LONG-TERM TESTS
Apple’s CarPlay connectivity is a boon!
Tucson, Duster, Baleno, Tiago and a Lamborghini!
HHAVE YOU TRIED OUT Apple Music? If not, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice and, no, I’ve not signed up a new communication job with Apple. Along with the Tucson, Apple Music has been the revelation of 2015 and, by far and away, the most worthwhile hundred and thirty bucks I spend every month. There’s everything – the hip-hop I’m really into, the eclectic stuff nobody has ever heard of, the usual rock, artists we grew up with and are no more (even George Michael is no more!), the sound track to La La Land (watch the movie, it really is that good), the pop charts that are forgotten in a week and played through the six speakers of the Hyundai Tucson that benefit from sound mapping by Arkamys it makes every drive a real pleasure. If you hadn’t heard of Arkamys before this that’s okay, neither had I, but whatever they’ve done works really well, allowing me to crank the bass right up on the hip-hop tracks. Good music can really transform your driving experience. The excellent sound system is just one of the delightful things on my new longtermer. There’s Apple CarPlay, something that is so useful that it should be mandatory on every car. There’s not only an electric tailgate but walk towards the car with your hands full and the keys in your pocket and the tail gate opens on its own. Also when you walk up to the car, the wing mirrors fold out, sort of like welcoming you. These are really cool features. And, unlike the Creta, the touchscreen doesn’t need you to hit the ‘Agree’ button every single time you start off, and it’s a more responsive unit as well.
Most of all though, the Tucson marks yet another step up in how Hyundai vehicles drive. In my test of the Tucson a few months ago
I’d commented on how every new Hyundai we drive is getting better and better to drive and after driving this Tucson for the past two months my initial impressions are reconfirmed. This is rather nice to drive – unlike previous Hyundais that wallowed and floated, the Tucson actually has a firm edge to the ride, so much it jiggles over small undulations. It’s not uncomfortable in the least but the big tradeoff is that it is the most planted Hyundai on the highway, particularly important as the Tucson is capable of serious speeds. It also handles quite well – it’s still not a corner carver and there is still body roll but it is all within acceptable limits. What Hyundai now need to focus on is getting some life into the steering and also figuring out how the Germans manage to get their cars to ride better as speeds rise.
The Tucson slots in between the Creta and Santa Fe but a friend of mine who has a Santa Fe actually enjoyed driving the Tucson more. It definitely looks much nicer (I think the grey of our long termer is the worst colour to have it in) and has more equipment, save for the fact that the Tucson is only front-wheel drive. I recently spent some time in the newly refreshed and best-selling SUV in this segment and have come to doubly appreciate the Tucson’s ride, comfort, intuitive infotainment, refinement and the fact that it is just so easy and stress-free to drive.
Problems? A colleague who shall not be named but who shall suffer for his crimes went over a rock and cut a tyre and I am now waiting on a replacement 18-inch tyre. On the plus side, the Tucson has a full-size spare so that hasn’t stopped me from driving it. And at 9kmpl the fuel efficiency of the diesel engine isn’t much to talk about. It all pales in light of one simple fact – Hyundai now makes desirable vehicles that you look forward to driving.