AT A GLANCE

than by other medium SUV ranges, resulting in a huge price spread that stretches from $39,990 (entry-level 2.0 petrol manual) to $63,990 (2.0 CRDi diesel Elite Limited) once the three equipment tiers are factored in.

All the powertrains come wrapped in a body that is 65mm longer and 30mm wider than that of the ix35, with the front and rear wheels stretched a further 30mm apart.

The dimensional increases

Drivetrain:

Transverse, frontmounted adaptive all-wheel-drive with seven-speed dual-clutch robo-transmission.

1591cc DOHC turbocharged petrol directinjection inline four producing 130kW at 5500rpm, 265Nm at 1500-4500rpm.

Maximum speed 200kmh, 7.7L/100km, 178g CO2/ km, Euro5 emission compliance, 1600kg towing capacity.

Front MacPherson struts, rear multilink. Electric power steering. Vented front discs and solid rear discs. 19-inch alloy rims with 245/45 tyres.

L 4475mm, H 1655mm, W 1850mm, W/base 2670mm, Fuel 62L, Weight 1575kg.

Output:

Performance:

Chassis:

Dimensions:

Pricing:

$47,990. may be small ones but they take what was once the largest ‘small’ SUV on the market (ix35) and turn it into the one of the most capacious medium SUVs.

The Tucson is also much tougher than the more nebulouslynamed ix35, with high-tensile hotstamped steel chosen for most of the body construction, and the extra rigidity reinforced by an application of adhesives on all the welding joins.

From such sturdy foundations, great improvements in handling dynamics and refinement result, judging by the performance of the newest Hyundais on the launch drive.

Countering this lift in appeal is that Hyundai hasn’t quite got some of the details right.

There’s no 1.6 front-drive turbopetrol model that could have offered the best performance-perpenny, no heads-up display, and the autonomous emergency braking system of Elite-spec Tucsons and upwards goesAWOL once the vehicle is slowed to 8kmh.

That said, move over CX-5, Nissan X-Trail, and RAV4. This Tucson has toughness wrapped up in a well-tailored tuxedo.