Hyundai Tucson

Inside, the Hyundai Tucson’s cabin follows a wide horizontal design, which boasts generous head and leg rooms and just overall spaciousness. A downside of this car, however, is its limited rear visibility from the inside.

It is equipped with a smart dashboard that offers a panoramic curved display combination of a 12.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster for the drivers and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which ensures top-notch entertainment for all passengers on board. Its infotainment display is equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth with voice recognition, and the old-fashioned AM/FM radio system.

Like the Santa Fe, the Tucson also has USB ports all around, two at the front and two at the rear. It also has four cup and four bottle holders. All variants are given a wireless charger and a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system for more convenience. Meanwhile, exclusive to the driver is a leather-wrapped motor-driven power steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment features. Overall, the interior of the Hyundai Tucson is designed to help drivers drive at their best and, at the same time, keep all passengers relaxed and well-entertained.

Hyundai’s mastery in producing eye-catching and distinctive exterior styling is evident in the appearance of the Tucson. At the front, it sports a 3D parametric-style grille and jewel-shaped hidden signature lamps, which give this crossover SUV a chic modern look and an ethereal flare both in the morning and at night. It is also given LED DRLs and a position lamp. Its sides are enhanced by a hypnotic (but in a good way) set of 19-inch alloy wheels, though the base variant gets the 18-inch counterpart. It also has electronically-adjustable power folding side mirrors with a heating function. 

At the back, its LED rear combination lamps that kind of look like claws or fangs will definitely get your attention while driving at night. It is also equipped with rear fog lamps for extra safety and visibility. Similar to other newer gen Hyundai models, it also has a power tailgate for more convenience and easier loading and unloading of items.

However, only the HEV variant has a panoramic sunroof for additional aesthetics and natural air ventilation. All the variants are 4,640 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width, 1,665 mm in height, and 2,755 mm in wheelbase. Within its segment, the Tucson definitely has one of the most unique and stylish modern exterior designs.

In terms of suspension, the Hyundai Tucson line utilizes a MacPherson strut at the front, while a multi-link at the rear. For a crossover SUV, it has good grip on the road and decent absorption of bumps. However, there is a tendency for all passengers to experience noticeable body rolls inside this vehicle when cruising at high speeds. But, overall, you’ll get a smooth and comfortable ride out of this car in the city.

The Hyundai Tucson offers three engine options through its three variants. First, the base gas variant is powered by a 2L Smartstream G2.0 engine that produces a maximum power output of 156 PS and a maximum torque of 192 Nm. Second, the mid diesel variant is powered by a 2L Smartstream D2.0 engine that produces a maximum power output of 186 PS and a significantly-higher maximum torque of 416 Nm.

Meanwhile, the hybrid variant runs on a (1.6L) Smartstream G1.6T HEV hybrid powertrain that has a maximum combined power output of 235 PS and a maximum combined torque of 367 Nm. The base gasoline and HEV variants run on 6-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel-powered variant runs on the 8-speed version. All variants adopt a 2-wheel drive system.

The Tucson line is engineered for daily city driving. For a more fuel efficient cruising experience, the HEV variant is certainly the most ideal out of the three. Compared to Santa Fe’s HEV Calligraphy variant, the Tucson HEV offers a nimbler maneuvering thanks to its lighter weight and smaller build overall. However, it is not as great as its sibling when running at high speeds on the highway.

The Hyundai Tucson is equipped with a long list of safety and security features courtesy of its Hyundai Smartsense. It has smart cruise control with stop and go, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane following and keeping assists, blind-spot and surround view monitoring, reverse parking collision-avoidance assist, parking distance warning, manual speed limit assist, and a rear occupant alert.

Similar to the Santa Fe, all variants use 16-inch discs for rear braking. The HEV variant uses a 17-inch disc for front braking, whereas all other variants use the 16-inch counterpart. Its braking setup is equipped with an anti-lock braking system and electronic stability control.

Although the Hyundai Tucson HEV is not as fuel-efficient as the HEV variants of the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CR-V, its cheaper price makes it more practical and feasible for everyday use. The Hyundai Tucson is definitely a great choice within its segment if you value looks, spaciousness, and interior features.