2004 Hyundai Tucson Reviews

Building cars people want is a sure way to success, as Hyundai discovered with the Tucson SUV.  The Tucson marked the beginning of a successful new era for Hyundai after a worrying slump in sales in the years preceding the all- purpose family wagon.From a high of 60,000 in 1997 sales had slipped to half that in the years before the Tucson arrived.  As the end of the year approaches Hyundai is sitting comfortably near the top of the sales charts, its sales racing ahead of last year's.  While the Tucson is not alone in driving this success it is one of the models that have contributed to it; it's one people want.MODEL WATCHWhen the Tucson hit the market in 2004 Australia was in the grip of an SUV fever; any company without one was doomed the struggle.  Ford was desperate to get one, and the Territory was the result, while Holden was scrambling to find one somewhere in the General's global portfolio, and eventually found the Captiva.Hyundai's response was the Tucson, a compact crossover wagon created to compete with the likes of the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and other similar vehicles.The Tucson looked much the same as the other SUVs in the market; it was a pleasant looking wagon with chunky lines that gave a solid look on the road.  The interior was roomy and flexible, with the ability to fold the seats flat to swallow whatever a family might need to carry, for sports or camping gear, to DIY hardware for that home reno project.There were also lots of handy nooks and crannies to stow things securely out of the way, plus shopping bag hooks and tie-downs for restraining larger items being carried.Hyundai launched three models initially, all powered by a 2.7-litre double overhead camshaft V6 backed by a four-speed sequential shift automatic transmission.A willing revver, the V6 would put out 129 kW at 6000 revs and 241 Nm at 4000 revs when at its peak.  There was a lockable centre diff, and all-wheel drive system was a Borg-Warner 'on-demand' one that automatically transferred drive to the rear wheels when needed for traction.A few months after the initial launch, in February 2005, Hyundai added a front-wheel drive model, the City, to the range.  The City was powered by a double overhead camshaft two-litre four- cylinder engine that churned out 104 kW and 184 Nm. It too was backed up by a four-speed sequential shift auto.The V6 range started with the Tucson, which came standard with air, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, and there was a full-sized spare wheel and tyre.Step up a rung and you got a Tucson Elite, which boasted among other things a sunroof, wider tyres and a trip computer.  Make it all the way to the top and you found yourself in an Elite S with body-coloured bumpers and side cladding.  When it arrived the City was also well equipped.IN THE SHOPHyundai has racked up more awards for its build quality than most in the last five or so years, so that's a good guide to the potential reliability you're likely to experience.Rarely to Hyundai's feature in the carsGuide complaints columns, which means owners are generally content.  Engines, gearboxes, drivelines all seem strong and reliable; there is little that seems to plague the body and hardware.All round the Tucson is getting through life with few concerns; those problems that do crop up are usually of a minor nature.  Make the usual checks for a service record to ensure the maintenance has been done, and of course look for signs of crash repairs that might not have been well done.IN A CRASHThe Tucson is quire well equipped to handle a crash. All models came standard with ABS antilock brakes, EBD brakeforce optimization, and traction control.They also came standard with dual front airbags, but the Elite and Elite S also boasted the added protection of head airbags and side front airbags.ANCAP gave the Tucson four stars in 2006.AT THE PUMPHyundai claimed the 2.0-litre Tucson would do 9.2 L/100 km on average, the 2.7-litre V6 11.0 L/100 km.  A carsGuide road test at the time of the launch had the V6 doing an average of 14.5 L/100 km.  Owners are saying they are happy with the economy of the 2.0-litre Tucson and getting around 9.5 L/100 km.OWNERS SAYJohn Murray has clocked up 70,000 km in his 2006 Tucson. He says its chunky style makes it easy to get in and out of for a 58-year-old, and the interior is roomy.On the road it is quiet and feels very car-like, the auto works well, the cruise and air are good, but the 2.0-litre engine, while economical, could do with more grunt.John also says the dealer service is expensive. He was told at the 30,000 km that the power steering fluid was contaminated and needed replacing. It was not covered by warranty and cost $106. Worse, he says, was that he wad told that had he not replaced the fluid future claims might have been denied.Paul Anderson has traveled 80,000 km in his 2006 Tucson City auto, which he says has never missed a beat. It is very good value for money with a good level of standard equipment, has a flexible interior with the ability to fold the seats down flat for carrying gear, and is economical.Paul's only complaint, something he'd like fixed before he would buy another one, is the gearing in the auto."It takes forever to change up, and works very hard to change up from first to second, and to third in particular," he says.LOOK FOR. Heaps of equipment. Roomy, flexible interior. Choice of AWD or FWD. V8 grunt or economy of four. Good value-for-moneyTHE BOTTOM LINEA well-equipped, value-packed, competent and reliable wagon for the family on the go.RATING80/100

The all-wheel-drive machine marks the beginning of a new era for the South Korean carmaker in Australia, and leads a drive to surpass former sales glory.Hyundai fell from more than 60,000 sales in 1997 to about 30,000 last year, even as the market boomed.Now the local operation, Hyundai Motor Company Australia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company in Korea.There's been a management cull and some new directions taken, away from the cut-price culture.This year Australian sales are up 45 per cent.The Tucson sits below the Santa Fe in the Hyundai range and has a little less room in the wagon area. It is pronounced "too-son" after the city in Arizona.The wagon arrives with a V6 engine, good road balance, a deal of refinement and a reasonable $29,990 price tag.It goes up against the likes of Toyota's RAV4, the Honda CR-V and the Nissan X-Trail in this booming class of compact wagons with some off-road ability. The rivals all have four-cylinder engines.It is the most researched of Hyundais so far and is aimed at singles and couples aged 25 to 39... "urbane, successful and with active lifestyles"."The Tucson is integral to changing the way people think and feel about Hyundai in Australia," Hyundai Motor Company Australia's Richard Whaite says.The marketers want some emotion added to the practical and rational appeal of the brand.The three Tucson variants have the same mechanical package of 129kW 2.7-litre V6, all-wheel drive on demand, lockable centre differential, four-speed sequential-style automatic, anti-skid brakes, traction control and 16-inch wheels.Standard gear includes airconditioning, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, dual airbags and a full-sized spare wheel and tyre.Handy small touches include a rear window that can be opened separate of the rear wagon door.That may not sound much, but is a help when you are in a tight spot and need to drop in some shopping.Other details include shopping bag hooks and cargo attachment points.The range starts with the Tucson at $29,990 and moves to the Tucson Elite at $32,490, which has six airbags, sunroof, wider Bridgestone tyres and fancier cloth trim.The Tucson Elite S at $33,200 adds body-coloured bumpers and side cladding.All are covered by a five year/130,000km warranty, and all tow 1500kg.The 4300mm-long Tucson sits on a 2630mm wheelbase, which is long for this class of machine, has 186mm of ground clearance and relatively short overhangs front and rear.The CD player is MP3-compatible and there are three 12-volt power points and a host of cubbyholes as well as a drawer under the left front seat.THE Tucson is up with the rest of the class as an on-road, urbane wagon.On the dirt the Tucson is ahead of some in terms of ride comfort through bigger holes and ruts, on par with the best on smaller thumps and bumps and ahead of many with grip and steering feel in loose stuff.It runs smooth down a forest track, cruises along the highway and drives easily in town.The V6 engine is willing all the way to maximum power at 6000 revs, but for best results it should be worked with the sequential shift. Maximum torque is a handy 241Nm, though it arrives at 4000 revs.The Tucson offers safe highway grip and little body roll. The front end can feel a little heavy through the steering (it is front drive until wheel slip brings in the rear, limited-slip differential) at lower speeds and there is a tendency to push the nose in some turns.The ride is firm and controlled, thanks to coil springs and anti-roll bars front and rear.With traction control on, the front end can bog down a little in loose dirt and feel somewhat heavy . . . best to switch that off for a more fluid drive.The Borg Warner torque-management system is quicker than most in transferring drive to the rear wheels in a seamless operation.From most quarters the Tucson has a clean and easy style . . . only that bug-eyed front looks a touch squashed, but the rear, with its twin tailpipes, has some appeal.Interior room is good and cabin versatility is aided by a front passenger seat that folds all the way forward or right back, reclining rear seats and a rear floor that lifts out for wash-downs. The flexibility is hampered a little by a rear cargo cover that doesn't fold all the way back.The dashboard and instrumentation layout is smart and functional.Fit and finish are good, particularly the cloth trim in the Tucson Elite.This is a good first shot at the compact all-wheel-drive segment; some thought has been given to the engineering.The icing on the Tucson cake is the array of standard features, including that 2.7-litre V6 engine and sequential-style automatic. The Elite, with extra airbags and gear, is a particular bargain.A NICE crossover wagon that is not only capable, but is great value and has lots of standard gear.

But it appears supply from Korea has let the side down.A Queensland Hyundai spokesman said they could easily sell an extra 200 units.Hyundai Motor Company Australia spokesman Richard Power confirmed that demand had greatly exceeded supply with orders backed up for a few months.At the world launch in Korea last May, the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) didn't have cruise control as standard, was expected to start at $32,000 and was sprung soft for the American market. Understandable, given the continuation of Hyundai's US nomenclature.However, despite being designed for a world market, it arrived here with right-side blinker controls, a nicely stiffened suspension package, standard cruise control, a wealth of other attractive features, and a highly competitive starting price of $29,990.A diesel Tucson was to have arrived shortly, but unfortunately, no such luck."We are looking at it for the future but more research is planned before any moves are taken," Power said."Our current Tucson supply shortage wouldn't improve with the diesel variant, given Europe's strong demand for it."Tucson comes with a 129kW V6, all-wheel-drive on demand, lockable centre differential, tilt adjustable steering, four-speed sequential-style automatic, ABS, traction control and 16-inch wheels.Standard gear includes airconditioning, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, dual airbags, MP3-compatible CD player and a full-sized spare wheel and tyre.The range starts with the Tucson at $29,990, Tucson Elite at $32,490 with six airbags, sunroof, wider Bridgestones and fancier cloth trim and Tucson Elite S at $33,200 with body-coloured bumpers and side-cladding.I recently drove the Elite. The cloth trim is OK, but the seats are flat and lacking in long-range touring support.The 4.3m long Tucson sits on a 2630mm wheelbase, long for this class of machine and longer than its bigger brother, the Santa Fe.And with similar brotherly styling, a short front overhang and wheels at the back corners, it appears a little stretched and out of proportion from the side angle as well as having limited luggage space.However, a flat-fold rear seat converts the premium 325-litre luggage area into a generous 805 litres with a washable flat floor.The Borg-Warner electronic interactive torque management four-wheel-drive system directs 99 per cent of the drive to the front wheels. When slip is detected in relation to throttle position and front-wheel angle, power is diverted to the wheels that need it most.Consequently it understeers on the tarmac like any front-wheel-drive.Drivers also can switch on the fly to 50-50 4WD which operates up to about 30km/h. Fine in the soft stuff, but limited over coarse country.The monocoque body with bolt-on engine bay and rear suspension sections has a strong and rigid feel, with no hint of flex, or accompanying rattle or groan.Power is delivered smoothly without too many screaming engine revs despite hauling around a rather hefty 1625kg, while the four-speed box never has to work overtime on hills thanks to 410Nm of torque. Using the sequential and keeping the engine ticking above 4000rpm guarantees even better results.Bringing the Tucson bulk to a halt are power-assisted brakes with ABS as standard. They worked well with a spongy first touch, followed by a reassuringly progressive feel.Inside, four adults (or two adults and three children) are well accommodated with plenty of leg and head room, front and back. There are three 12-volt power points and all four doors feature bottle and map holders, with extra cup holders in the centre armrests.Ride is firm without being uncomfortable. Coil springs and two sway bars ensure good footing around the roundabouts.Push too hard and the traction control cuts in and neatly tucks the nose back under. Turn it off if you are playing in the dirt.Hyundai sales are up by more than 45 per cent this year. Imagine how well they would be going if they could get decent Tucson supply.

The name, however, I can live without, coming as it does from the same American design studio that brought us Tucson's big brother Santa Fe.Both the Tucson and Santa Fe are what is known as "softroaders", compact 4WDs with some off road ability but no low range gearing – in this case designed, built and named primarily with the American market in mind.Not the best recommendation, but do not be put off by the name or heritage because the five-seat Tucson is a very good vehicle – the most impressive offering to date from the Korean manufacturer.We have never been a big fan of Santa Fe's round, bloated lines, but Tucson's finely chiselled features are more contemporary and appealing.And, while the majority of contenders in the compact 4WD segment make do with a four cylinder engine, Tucson steps up to the crease with a full blown V6.It is not a huge engine but the same small, impressive 2.7-litre power plant that has seen service in other applications, including the Tiburon sports car.In fact, it appears to have been lifted over from the Tiburon complete with the twin exhaust system, judging by the two tailpipes protruding from the rear.Three models are offered: the entry level Tucson V6 AWD priced from $29,990, Tucson Elite priced from $32,490 and Tucson Elite S priced from $33,200.Our test car was the top of the line Elite S distinguished by its colour-coded body work.With its chunky compact dimensions, short front and rear overhangs and bulging fender flares the car conveys a muscular athletic look.The fit and finish of Hyundai's cars continues to improve with every model and the Tiburon is no exception, on par with anything from the Japanese.Inside, the interior is spacious, light and airy, with good all round vision from a high driving position.Interior noises levels are pleasingly low and there are lots of places to put things.The rear tailgate glass opens separately for quick access.The alloy 2.7-litre quad cam 24 valve V6 is good for 129kW of power at 6000rpm and 241Nm of torque from 4000rpm.It is not a large engine but the size is a good compromise between power and economy and this is reflected in the vehicle's good fuel economy figures.Transmission is a four-speed adaptive auto with sequential shift mode that means it can be operated like a manual.It pairs well with the engine but hunts between gears at times.Unlike the Santa Fe the Tucson has a part-time, all- wheel drive system that transfers drive to the rear wheels as required.Most of the time it is front-wheel drive.We gave the system a pretty good work out over some twisting roads and can report the car hangs on, although it will ultimately understeer if pushed to the limit.There is a limited slip rear diff and the centre differential can be locked for off road driving which means drive is distributed equally between the front and rear wheels.Traction control is also included but can be switched off if required.The engine and manual change combination offer spirited performance with excellent ride and handling thanks to the European spec suspension.There is a touch too much body roll during fast cornering – but hey it is a 4WD.Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to take Tucson off road but look forward to doing this in the near future.However, with only 186mm of ground clearance there will not be too much rough stuff involved.During testing we got about 500km from the 65-litre fuel tank or about 13.0L/100km – official figures put combined consumption at 11.0L/100km.There is little missing from Tucson's equipment list.Standard features include airconditioning, two airbags, power windows and mirrors, five three-point seatbelts, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, alloy wheels, cruise control, keyless entry, cargo area cover and elastic net, windscreen wiper de-icer, roof rails, fog lights and pollen filter.Points of criticism include the seats that are somewhat shapeless and can be become uncomfortable on long journeys.Reproduction from the six-speaker CD sound system, although it can play MP3s, is dull at low volumes.

Yep, the Hyundai Tucson (pronounced toos-on) makes an impressive package, one that will concern its market rivals.While the toughest obstacle it will probably face will be the shopping centre car park, it's reassuring to know the Tucson is quite capable off the road.A stand-out feature is the versatile and flexible interior. Hyundai has moved away from the cheap plastics that often plague Korean cars and it is clear a lot more thought has gone into the fit and finish.The centre console raises to double as an arm rest. There are small lip trays under each door pull for the mobile, retractable shopping hooks, two cup-holders each for the front and rear, three 12-volt outlets and a lined coin drawer and coin rack.All doors have pockets with bottle holders, there are two wet compartments under the rear floor and an umbrella shelf under the steering wheel column. It even has a drawer under the front left seat.The seats fold down to a virtually flat floor and there is no need to remove the head restraints. The rear floor even lifts out so it can be washed.The front left seat folds flat to double as a work table, has an elastic net pocket to keep things safe and when flat extends the cabin length to fit a 2.7m Malibu surfboard along the cabin's left side.With the rear head-rests removed, the back-rest reclines flat, making a bed with the rear seat cushion.There are three child seat anchor points located immediately behind the rear back-rest, avoiding the tendency for straps to get in the way of the boot compartment.When tested on the dirt, the Tucson was capable while in two-wheel drive. But press the button inside and switch it to 4WD mode and it grips even better.Its 186mm ground clearance, favourable approach and departure angles are good for off-road work.The suspension is firmer than the often soft and wafting suspension that has come from South Korea and over the bumpy, corrugated dirt, it didn't float.On gravel tracks, the suspension soaked up all but the worst of the irregularities.The Tucson rides well around corners, only suffering body roll when turned in sharply.The 2.7-litre V6 manages 129kW and may not be the best V6 powerplant around but it gets the Tucson off the mark with ease (0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds) and is torquey.Overtaking sees the engine sound a little coarse, as you have to put the foot down to shift the vehicle's hefty 1655kg, but it responds quickly and holds the gear.While it would be nice to have a manual alternative, the automatic does have a manual shifter. Gear changes are smooth in auto and just as clean in the manual. It will change automatically if revved hard.Triple sealing of the door frames, along with insulation pads, contribute to a surprisingly quiet ride inside the Tucson, especially for an SUV with big tyres. Even with the sunroof open, noise intrusion was minimal.The base model comes standard with cruise control, MP3-capable CD player, cargo area cover, windscreen wiper de-icer, roof rails, front and rear fog lights, pollen filter and overhead sunglass holder. The lift-up tailgate window doubles as a shield from the rain.Looking around the interior, it is hard to miss the number of airbag tags. The Tucson is equipped with a number of safety features including: four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, dual front airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags, electronic brake distribution, traction control and front pre-tensioner/load limiters belts, all amounting to a four-star Euro NCAP crash rating.The Elite, at $32,490, adds a limited slip differential, power sunroof, leather steering wheel rim and gear shift knob, trip computer, wider wheels and lower profile tyres, light-sensitive headlight controls, higher quality cloth trim and an alloy-look centre dash.The Elite S, at $33,200, has body coloured bumpers and side cladding but is only available in aqua silver or new mid silver.

Bursting with standard equipment at $29,990, the crossover wagon shows just how far the South Korean carmaker has come since it made its name with a flood of cheap and basic Excels in the 1990s.The Honda CR-V competitor is the first South Korean car with six airbags and the first Hyundai to be fitted with suspension tuned for European (and Australian) tastes.Hyundai Australia sales and marketing director Theo van Doore says the Tucson will pass the barbecue test."When you have a car you are proud of you arrive early at a barbecue and park on the driveway so everyone can see it, rather than parking down the street so it's out of sight," van Doore says."We are confident Tucson owners will want to arrive early and show it off."The Tucson has a 2.7-litre V6 engine with a four-speed automatic gearbox featuring manual-shift mode.It has an on-demand all-wheel-drive system, but can also be locked into AWD.It is about 15cm shorter than the Hyundai Santa Fe but has a slightly longer wheelbase.The Tucson comes standard with anti-skid brakes, traction control, dual airbags, 16-inch alloys wheels, cruise control, MP3 CD sound, cargo cover, roof rails and front and rear fog lights. It also has, unlike many new cars, a full-size alloy spare wheel instead of a space saver.There are also lap-sash belts for all five seats and the back row can be folded flat to create enough room to carry a surfboard.The $32,490 Tucson Elite adds front side airbags, side curtain airbags, sunroof, leather steering wheel cover, trip computer, alloy-look dashboard trim and six-spoke alloy wheels.Color-coded bumpers ($175) can be ordered only on silver or gold Elite models.The Tucson comes with Hyundai's five-year, 130,000km warranty.It was designed at Hyundai's South Korean design studio and has a less polarising shape than the Santa Fe.It has been built to appeal to drivers aged 25 to 30 and features twin exhaust pipes set in the rear bumper to give it a sporty look.Hyundai Australia is confident it could sell 500 Tucsons a month, but will be able to secure only 200 a month until early next year.THE Tucson is the first Hyundai I would be happy to own.The Hyundai badge will still be a problem for people who like to show off their keyrings at dinner parties, but there is nothing wrong with the car itself. It is really good value when you compare it with its competitors, which come with less gear and miss out on a V6 engine.Slide inside the cabin and you notice the Tucson doesn't have that cheap plastic smell that most South Korean cars have. The plastic surfaces are smooth and clean and give a quality impression.It is slightly smaller than the Santa Fe and has a tighter rear storage area, but the Tucson has good leg and headroom for all the passengers.The 129kW engine is not the best V6 powerplant around, though it has good pulling power in the bush and around town.It is likely to use more fuel than most of its four-cylinder rivals, but is more torquey.You have to plant your foot to overtake at highway speeds, but the Tucson is quick enough.The suspension setting is good and much firmer than the often soft and wafting suspension that comes from South Korea.That means the Tucson rides well around corners without too much body roll and doesn't float around over bumps.It also performs well on the dirt on all but the roughest roads and is as good if not better here than the Japanese Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V.The Tucson also tackles a run along the beach, after we take air out of the tyres, without showing any signs it would become stuck or be swept out to sea.It has 186mm ground clearance, which is good enough for mild off-road work, even though the biggest obstacle most Tucsons will encounter will probably be the speed-hump at the supermarket.The spare wheel is under the floor at the back of the car, rather than on the tailgate.This means the rear window can be opened separately from the tailgate and the shopping can be slipped in the back easily.

It doesn't leave many boxes unticked.Now there is a newcomer to the range aimed squarely at the booming compact SUV market.The Tucson is about Rav4 size, is better equipped and costs thousands less. Oh, and did I mention it also runs a 2.7-litre, multi-valve, V6 engine with four speed automatic transmission as standard.Hyundai sure ain't mucking around.Tucson is an all wheel drive sport utility vehicle built on a new platform with predominantly front wheel drive and all wheel drive electronically engaged on demand. The system can be locked in AWD by pushing a button on the dash.Drive is also modulated by a traction control system and the ABS performs a similar function with braking forces.Hyundai is targeting young buyers with Tucson but should look at the bigger picture.It's compact dimensions belie the roomy interior that is due in part to a longer wheelbase than the larger Hyundai Santa Fe with which Tucson shares its power train.The engine is good for 129kw/221Nm output and better than 11.0L/100km fuel economy.Three models are available, Tucson, Elite and Elite S starting at $29,990.Standard equipment also includes 16in alloys and 75kg capacity roof rails.Inside is well laid out and good looking with a modern style and light upholstery tones. The tailgate glass opens independently and all seats, including fronts fold flat. It seats five with five three point belts provided.Crash safety rates four stars from NCAP.What is striking about this car apart from its price and equipment is how good it is to drive. The suspension is Euro-spec and holds Tucson tenaciously on the road in all conditions. The ride is comfortable and Tucson has powerful brakes and direct steering – an impressive dynamic package.With a sequential shift mode helping matters, engine performance will not disappoint. The twin exhaust outlets emit a pleasing snarl at high revs and the Tucson hunkers down and jumps under full throttle.Noise and vibration control is excellent.Styling is reminiscent of Santa Fe but is cleaner and more appealing. The spare is a full size alloy under the boot floor.Tucson sets a high benchmark at Hyundai that should flow through to a whole new generation of vehicles coming soon.

The Tucson may be brand new but it retains many Hyundai attributes – practicality, affordability, driving efficiency and the company's recessive gene, conservatism.Tucson carries over-cautious styling lines to its driving dynamics, guaranteeing efficiency while delivering blandness.It is, in terms of being both an advantage and disadvantage, a vehicle that represents the unfurling of a car company that started operation only in 1967 as an assembler of Ford's Cortina and Granada cars.On one hand, Hyundai has already overcome early quality issues and now has a very strong reliability record.On the other, it makes pretty simple – you could say basic – cars.Go inside Hyundai and you see a very cautious manufacturer. Everything is done with precise steps, every move measured and every reaction analysed.But though conservatism may affect Hyundai's reputation (particularly in Europe and Australia), it hasn't hurt sales."We are one of the world's most profitable car makers," Hyundai director of public affairs Oles Gadacz says."We have low debt and are the world's seventh biggest carmaker with three million vehicles a year."Obviously the Tucson – the second Hyundai to be named after a US city in deference to the huge American market – has been born into a company going places.Typically, there are strong Santa Fe overtones, along with a C-pillar shape practically identical to the current AWD darling, the Porsche Cayenne.Tucson has the same drive-train as the Santa Fe yet the body is less fussy, especially at the rear where its soft angles make it the vehicle's most attractive side.In comparison to the Santa Fe, the dynamics of ride, handling and power are more acute thanks to the Tucson's compact dimensions, making it fit competitively into the compact soft-roader segment alongside the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.Australia will get a V6-engined Tucson and next year the chance of a 2.4-litre option from the World Engine series – something we have been told is worth waiting for and still a goer despite signs of a break-up of the DaimlerChrysler empire.If we're lucky, Hyundai has an excellent 2.0-litre turbo-diesel that is awaiting acceptance in Australia before being considered as an alternative engine for the Tucson.The 2.7-litre V6 petrol holds the greatest promise for potential buyers as the biggest and most powerful in the compact AWD class.Along with a price that could start below $35,000 and the ongoing five-year/130,000km warranty, Hyundai already could be on a winner.Hyundai Australia public affairs manager Richard Power says final specifications for the Tucson – due here in August – haven't been decided."We definitely will sell the Tucson with the 2.7-litre V6 engine," Power says. "The introduction of the 2-litre engine has yet to be decided, but we see it important as an entry-level vehicle."On the roadWhat buyers may quickly realise is that the Tucson, though internally smaller, is a more sophisticated wagon than the Santa Fe.It has excellent noise suppression to make it one of the quietest small all-wheel drives around.This mechanical quietness is complemented by minimal wind noise to give the impression of a well-crafted offroader that has ben subject to extensive testing.On a wet and windy spring day, the volcanic island playground of Jeju looks nothing like the postcards, but at least the roads are demanding.The undulations, curves and steep apexes give a broad test route for the Tucson's capabilities.In the 2.7-litre V6 version, the inclines needed the sequential mode of the four-speed automatic to return the best performance.The Tucson, more nimble than the Santa Fe on which it is obviously based, rewards the driver with a keenness to rev.So much so that surpassing 8000rpm on the tacho indicated superb engine characteristics. That exceptional engine speed was later dismissed as a wonky tachometer.Unfortunately for a potential off-roader, the 129kW engine – the same as that fitted to the Santa Fe and Sonata – lacks strong low-speed punch.Clearly, it is happiest on the open road and in suburban zones where the engine smoothness and uncanny quietness will quickly win friends.The base model V6 tested had a 4WD lock – giving 50:50 split front to rear axle – and switchable stability control. It gives promise of good off-road manners, though it's still too early to see if Australia gets these specifications.General ride comfort on the Asia/US-spec was excellent.The suspension settings were compliant almost to the point of being blancmange, though the taut chassis appeared to keep the car stable and accurate through the bends.It is likely that Australian vehicles will have stiffer dampers and stronger springs.The Tucson can be pointed quite nicely through the bends, though in keeping with the Hyundai family, the steering feel is light and feedback is zero. Get used to that vagueness and you have a car that is undemanding and very easy to drive.The turbo-diesel, which is still under consideration for Australia, is a different animal.Despite less power (85kW compared with the V6's 129kW), its torque is slightly greater and the bottom-end power delivery makes for a sharper machine off the mark.It relies less on manually changing gears, so is easier to drive quickly than the V6.The best bonus is the unobtrusive manners of the diesel.Most of the time, you wouldn't think it was a diesel such is the low noise level and smooth power.Hyundai's 2-litre four-cylinder petrol version may come to Australia as a price leader, though the engine wasn't available at the launch.