Hyundai is bullish about the prospects that the Tucson holds and we believe that they are surely onto something with this product.
With the introduction of the third generation Tucson, Hyundai has stepped into a segment that literally has no competition (the only other player in this segment is the Honda CR-V and it barely sells).
It is a very smart move by the company as the Tucson reaches out to a market that doesn’t take on the Toyota Fortuner or the Ford Endeavour, thus improving its prospects considerably.
The Looks
The Hyundai Tucson follows the company’s fluidic sculpture 2.0 design philosophy. You get those large sweeping headlights with dual barrel LED headlamps, that flank the large chrome trapezoidal grille, fog lamps with LED DRLs, neat 3-D looking rear LED combination lamps as well as diamond cut 18-inch alloys plus twin trapezoidal chrome tipped exhausts.
The strong character lines give the Tucson a no-nonsense look and a muscular stance and there is enough chrome on board to suit Indian tastes. The interiors on the Tucson have been finished in a two-tone scheme of beige and black and the fit and finish is commendable.
The cabin is nice and spacious and since the Tucson is a five-seater, the rear bench offers a generous amount of leg space as well. The Tucson also boasts of a nice large boot with a luggage net to carry around a ton of stuff, if required.
Well thought-out features – such as the front arm rest with storage, a sunglass holder and a plethora of cup holders – also make their way to the Tucson cabin.
Features And Safety Covered
You get steering mounted cruise controls, an adjustable steering for both rake and reach, keyless start/stop, a cooled glove box, dual zone climate control, rear AC vents, an auto defogger, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Arkamys sound system, Bluetooth/Aux/USB connectivity, and the system also pairs with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Keeping things in check are systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) that do their bit to ensure you have a safe ride.
You also get ABS with EBD, brake assist, hill start assist control and downhill brake control to make life easier for you while driving around. The Tucson also comes with six airbags.
Power
Hyundai is offering the Tucson with a both petrol and diesel engine options here in India. The petrol burner is a 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder, DOHC unit with dual VTVT and manages to churn out a solid 155 PS @6, 200 rpm while generating 196Nm of torque @4,000 rpm. The common rail direct injection diesel engine is also a 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder unit that comes with an e-VGT.
It generates a stonking 185 PS of power @4,000 rpm and puts out 408Nm of torque between 1,750 –2,750 rpm. Both engine options are available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.
According to the ARAI fuel efficiency test cycle, the petrol version delivers 13.03 kmpl with the manual transmission while the automatic one offers 12.95 kmpl. The diesel version with a manual transmission offers a stellar 18.42 kmpl while the automatic variant delivers a rather decent 16.38 kmpl.
The Drive
The Tucson is quick off the mark and can get up to three-digit speeds really quick. Having said that, it also offers multiple driving modes, so if you feel that you need a more thrilling ride, you can always shift to ‘sport’ mode and get this beast to really move.
The Tucson also offers an ‘eco’ mode to keep things sane in the city and ensure that it doesn’t sip as much fuel while doing so. The ride quality and handling is commendable and Hyundai’s focus on setting up the suspension just right clearly shows.
You can push it around a bit without upsetting it and you definitely feel more in control behind the wheel. The Tucson is a blast to drive and while I would have liked a little more in terms of steering feedback, there really isn’t anything to complain about on how this vehicle performs.
Our Take
Hyundai has gone all out with the Tucson and has managed to offer a formidable package at a very aggressive price point. It does everything just right, looks great and comes loaded with features for those customers who want a premium SUV that doesn’t take up your entire driveway, yet offers all the thrills and frills, the Tucson is a really good bet.
(Vikram Gour is one of India’s renowned automotive journalists and the Co-Founder of MotorScribes. He can be reached on Twitter: @VikramGour)
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