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The Hyundai Tucson is little short of a sensation. Ten years ago, it didn’t even exist, but now it’s in its second generation and it’s the most popular car on sale in Ireland. However, with other, more up-to-date models snapping at the Hyundai’s heels, the South Korean company has decided it’s time for a bit of cosmetic surgery, updating the Tucson with fresh styling inside and out, but will that be enough for the family SUV to retain its crown?
Visual tweaks
At a glance, it isn’t all that easy to tell the new Tucson from its predecessor, because the basics have remained much the same. The fragmented lights are still integrated into the grille and the roofline is still much the same, complete with aerodynamic trim on the rearmost roof pillar, but if you look closely, you’ll spot new bumpers at the front and rear, as well as a new front grille with thinner and more angular lines. But most people would have to put the old and new car side-by-side to spot the differences.
Inside, however, there’s a bit more to write home about. The dashboard has been redesigned to bring it into line with that of the new seven-seat Santa Fe, so there’s a redesigned centre console and there are physical heater controls, which are becoming a bit of a rarity these days, despite being more ergonomic. Perhaps more notably, though, the Tucson has a new infotainment set-up, complete with a 12.3-inch driver’s instrument display installed in the same curved housing as the central touchscreen.
Overall, the look is modern, despite the buttons making it less clean-looking than some of its rivals’ systems. Again, though, that’s good from an ergonomics point of view, because hiding functions in the touchscreen often makes them difficult to access, especially when you’re on the move. And all the buttons in the Tucson’s cabin feel well engineered, with smooth and robust movement and a sense of solidity, even though some of the materials in the cabin aren’t quite as upmarket as we might have liked.
Functional cabin
The touchscreen is similarly functional, rather than fancy, with a clear and easy-to-navigate menu that makes access relatively simple, even if the system doesn’t look quite as fancy as the fiddly touchscreens in, say, a VW Tiguan. While it may not make your passengers ooh and aah with clever functions (although it still has some), the Hyundai system is a little more driver friendly.
In that, the new Tucson is quite similar to its predecessor, and there’s no difference in terms of practicality, either. Cabin space is more than sufficient for four adults, with perfectly adequate leg- and headroom in the rear, and though the boot size changes slightly depending on whether you opt for the diesel, hybrid or the plug-in hybrid versions, the luggage bay is ample.
Power play
As before, you can choose whether you’d like your Tucson with diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid power, and there’s even a two-seat Commercial model available for business users. Go for the diesel and you get a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with a manual gearbox, sending 136hp to the front wheels, while the two hybrids are based around the same 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Should you choose the hybrid (or HEV, in Hyundai’s parlance), you’ll get 215hp at the disposal of your right foot, and all of it goes to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. It’s an economical choice – it burns through just 5.7 litres of unleaded every 100km according to the official economy test – but it won’t be as efficient as the diesel on a longer journey.
In fairness, nor will the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version we tested. Like the HEV, the PHEV combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, but it also gets a 13.8kWh plug-in battery that allows it to cover around 60-odd kilometres on electric power alone. That range isn’t huge by any standards, but it’s more than enough for most drivers’ commute or school run and should enable those who only drive locally during the week to go Monday to Friday without using a drop of petrol. Do that, and you might get very impressive average consumption indeed, although long runs will see the system use more fuel than the diesel.
There is an advantage to using the petrol engine, however, in that you’ll unlock the PHEV’s full 253hp, which is distributed between all four wheels via the same six-speed automatic gearbox you’ll find in the HEV. That means it’s quick off the mark and it has a bit more off-road capability, although it won’t be giving the Toyota Hilux any sleepless nights. Nevertheless, with all-season tyres fitted, it should deal with any conditions most drivers are likely to throw at it.
Comfortable competence
That’s a bit of a metaphor for the way the Tucson behaves on the road, with very agreeable characteristics that never quite wander into the realms of excitement. The suspension is supple and pliant, without ever feeling loose or vague, and there’s plenty of grip. As a result, the body doesn’t lean or roll too much in corners and the car handles neatly, even though the steering is a bit too light and vague to make it entertaining.
All in all, then, it’s a very solid family SUV that’s seemingly devoid of weak points, and the price is appealing, too. Diesel Tucsons start at just over €39,000, while the HEV commands a premium of around €4,000 and the PHEV costs just under €46,000. As a result, the diesel costs the same as the equivalent Kia Sportage, but the HEV and PHEV models are noticeably cheaper, yet they come with plenty of standard equipment. Two-zone climate control, a reversing camera and heated front seats are all standard, along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration tech.
What next for Hyundai?
Hyundai has been busy of late, and the new Tucson arrives hot on the heels of the new Kona, the Ioniq 5 N electric performance car and the new seven-seat Santa Fe, alongside the updated Bayon small SUV and the new Inster compact electric vehicle. An updated Ioniq 5 electric hatchback is also on the way, along with an Ioniq 7 electric SUV also in the pipeline.