2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD

2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123)

The Tucson's interior is function first and form second. The seating has more configurations than a toy box full of transformers and the seats are comfy and supportive. Everything folds flat on the passenger side from the dashboard to the lift gate so you could transport something long- perhaps a rolled-up area rug, without bending it or sticking half out the window. The materials are very good, as Hyundai's tend to be, and I'm still trying to find a Hyundai interior panel with some give to it. No luck here. There is good visibility, good headroom and even the back seats aren't too bad for a pair of adults.

The ride on road is comfortable, solid and nearly car-like, which is no surprise given that the Tucson is based on the same platform which houses the Elantra. A tall SUV will generally feel less than confidence inspiring when cornering quickly because of its high center of gravity. But building one off of the platform of a car has benefits over using a truck platform. The suspension can use things like sway bars to help add tact and precision to the handling, for instance. Cornering grip is plentiful, and the attitude is more car than truck, just respect that it is a big, tall vehicle and you'll do fine.

2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123)

I'm noticing that Hyundai doesn't use a lot of sound deadening in the floor compared to other carmakers - the road noise is not obtrusive but still very audible. I didn't mind it though, because hearing what the tires are up to is better than feeling what they're up to. And for an SUV that doesn't let you hear OR feel what's going on underneath, you'll certainly be paying a lot more than $32,000.

The 2.7 liter V6 has its work cut out for it. Of course the automatic gearbox lets you call for gearshifts when you want them to take full advantage of the power, and is useful for towing and off-road chores. But being large, un-aerodynamic and lugging an AWD system around beneath it makes the Tucson a little heavy and performance suffers as a result. Imagine a firefighter trying to be quick while carrying around a heavy breathing tank, a few feet of hose, firecoat and screaming young lady. Same idea The acceleration is a bit sluggish, but the engine makes up for it with remarkable smoothness and quiet operation. You aren't driving a Tucson to go really fast anyhow, and it's a wonderful ride once you get it up to highway speeds and beyond. But I'm being unfair. Evaluating the acceleration of a Tucson is like evaluating the off road ability of a Tiburon - irrelevant.

2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS AWD (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123)

Note that the all wheel drive system has a push-button locking differential which is a valuable off-road tool and might just keep you from ever having to shovel the driveway again. That big hump the snowplow leaves for you every snowy morning at the end of your driveway? Hah. Just go bash right on through it. Try THAT in your minivan.

Despite my limited off road stint in the Tucson, I found the ground clearance to be adequate for lightly obstacle-ridden and unpaved surfaces, while the chassis does a lovely job of keeping the body from swaying wildly about while dipping in and out of ruts and holes. If you have winter conditions like where I live, you'll know that huge, frozen slush boulders laying around the roads are a part of life. They're born on the mud flaps of eighteen wheelers where they grow, freeze and eventually become too heavy and are cast off, landing in your path wherever they please. The Tucson has stability control, so you could gently swerve to miss these frozen obstacles with relative peace of mind. But the Tucson also has skid plates underneath, so you don't even really need to swerve and possibly risk life and limb. Just smash them over instead. KA-THUKTHUMP! Take that, old man winter. Safety first, remember.