An upward Korea move
COMFY TUCSON CAN RIVAL THE BEST SUVS
This new Hyundai Tucson is a fine looking car both outside and in. Look at that front grille for example – unlike many mid-size SUVS you’ll instantly recognise the Tucson in your rear-view mirror.
This is Tucson generation four and it sits between the smaller Kona and the larger Santa Fe in Hyundai’s catalogue. It’s grown in size since the last one, now being 4,500mm long and 1,850mm wide, which is an increase of 20mm and 15mm respectively.
This gives a little more leg and elbow room but it’s a little bit more difficult to park. This also makes the new Hyundai slightly longer than the Volvo XC40. We’ll be coming back to the Swede a bit later.
You have a wide choice of power in the Tucson with further options on their way including a plug-in hybrid.
For now there’s two 1.6-litre mild hybrid petrols with 148bhp and 178bhp, and finally a hybrid that can whirr along under electric power alone that also has a 1.6-litre petrol engine but with a total of 227bhp. That’s the version we’re testing.
Two and four-wheel-drive systems are available and ours has the former plus an automatic gearbox. Manuals are available but not on this full hybrid model.
Entry level trim in the UK is SE Connect, moving up to
Premium and then Ultimate. Ours is basically Premium spec which puts its price on the road at £34,455.
Seems a bit steep for a Hyundai but the equipment list is prodigious and it’s a price that’s in line with rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Gone are the days when Hyundais (and their Korean Kia cousins) were simply bargains with wonky plastic interiors but long warranties. They’re now genuine rivals to the best Europe can offer.
Back to the Volvo XC40, my favourite SUV in this size bracket. The Tucson’s interior, while not quite having the Scandi touch, is still pretty impressive. Soft-touch plastics are everywhere, metallic and piano black finishes are much more appealing than those in a Tiguan, and the seats are clad in comfortable perfo
rated leather. You get a large central touchscreen that includes phone mirroring and, joy of joys, simple to operate separate heating and air conditioning controls.
The driving instruments are digital and easy to read. There’s plenty of head and legroom for all occupants even if the front passenger is tall, and the outer rear seats are heated. The luggage space is generous too, at 616 litres with the seats in place and 1,795 litres with them folded.
Hyundai has wisely focused on making the Tucson comfortable rather than sporty. There are driver modes from Eco to Sport but the last of those makes little difference apart from stiffening up the steering and making the dials go red.
Eco does the job nicely and you’ll have light, quick steering and a ride comfort that deals well with most bumps and ruts.
If you’re really wanting to be environmentally friendly, have off-street parking with somewhere you can put a wallbox charger and you’re a company car driver, then waiting for the PHEV version of the Tucson might be worthwhile.
If none of the above apply then this model, or any mild-hybrid version, should suit just fine.