Hyundai Tucson is a smoothly competent SUV
Hyundai Canada’s marketing machine couldn’t have planned the timing of our 2014 Tucson road test any better. The week the Tucson Limited arrived in my driveway, the lead story on news outlets shrieked in moral outrage about the spike in gasoline prices, “the highest we’ve seen in three years,” moaned every headline and TV/radio news reader. Feeding fuel to the fire of my own interest in this CUV was the recent sale of our cherished 14-year-old Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4Matic, putting us in the position of shopping for another vehicle. This was the proverbial “perfect storm” for testing one of the many vehicles in the compact CUV class, just what I happen to be shopping for right now.
Like many Canadians, I find the current models of compact CUVs very attractive. They offer the security of all-wheel drive, which is perfect for plowing through our deep winter snows, good fuel efficiency with predominantly four-cylinder engines and extremely versatile cargo hauling capabilities. In short, compact CUVs are a practical and popular choice for many households.
The 2014 Hyundai Tucson we tested was a top-of-therange Limited all-wheeldrive ($ 33,599) version, loaded with virtually everything you could want — panoramic sunroof, navigation system, seven-inch high-resolution touch screen, heated front and rear seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth capability, leather seating surfaces, automatic headlights, and rear-view camera, to name just some of the Tucson Limited’s main features. (There’s even a temporary spare — a rarity these days as manufacturers switch to providing an air pump and can of tire sealant, a move that saves them money and fuel-sucking weight.)
The current generation of Tucson was introduced in the 2010 model year, and now, four years later, it’s nearing the end of its production life. Style wise, the Tucson’s sheet metal is still handsome, albeit in a generic fashion. The face is bold, with two large openings, and the sharply angled headlights’ shape is mirrored by the sculpted foglight surrounds. From the side, the rear-side windows kick up sportingly at the Cpillar that resembles the last generation of Nissan Rogue, resulting in a slightly dated look. A lower body character line joins the front and rear wheel openings. When viewed against other popular compact CUVs such as the Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape and Toyota Rav4 (all of which are more recently introduced models), the Tucson looks slightly plain-Jane. Rubbing salt into the wound is the Kia Sportage — the Tucson’s ultra-stylish corporate cousin, and one of the best looking CUVs on the road.
Inside the Tucson, the cabin offers no unpleasantness. Materials and interior finish are good, and there is no hard plastic to offend our sense of good taste and design. The front bucket seats (heated) are comfortable and the rear seats are recline-adjustable and heated too.
Hyundai claims the 2.4- litre direct- injection engine has most power in class, and with 182 horsepower, the four-cylinder pulls the Tucson along very nicely. Mash the throttle to the floor like you’re passing an 18-wheeler and the engine pulls with impressive smoothness. But the Tucson is no road rocket. In traffic, one complaint I have is sight lines toward the rear threequarters aren’t good. .
Our Tucson Limited was relatively quiet on the highway. Wind and road noise are on par with other compact CUVs.
Real-world fuel economy was disappointing. The Tucson delivered a mediocre 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres on a Calgary-to-Edmonton road trip. Frankly, I expected better.
Most drivers will find the Tucson’s handling very secure. Again, its on-road performance is good, but not remarkable. If handling prowess is high priority, the Mazda CX-5 will make you much happier.
By every measure, the Tucson is competent, but unremarkable. I want more sizzle with my steak, and for that reason, I’ll keep shopping.