Passenger quarters are well conceived, providing ample room for four adults, five if necessary. The cargo area also benefits from the new approach. The front seats are decently supportive and a comfortable driving position is simple to achieve thanks to all the possible adjustments.
Negatives for the Tucson's interior are limited to a mediocre to average audio system and terrible (the cost for stunning exterior design) rearward visibility.
Refinements where they count
Not satisfied with simply making the Tucson look good, the people at Hyundai decided to make it smarter. The first and easiest step was to eliminate the pointless and archaic 2.7L V6. Its performance negligible and consumption important, it was time for it to go bye-bye. The smart solution was to offer but one 4-cylinder engine that had enough power and fuel-miser qualities to satisfy everyone.
They did it. Not only is the 2.4L 4-cylinder more powerful (176 hp vs 173 hp for the 2.7L) but it turns out to be sufficiently frugal at roughly 9.5L per 100 km. The other part of this story is how well the engine behaves. Since 2002, my refinement barometer has selected Honda's 2.4L as one of the smoothest, most efficient normally-aspirated 4-pot engines. Hyundai's latest gets a rating of 99%.
The other part of the powertrain equation is a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which, by the way, bests the CR-V's by one cog. With AWD, this transmission is standard and does a great job of maintaining performance and fuel economy. Should you select FWD, a 6-speed manual 'bow is available, a rarity in this segment.
Stiff neck
Where Hyundai may have gone a little too far is in the chassis and suspension departments. Very taut and firm, the calibration of the fully independent setup is on the harsh side. On a highway, it certainly works but as our homes are not at the exits, driving through rough and damaged city streets will leave you dreaming of your Lay-Z-Boy recliner. I would suggest that Hyundai dial the settings back a notch or two.
When I first took the wheel of the new Tucson, I immediately noticed that the steering was quite heavy, so much so that at times, seemed to require too much effort to change lanes... Of course, I quickly adjusted and appreciated its precise nature and responsive chassis. An impressive driver overall.
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| The cargo area also benefits from the new approach. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Negatives for the Tucson's interior are limited to a mediocre to average audio system and terrible (the cost for stunning exterior design) rearward visibility.
Refinements where they count
Not satisfied with simply making the Tucson look good, the people at Hyundai decided to make it smarter. The first and easiest step was to eliminate the pointless and archaic 2.7L V6. Its performance negligible and consumption important, it was time for it to go bye-bye. The smart solution was to offer but one 4-cylinder engine that had enough power and fuel-miser qualities to satisfy everyone.
They did it. Not only is the 2.4L 4-cylinder more powerful (176 hp vs 173 hp for the 2.7L) but it turns out to be sufficiently frugal at roughly 9.5L per 100 km. The other part of this story is how well the engine behaves. Since 2002, my refinement barometer has selected Honda's 2.4L as one of the smoothest, most efficient normally-aspirated 4-pot engines. Hyundai's latest gets a rating of 99%.
The other part of the powertrain equation is a 6-speed automatic gearbox, which, by the way, bests the CR-V's by one cog. With AWD, this transmission is standard and does a great job of maintaining performance and fuel economy. Should you select FWD, a 6-speed manual 'bow is available, a rarity in this segment.
Stiff neck
Where Hyundai may have gone a little too far is in the chassis and suspension departments. Very taut and firm, the calibration of the fully independent setup is on the harsh side. On a highway, it certainly works but as our homes are not at the exits, driving through rough and damaged city streets will leave you dreaming of your Lay-Z-Boy recliner. I would suggest that Hyundai dial the settings back a notch or two.
When I first took the wheel of the new Tucson, I immediately noticed that the steering was quite heavy, so much so that at times, seemed to require too much effort to change lanes... Of course, I quickly adjusted and appreciated its precise nature and responsive chassis. An impressive driver overall.
 |
| With a base price of under $23,000 and an as-tested price of $32,449, the Tucson is a great deal, as per Hyundai. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |