Hyundai Tucson
GOODBYE
£37,400 OTR/£39,565 as tested/£425pcm
WHY IT’S HERE
Is Hyundai’s crossover as ambitious underneath as its looks suggest?
DRIVERS
Andy Franklin
WIND BACK THE CLOCK 10 YEARS AND REMEMBER WHAT HYUNDAIS were like then, and you’ll realise just how far it has come. Truth be told, we probably wouldn’t have even wanted to run many of its cars then, I know I wouldn’t have done. But here we are at the end of our six months with the Tucson and it will be a shame to see it go, while at the same time Hyundai is picking up our Manufacturer of the Year and our Performance Car of the Year and our Car of the Year. A pretty incredible feat.
But how has it done it? The answer is in fact pretty easy, and that’s the most important factor. I’d argue that aside from the Ioniq 5, the Tucson is one of Hyundai’s best looking vehicles. That striking, futuristic and imposing front end, coupled with the butch arches, makes this car different but not too far for the average Joe. It’s practical too; I have three kids and there’s ample room in the back. And if you like your tech then this is the car for you, as there is a bucketload. The infotainment is easy to use but not the quickest we’ve ever tried, and I only rarely used the satnav as it kept on sending me on the most bizarre routes.
One area I’ve really struggled with has been the engine and its ability, or lack of, to talk to the gearbox. It often feels like it’s in too low a gear and the more you add throttle the less it seems to do anything. I often found the suspension couldn’t quite make its mind up either; on motorways it’s as smooth and comfortable as anything, yet on urban and country roads it felt hard and solid. It was all a bit perplexing.
And while the Tucson has sharp steering and there’s a nice weight to it, it isn’t the most exciting thing to drive. But then neither are any of its competitors. So why would you consider buying this? Well, quite simply as I mentioned earlier, it’s better by design and for many in this market, that’s impeccable. Bravo Hyundai.