Hyundai

Tucson

Packing quite a punch in the sports utility vehicle market is the stylish and very capable Tucson. Available with two or four wheel drive, it delivers a great ride and is ideal for active families.

Test Drive

Hyundai Tucson Premium (2023)

The family SUV sector is bubbling over with choice making it difficult for customers to know where to start, but the Hyundai Tucson is a multi-award-winning model so that could be the first port of call.

All diesel versions have been discontinued, but there is a wide selection of petrol models featuring mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology. And, in addition, there is a great range of trim lines to select from called SE Connect, Premium, N Line, N Line S and range-topping Ultimate.

Factor in the option of two or four-wheel drive, along with six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes, plus an entry-level starting price of just £30,200 and there should be a Tucson to suit all requirements.

We opted for the Tucson Premium powered by the 1.6-litre mild hybrid unit, costing £36,840. With 230PS and 350Nm of torque, it could reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.0 seconds and topped out at 120mph while delivering a combined 49.6mpg and carbon emissions of 131g/km (under WLTP testing).

There’s no denying the fact that the Tucson is a great looking vehicle with a strong road presence. Eye-catching design cues include a large cascading grille flanked by very distinctive light signatures. There is privacy glass, smoke-effect tail light casings connected by a light bar, twin exhaust pipes, body-coloured bumpers, door handles and mirrors, plus striking 19-inch alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior is clutter-free with a large centre stack that houses the 10.25-inch navigation infotainment screen. This is the access point to many on-board features, including Apple CarPlay and Android smartphone connectivity, DAB radio, an eight-speaker Krell sound system, Bluetooth and all the driver assistance safety aids. It does mean you have to access the system to deactivate functions such as the lane keep assist which is a bit of a chore though.

There is a separate panel for all the climate control settings, which is always good news as it causes far less driver distraction than navigating a touchscreen menu and, for all the vital driving data, there is a separate screen behind the steering wheel. This is quite chunky and does look a little like an afterthought in a day and age where everything is integrated into surrounding casings.

But that aside, the interior is really comfortable and well equipped and, with ample seat and steering wheel adjustment available, finding the perfect driving position is easy enough.

When it comes to performance, the Tucson ticks all the right boxes. The acceleration through the six-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and responsive with steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver engagement.

With a constant stream of power on tap, short bursts of rapid pace to overtake are easily achieved and the car is a very comfortable motorway cruiser effortlessly sitting at 70mph and eating up the miles.

On twisting country lanes, it delivers good levels of grip with minimal sign of body sway in and out of tight corners. The steering is fairly light but offers plenty of feedback and the elevated seating offers a great view of the road ahead.

The Tucson, which stretches 4.5 metres in length, is also deceptively agile in bustling town centres and that great driver visibility is a bonus once again with pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles darting out from all angles.

There are drive modes called Eco and Sport that alter the driving characteristics of the Tucson with Sport introducing an edge to the mix. And special mention to the car’s highly-effective suspension set-up that does an admirable job of smoothing out any bumps and dips along the way.

With active families in mind and weekend breaks to the countryside on the agenda, the Tucson needs to cover all the practicality bases and it does just that. There is loads of room for a couple of six-foot-plus adults up front and a trio of passengers can sit in the back too thanks to the generous amounts of knee, head and elbow space.

The boot, accessed via a wide tailgate opening, can accommodate 616 litres of luggage, a limit that increases to 1,795 with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And with summer on the horizon, it’s worth noting the Tucson can tow a caravan or trailer with a braked weight of 1.65 tonnes. It is fitted with a trailer wiring package in readiness for those getaways.

Additional storage can be found throughout the cabin, such as a central cubby, wide door bins with a bottle holder, a glovebox, seat back pockets, front and rear cup holders, along with a number of USB charge ports to keep devices connected.

All in all, the Tucson is a fabulous all-rounder that is stylish to look at, great to drive and very practical. Factor in its competitive pricing structure and it becomes evident why this car has scooped so many awards since launch.

Test Drive

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate 1.6 T-GDI 230PS Hybrid 2WD Automatic (2021)

The family SUV sector is packed to bursting with models these days so it is vital car makers ensure their particular model stands out from the crowd and the latest Hyundai Tucson does just that.

It has been around for 16 years now and notched up seven million global sales, but the all-new fourth generation Tucson raises the bar with a choice of generously-equipped trim levels, powertrains, transmissions and even the option of two- or four-wheel-drive. So fair to say then customers have plenty of up-front decisions to make.

Boasting a distinctive design, best-in-class safety package and a wealth of on-board technology as standard, the five-door Tucson looks dynamic when viewed from any angle with a large front grille, front and rear skid plates, roof rails, chunky wheel arch mouldings, body-coloured bumpers, privacy glass, daytime running lights, rear LED combination lights and eye-catching 19-inch alloy wheels.

Move inside and the clean, elegant interior offers excellent levels of comfort with light pouring in through the panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting throughout. The front seats are power-operated and you can save your favourite driving position to one of the memory settings.

Techno treats are plentiful and our range-topping Tucson Ultimate model, priced at £37,195, featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system, smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, Bluetooth, three-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Krell sound system, a wireless phone charging pad and lots more besides.

And it’s always nice to see completely separate controls for all the climate settings and heated seats rather than having to navigate drop-down menus on a complicated touchscreen.

There is a smart 10.25-inch digital cluster behind the steering wheel that can be personalised according to taste along with Hyundai’s Bluelink Connected Services set-up with a five-year subscription. This adds features such as remotely locking and unlocking the vehicle, planning navigation routes, monitoring fuel levels and plenty more from a smartphone app.

Our test car was powered by a punchy 1.6-litre 230hp petrol hybrid engine matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It could reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.0 seconds, maxed out at 120mph and, according to official figures, delivered a combined 49.6mpg with carbon emissions of 131g/km.

When it comes to performance and handling, the latest Tucson is certainly a classy piece of kit that is happy cruising along motorways where it quickly reaches the national speed limit, powering through the country lanes or weaving through busier city settings with its nimble handling. It adapts perfectly to each challenge put in its path.

The road holding is good provided tighter bends are given a certain degree of respect and the suspension system does an excellent job of smoothing out most of the bumps and dips along the way.

There are two driving modes called Eco or Sport that alter the characteristics and dynamism of the Tucson considerably and even the instrumentation takes on a red glow in Sport mode.

The acceleration through the automatic transmission is nicely timed and there are steering wheel mounted paddles for added driver engagement. Another plus-point is the nicely weighted steering with ample driver feedback.

With its slightly elevated seating position, the driver benefits from clear all-round visibility and all controls, dials and readouts are ideally positioned for ease of use on the fly.

My one criticism after a week behind the wheel is the constant noises this car’s clever technology throws at you. It seems to be pinging and beeping with warning signals at every turn and even the indicators are really loud, which on a positive note means they are impossible to forget about and accidently leave on. But that was my only real gripe on an otherwise outstanding vehicle.

The latest Tucson has had quite a growth spurt too and is 20mm longer, 15mm wider and features a wheelbase that is 10mm longer. As a result, rear passengers benefit from 26mm of extra legroom and the boot has grown in capacity too. With all seats in an upright position, the Tucson, with its powered tailgate, can swallow 616 litres of kit and this limit increases to 1,795 litres with the split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

In addition, there are numerous handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car, including a deep glovebox, practical cubby box, door bins, front cup holders, rear cup holders in the fold-down armrest, seatback nets and some convenient trays.

And as one would expect, there is a comprehensive list of safety features fitted to the vehicle as standard and although the Tucson has not yet been crash tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, it is expected to score highly.

Safety kit includes blind spot collision warning, blind spot collision avoidance, high beam assist, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic collision warning and avoidance, trailer stability assist, Isofix child seat anchor points on the outer rear seats, downhill brake control, driver attention warning and plenty more besides.

Our car featured an optional Tech Pack that added £1,300 to the price-tag and that introduced electronic control suspension, around view monitor, remote park smart assist and a rather quirky blind spot view monitor which is activated when you flick the indicator stalk and shows a camera view of the blind spot in the instrument cluster. Clever stuff.

All in all, the latest Hyundai Tucson is a fabulous all-rounder that’s happy clocking up the business miles or picking up the kids on the school run. The latest improvements are guaranteed to keep standards exceptionally high in the family SUV sector and that’s not a bad thing as it will mean all rivals continuously need to up their game to keep their cars in the spotlight.

Test Drive

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Premium SE manual 2WD (2019)

Hyundai has upped the ante in the compact family SUV sector with the arrival of its latest Tucson model that’s very big on style, handling and technology … and it needs to be when competing against the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and SEAT Ateca.

New Tucson is much sharper in appearance than its predecessor with dynamic styling, and for anyone with an eye on economy, there is a new mild hybrid version that features a 48-volt electric battery.

However, we opted for the range-topping Premium SE model powered by a 1.6 T-GDi petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. This turbocharged powertrain pumps out a hefty 177PS with 265Nm of torque, so it’s not lacking when it comes to fire-power.

In fact, the Tucson can complete the 0 to 62mph sprint in a very respectable 9.2 seconds and goes onto a top speed of 126mph while delivering combined fuel economy of 37.7mpg with carbon emissions of 168g/km.

The car is more athletic in its styling thanks to the introduction of Hyundai’s trademark Cascading grille. There are also new bumpers, improved full LED headlights, upgraded rear lights and freshly designed tail pipes.

The designers have also given the interior quite a make-over as you will notice the second you take your seat behind the multi-function steering wheel. There is a redesigned dashboard, a floating touchscreen and plenty of creature comforts to explore along the way.

Techno treats on our car, which was priced at £29,970, included a pitch perfect Krell sound system with eight speakers and a subwoofer, an eight-inch touchscreen navigation system with traffic messaging channel and live services, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a wireless phone charging pad, air conditioning, powered seats, Bluetooth, a sunroof, parking sensors plus a surround view monitor.

The Tucson certainly has a modern, upmarket feel to it with smart leather upholstery and plenty of soft touch surfaces, and all the dials and controls are practically positioned for ease of use too.

When it comes to performance, the punchy petrol engine delivers ample power, and the acceleration through the smooth six-speed gearbox is nice and responsive. This helps to makes light work of overtaking slower moving vehicles. The car also cruises effortlessly eating up the motorways miles and is a comfortable place to be even after several hours behind the wheel.

Out on the country lanes, the Tucson’s road holding is assured and the car is beautifully poised and balanced. It is not as high as some family SUVs so any body sway into tight bends or corners is kept to a minimum.

The latest Tucson is also fitted with Hyundai’s impressive Flex Steer power steering system that allows you to choose between Normal or Sport. In the Normal setting, little steering effort is required, but in the Sport mode the wheel feels far heavier, which is better suited to faster driving.

The driver benefits from a slightly elevated seating position which is good for visibility, although the Tucson does have quite wide B pillars which hinders the over-the-shoulder view a little.

That was my only slight gripe really, apart from the fuel economy – I was struggling to get close to the official 37.7mpg even when I followed all the on-screen gear shift prompts and was eventually achieving between 32.0 to 33.0mpg – on a good day!

Being a family SUV you would expect storage options to be thorough inside the Tucson and they are. The boot has a capacity of 513 litres that can be increased to 1,503 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. There is a powered tailgate, along with lots of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car, such as an illuminated glovebox with cooling function, deep door bins, front and rear cup holders, a central cubby box and a sunglasses holder.

Another plus point is safety. The vehicle was awarded the maximum five stars when it was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating and boasts the likes of autonomous emergency braking, brake assist, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, high beam assist, rear cross traffic alert, vehicle stability management, downhill brake control, hill-start assist, and a number of airbags. There is also trailer stability assist to help prevent or reduce any swaying when pulling a trailer or caravan.

The Tucson is Hyundai’s biggest selling vehicle in the UK and with the launch of the new model, the Korean car maker has certainly turned up the heat in the compact family SUV sector.

Test Drive

Hyundai Tucson Premium 2.0 CRDI 136PS Manual 4WD

The fiercely competitive compact SUV market is constantly expanding and it really takes something special for a car to stand out these days – the Hyundai Tucson may just have that little bit of je ne sais quois … so to speak!

We are constantly informed that the ‘soft-roaders’ are very adept when venturing from the reassurances of the Tarmac, but these claims are rarely put to the test.

However, that rare opportunity developed totally unexpectedly during my week-long test drive behind the wheel of the new Hyundai Tucson. Now I say new, but some may already be very familiar with the Tucson name as it was part of the Hyundai line-up until 2009. It was replaced by the ix35 and now in a quirky twist of fate the Tucson has replaced the ix35.

The car looks great from any angle with its bold, athletic stance and numerous eye-catching design cues such as 19-inch alloys, roof rails, body-coloured bumpers, front and rear skid plates, twin exhausts, rear spoiler with integrated brake light, LED daytime running lights, body coloured door handles and mirrors, privacy glass, fog lights and plenty more beside.

It would be fair to say in a world where the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and newly-introduced Renault Kadjar are vying for SUV sales, the Tucson can easily hold its own in the styling stakes, but there’s more!

And so it was that I ventured off to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in my pristine Tucson with its shiny Moon Rock coloured paintwork. The festival coincided with Glastonbury which was deemed one of the wettest on record and it meant that in order to reach car parking spaces I had to drive the car across one of the boggiest fields imaginable – more like a quagmire if I’m being truthful.

Numerous cars were becoming trapped and the deep mud ruts were getting more difficult to tackle by the minute. However, after engaging the Tucson’s Lock AWD mode it conquered the 600 metre track without any major issues. Admittedly it did slip and slide a little, but there was certainly no drama to speak of and I could watch on with a sense of smugness as the Land Rovers pulled out the marooned cars along with their helpless and somewhat embarrassed drivers along the way.

So following that experience I can definitely vouch for the off-road capabilities of the Tucson, but it offers so much more along the way. The interior is incredibly premium in its design and layout and absolutely jam-packed with technology, including the likes of an 8-inch touchscreen with sat nav, reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a six speaker sound system, dual zone climate control, leather trimmed seats that can be heated and electrically adjusted and a list that seems to go on and on.

The test car was powered by a 2.0-litre 136PS diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It can sprint from 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds, maxes out at 114mph; it can achieve combined fuel economy of 54.3mpg with carbon emissions of 139g/km.

The handling is beautifully nimble for a car of its size and corners can be approached at a reasonable speed too as there is no body roll and the sure-footed road holding and direct steering will keep you firmly on course. And another bonus is the lack of any road surface, engine or wind noise to be heard within the cabin.

All-round comfort levels are very high with ample leg, head and shoulder space for three adults to stretch out in the rear. Hyundai has also ensured all storage concerns are quelled thanks to a generously-sized boot with a 488-litre capacity that is easily increased to 1,478 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there is a glovebox, cup holders, (two in the rear armrest too), a deep central bin, sunglasses holder and practical door pockets.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility thanks to a high seated position which is a notable plus factor in a family car and the Tucson is also packed with a comprehensive list of safety features which helped it achieve the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety ratings.

All in all, the new Hyundai Tucson Premium, priced at £29,045, is up against some tough opposition in this fiercely competitive segment, but it has already proved that it’s ready for a scrap and doesn’t mind getting dirty in the process.

Test Drive

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRTD CDX 5dr (pre-2009)

It may be smaller than its sports utility vehicle siblings, but make no mistake the Hyundai Tucson is big on performance and big on quality.

Boasting eye-catching good looks and plenty of top notch creature comforts the Tucson also delivers a really good ride both in town and out on the open road.

The light and spacious cabin can easily accommodate five adults along with all their luggage requirements thanks to the generously-sized boot area.

There is a high-seated driving position which means excellent all round visibility and the Tucson is very nimble and agile in congested city centre traffic.

Then, out on the open road, the 2.0-litre engine delivers plenty of power and the vast array of quality features throughout simply add to the all-round enjoyment.

There is, for example, a very efficient climate control system, an electric sunroof, heated front seats, cruise control, a great CD and audio system, double folding 60/40 split rear seats, dazzling alloys and attention-grabbing roof rails to add to the rugged appearance.

And peace of mind is assisted by the comprehensive list of safety equipment Hyundai has kitted the Tucson out with.

It includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, power steering, six airbags and a great security system to keep away any uninvited attention.

But for me the real attraction of this vehicle is its very competitive price. Hyundai realises the SUV market is a very competitive one and has endeavoured to keep the costs down.

So much so in fact, that there are very few additional costs on the Tucson, so you get a fantastic spec list as standard.

And you also get the only five year unlimited mileage fully-transferable warranty in the 4×4 segment.

Now that could make one or two rivals sit up and listen methinks!