On the road: THE all-new Tucson is an important car for Hyundai, a ‘game changer’ they say, being aimed at those who might have turned their noses up at the brand previously.
It certainly grabs the attention with its bold lines and purposeful stance.
Replacing the IX35, it is a car that you would be proud to have sitting on your drive, drawing admiring glances from beyond the net curtains.
In fact a complete stranger called by my house to have a closer look.
There are two petrol engines and three diesels to choose from.
Our 2.0 litre oil burner combined power with refinement.
Nought to 62mph takes 12 seconds and it has a top speed of 114mph.
Four-wheel drive, it was also allied to a six speed automatic gearbox.
If you want to pull anything, there’s 275lbs/ft of torque available.
Ride quality is impressive and I found the steering communicated well to the driver.
On the inside: WHILE it’s not going to trouble the luxury end of the sector, the Tucson more than holds its own with its direct rivals when it comes to interior quality.
The seats are comfortable, there’s lots of glass to give the cabin an airy feel and I had no problem with vision.
Sure, there’s lots of plastic, but it’s aesthetically pleasing.
The controls are easy to understand and logically placed and the 8ins touchscreen unit is not designed to confuse like some others appear to be.
What do you get: YOU would perhaps expect a car looking to draw in new buyers would offer plenty of equipment and the Tucson doesn’t disappoint.
Our SE badged car came with 19ins alloys, a host of safety measures, electric parking brake, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, leather seat trim, heated front and rear seats and heated steering wheel.
In addition, there was automatic de-fog system for the front windscreen, automatic headlights, dual zone climate control, electrically adjustable and heated wing mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, panoramic sunroof, smart electric tailgate and keyless entry with engine stop and start button.
In terms of technology and entertainment, the Tucson featured the aforementioned 8ins touchscreen navigation system with reversing camera, DAB digital radio and smart park assist.
How practical is it: BUILT on an all-new platform, the Tucson offers 513 litres of space with the seats up, increasing to 1,503 litres with the rear seats folded.
Loading items is easy and with the seats down, there’s an almost flat surface to work with. Passengers
Running costs: WHILE £30,000 is hardly chicken feed it represents good value for a car of this nature. Combined fuel economy comes in at 46.3mpg, while CO2 emissions are somewhat high at 160g/km.
All Hyundai’s come with a five year unlimited mileage warranty, including five years of roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks.
Verdict: I’D have one if that’s any kind of endorsement.
Alternatives: Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here