Hyundai Tucson 2019 bring new Go entry model

Hyundai Motor Company (HMCA) hopes that its facelifted Tucson medium SUV can appeal to a wider range of customers, having lowered its base pricetag by way of the new entry-level Go variant.

On the other end of the spectrum, the top-spec Highlander has been treated to a higher level of specification, pushing further towards the premium side of the market.

Buying into the 2018 Tucson range is now $440 less expensive than before with the new Go variant from $28,150 before on-roads, while the range-topping $48,800 Highlander diesel is $1350 dearer than the outgoing flagship.

The new Tucson line-up was designed to cover more bases, with HMCA senior product planning manager Andrew Tuitahi suggesting it will now be attractive to a more diverse group of buyers.

"I think what you see with Tucson is us actually stretching it a little bit, so sure the Highlander increased in price, it got a whole bunch of spec and features which we think represents good value but we've also got a cheaper entry car than we had before,"said he said.

"So for Tucson it's not so much about positioning the car as a premium alternative or anything like that, it was really just about stretching and making it available to more people."

The new Tucson line-up was designed to cover more bases.

The new Go grade is also offered in the i30 small hatch, and will soon be introduced to the Kona small SUV.

For Tucson, the Go variant is available in front-drive petrol or all-wheel drive diesel forms and includes 7.0-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, automatic headlights, 17-inch steel wheels, cruise control and roof rails.

As for the new Highlander, Hyundai has added a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging to justify the price rise.

According to Mr Tuitahi, the Tucson Go replaces the Active due to feedback from Hyundai's dealer and customer network.

"Active is our traditional entry model, and customers and dealers have an expectation of what the specification, features will be on that trim level across the different models and our range, and we were getting feedback that we would need to achieve or hit a lower price point to maximise the income in customers in that price band,"he said.

"So having that cheaper entry price to the medium-SUV segment will help us capitalise on customers that are already shopping in there, and also some customers that are possibly willing to step up from a smaller car, but at a cheaper price to make sure they can get more metal for their money."

The Active X, which sits just above the Go in the Tucson line-up, is expected to be the most popular with its 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and all-wheel drive combination.

In speaking about the possibility of a seven-seat variant, Mr Tuitahi said that if it were to happen, it would likely be in the next-generation model.

For Tucson, the Go variant is available in front-drive petrol or all-wheel drive diesel forms.

"In the current generation, no,"he said. "Looking to the future, we're seeing a little bit of a transition in the segment to some competitors offering a seven-seat option – Tiguan, CR-V. So in the future we'll have to consider it, look at what customer feedback is and how they use the seats, the value of having seven seats in a car that size – we'll look at it."

Check out all Year Make Model price and spec info here.

Does the lowered entry-level pricetag make the Hyundai Tucson medium SUV more appealing to you? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.