red | Sailing Blue |

Wheel Design

Depending upon the variant you choose, you can get one of the 4 types of alloy wheels. Each variant gets a dedicated size and style of alloy wheel which makes the ride more comfortable and statement more subtle. Following are the wheel sizes and an image of them.

• Hyundai Tucson - 17-inch alloy wheels with dual-toned machined finish wheel
  
• Hyundai Tucson N Line - 18-inch alloy wheels with dual-toned machined finish wheel
  
• Hyundai Tucson Elite and Elite N Line - 19-inch alloy wheels with dual-toned machined finish wheel
  
• Hyundai Tucson Highlander and Highlander N Line - 19-inch alloy wheels with dual-toned machined finish with spiky groves branching out wheel
  

Interiors

Interior Layout & Space

In short, the interiors of the Hyundai Tucson can be labelled as minimalist. They’ve done away with the cluttered centre console and now have a far more organised and assimilated design language which makes the features accessible and usable on the go.

Apart from that, even with the presence of a panoramic sunroof, there’s ample headspace in the second row of the Tucson. The fun doesn’t end there as there is more than ample space in the second row you get generous legroom, knee room and toe room. Being an occupant of this car is far more luxurious than being a driver of this car.

Comfort & Ergonomics

The seats of the Hyundai Tucson are pretty standard in almost every Hyundai Tucson barring the Hyundai Tucson N Line and N Line S. The seats come with manual and electrical adjustments Depending on the variant and package you’ll get manual and electrical. Following are the standard seat options.

Seat Trim - Black Leather (Seat Facings Only)

Seat Trim - Moss Grey Leather (Seat Facings Only)

Seat Trim -Cypress Green Colour Pack

Seat Trim - Premium Cloth

Seat Trim - Premium Cloth & Leather

Boot

The Hyundai Tucson has a generous boot space all thanks to the long wheelbase setup that we have here in Australia. The Europeans are stuck with short wheelbase Tucson which I’m sure isn’t as spacious as our Tucson. You get 539 litres of bootspace which is impressive to begin with. However, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can just drop down the second row and enjoy the ever-more generous 1860 litres of bootspace. I’m keen to see what does Toyota RAV4 have to say about that which has a smaller boot with the same platform.

Technology & Infotainment

Hyundai is the parent company of Kia. As we know Kia is making good strides in technological evolution and thus, Hyundai is the puppeteer taking care of things. Thus, Hyundai cars and Hyundai Tucson also have the same level of thoughtfulness and consideration put into their technology and connectivity options as any Kia car.

Technology Features

• Heated Steering Wheel
• Parking Sensors - Front and Rear
• Parking System - Rear Camera and Guidance System
• Smart Electric Tailgate
• Smart Key - Keyless Entry with Engine Start/Stop Button
• Sun Visors - with Driver and Passenger Illuminated LED Vanity Mirrors
• Rear Window Sun Blind (Manual)
• Trailer Wiring Package
• Cruise Control - Smart Adaptive Speed Control with Stop & Go Function (DCT & Hybrid only)
• Electric Parking Brake
• Air Conditioning - Climate Control (Tri Zone)
• Touch Sensitive Climate Controls with Temperature Dials
• Automatic Dimming Rear View Mirror (ECM)
• Automatic Headlights with Dusk Sensor
• Automatic Windscreen Wipers with Rain Sensor
• Daytime Running Lights - LED
• LED Headlights
• Matrix LED Headlights
• 64 Colour Selectable Ambient InteriorLighting
• Sunroof - Panoramic Glass Electric Tilt and Slide
  

Connectivity Options

• 12.30" Widescreen Navigation with Bluelink & Mapcare
• Driver's Supervision Instrument Cluster with 12.30" LCD Display
• Bluetooth® Connectivity
• KRELL Premium Audio - 8 Speakers + Subwoofer
• Wireless Android Auto
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Speakers - 2 Tweeters, 2 Front, 2 Rear
• Steering Wheel Audio and Phone Controls
• USB-C - Front: 2 Rear: 2
• Wireless Phone Charging Pad
• Over the Air (OTA) Updates
  

Performance & Engine

Hyundai Tucson has 3 different engine options, the good news is that there are two turbocharged engines which generate quite a bit of power for this SUV. However, one of the two turbocharged engines is a diesel engine which may require a bit more consciousness towards the environment.

Engine Specifications

Transmission & Drive System

The 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission system is mind-blowing. The way it helps in moving the car and sequencing torque as and when required makes the driving modes distinct and fun to operate. The car doesn’t need to be shifted back to the traditional way too much, the 8-speed transmission allows alot of things to be done simply at a shift, this gives you more clarity on driving the car and knowing that the transmission is backing you 100%. Now that can’t be said about alot of cars in the market today.

Braking System

The Hyundai Tucson gets a thumbs up from my end in the braking system department. They’ve provided disc brakes as standard in all variants of the Hyundai Tucson. The Hyundai Tucson has ventilated disc brakes in the front and solid disc brakes in the rear.

Another innovative aspect they’ve added to the braking system of the Hyundai Tucson is the Dual diagonal split circuit power assisted with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

This allows the braking system to work in tandem with brakeforces and ensures that braking is not equal but proportional, this also minimises any skidding on wet and snowy roads.

Fuel Economy & Efficiency

There are three different engine options you can choose for your Hyundai Tucson. Each engine option has its dedicated variant category, you can choose the category with your engine preference and upgrade the car through packages. This helps you curate your car in a specific way. Speak to your dealer about the same.

The most common engine is 4 4-cylinder 2-litre petrol engine which is in most variants and it gives an economy of 8.1 litres of gas for every 100 kilometres, that’s decent. However, I do wonder about the variations of the real-time driving economy than the claimed economy. Be mindful of the fact that Hyundai Tucson has just 54 litres of fuel tank capacity.

Next up, is the turbo-charged petrol engine which is optional in middle-level and upper-level variants, this provides an economy of 7.3 litres of gas required for 100 kilometres of travel. This is still a bit better. This is topped by the diesel engine.

The 2-litre turbo diesel engine produces excellent power and torque and provides the economy of just over 6 litres of gas being needed for 100 kilometres of travel. Now while this is the most handsome economy there is in this blog, do remember that this is diesel which is more harmful than petrol to ourenviornemnt. We would suggest against getting this variant unless you absolutely have to.

Handling & Driving Dynamics

Handling the Hyundai Tucson is like handling a heavy car but the good thing about that is that most of the work is done by the features and all you have to do is ensure that you don’t drive it into a ditch. A great benefit of the Hyundai Tucson is that it comes with a good list of drive modes which makes driving this car a great experience regardless of the terrain or conditions. The driving modes are - Eco | Normal | Sport | Smart | Mud | Sand  | Snow |

Safety Features

Hyundai is known to make their cars as safe as a cradle, with Hyundai Tucson, they’ve managed to get that done. There is quite a detailed list of active and passive safety features which are there to make your ride comfortable and put your mind at ease.

• Active Bonnet System
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
• Surround View Monitor
• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Parking Distance Warning (Front / Rear / Side)
• Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCAA) (DCT & Hybrid only)
• Central Locking - Remote Control
• Deadlocks
• Lane Follow Assist (LFA)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Locking Wheel Nuts
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Seatbelt Pre-tensioners - Front
• Seatbelt Reminder - Front & Rear
• Seatbelts - Height Adjustable Driver and Front Passenger
• Speed Sensitive Automatic Door Locking
• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Individual Tyre Pressure Display
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
  

Advanced Safety Features

• Downhill Brake Control (DBC)
• eCall
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Car, Pedestrian, Cycle (FCA)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist - Junction Turning
• Highway Drive Assist (DCT & Hybrid only)
• Hill-start Assist Control (HAC)
• Immobiliser
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA)
• ISOfix Child Seat Anchorage Points - Rear (outer seats only)
  

Crash Test Ratings

The Hyundai Tucson has been awarded a 5-star safety rating by ANCAP. The test was conducted in February 2021 and the validity of the rating is till December 2027. The current rating applies to all diesel and petrol variants but not to the hybrid variants. Read the full report here. Following is a brief breakdown of the ANCAP report.

• Adult Occupant Protection - 86%
• Child Occupant Protection - 87%
• Vulnerable Road User Protection - 66%
• Safety Assist - 70%
  

Ownership Experience

Hyundai Tucson offers a compelling ownership experience characterised by modern design, advanced technology, comprehensive safety features, and efficient performance. Its combination of comfort, versatility, and value makes it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable and enjoyable compact SUV. Whether for daily commuting or weekend adventures, Tucson delivers on all fronts, making it a standout in its segment.

One of the key aspects of the Hyundai Tucson's ownership experience is its excellent value. Hyundai offers a competitive warranty package that includes a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty, a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and complimentary maintenance for three years. This comprehensive coverage provides peace of mind and reduces the cost of ownership over the long term.

The Tucson also boasts a strong reputation for reliability, which is backed by positive reviews from owners and automotive experts alike. Its solid build quality, dependable performance, and low maintenance costs contribute to its appeal as a cost-effective and reliable vehicle.

Major Drawbacks

• Hyundai Tucson isn’t ride-tuned to Australia. Hyundai is committed to tune each product of theirs to Australian standards however due to some reasons Tucson never got that ride tuning.
  

Major Strengths

• Infotainment is smooth as butter. There’s virtually no lag and doesn't irritate the user at all. The touch is responsive throughout and the screen is snappy.

Maintenance & Warranty Information

Hyundai has had a long-standing reputation for honouring its warranties and keeping the servicing program affordable and accessible. Even today, Hyundai gives one of the most inclusive warranties in the market. Following are the terms of warranty you can avail with this car.

• 12 Years Anti-Perforation Warranty
• Five-Year Annual Vehicle Health Checks
• Five-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty
• Hyundai Roadside Assistance

Verdict

Finally, a Tucson that doesn't make me want to make a bad pun about how Tucson belongs nowhere but in Tucson. Thankfully, the big step is a bullseye. Sure the exteriors might be jarring or at best leave you at a crossroads, but the Hyundai Tucson overall is an exceptionally well-built car. Honestly, I didn’t have many complaints about the car overall. The driving experience is good, the braking system is a dream come true for a safety freak like me and the interiors and infotainment provide better comfort than they did before.

Reference

Brochure

Owners Manual