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 busiest workers at Hyundai must be the ones taking stuff out of their Tucson model.After all, when this mid-size wagon arrived three years ago it was pretty much regular SUV fare.Then someone decided to start stripping it. And what a clever, popular idea that has turned out to be. In 2005 they unscrewed the four-wheel-drive bits, creating a front-drive version with a four-cylinder engine. They called it the Tucson City and, since it weighed less and had less power, it had better fuel economy and cost $4000 less.No wonder it has come to account for most Tucson sales.Hyundai has been at it again, this year introducing a manual gearbox. That has reduced the City's weight and thirst even further, while bringing the price down a further $2000.So while the original-style Tucson with the works (V6 engine, all-wheel-drive, automatic, 10.9 litres per 100km fuel economy) has a list price of $30,990 plus on-road costs, the newest version (four-cylinder engine, front-drive, manual, 8 litres per 100km) is $24,990.It's a tempting price. After all, it is easy to drive, a convenient size yet roomy enough for adults, is well designed and well equipped.Paring down the price seems to have continued. Lately the City manual has been offered at $24,990 drive-away (effectively about $3000 off), with the automatic an option for $1000 more (that's $1000 below the list price).That would make this spacious wagon, which comes with airconditioning, alloy wheels and cruise control, about the same price as many entry-level 2.0 litre hatchbacks. Quite a deal.But let's not overlook that the Tucson City is a budget-minded model with certain shortcomings. As always, saving money has required some belt-tightening. This is a tall, heavy vehicle, almost 250kg more than the Elantra hatchback, which has the same engine, so no use expecting it to be a ball of fire, or to steer with car-like precision. It's adequate in both departments, but nothing exemplary.However, price tempts you to overlook niggles that otherwise would be stumbling blocks. Things like the pretty ordinary seats, the steering, the bargain-basement look of the interior plastic, the vague gear change.As a $24,990 wagon it stands out. Certainly it has no direct competition. All the four-cylinder wagons with similar size and similar stance are all-wheel-drives costing considerably more.The Tucson is a modest size overall, but is genuinely roomy. Back seat space is generous, and the luggage area is excellent.As well, it has been thoughtfully designed, with storage areas and handy shelves everywhere.One flaw in the test car: the poorest AM radio reception I've encountered in years. Maybe someone deleted the aerial to save money. Key PointsHyundai Tucson CityDetails: Medium-size, front-drive SUV with 2.0 litre, four-cylinder engine. Power 104kW. Torque 184Nm.Features: Anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, alloy wheels, full-size spare tyre, airconditioning, cruise control, power windows, remote central locking.Cost: $24,990 five-speed manual, $26,990 four-speed automatic.Rivals: Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer wagon.For: A lot of car for the money.Against: High and heavy.Conclusion: Tempting price.Rate: 3 stars 

That way, families can still enjoy the flexible and large interior space that an SUV offers without the high petrol bill that an all-wheel-drive system and larger engine creates.Hyundai says the Tucson City is made for parents who run the kids to school or weekend sport, single women aged 25 to 35 or couples in the same age bracket.Instead of the plastic grey bumpers of some of the other compact SUVs, and the City's bigger brother Tucson, it gets refined colour-coded bumpers. The City badge on the rear is another feature to separate them.The City is 158kg lighter than the Tucson and saves nearly two litres of fuel per 100km with a claimed fuel economy of 9.2 litres/100km from the 2.0-litre powerplant shared with the Elantra.The City's most recent competition comes from Holden with the Astra and Viva wagons as well as Mitsubishi's Lancer Sportswagon and the Toyota Corolla wagon. But the City is also an alternative to some of the smaller hatches. While shorter in length than most of the wagons on the market, the City offers more interior cargo space. With the boot at waist level, it has easy access.The City's SUV advantages are a high-driving position and easy ingress and egress which eliminates the need to bend and strain the back to get small children in and out of the car. A negative is the tendency for body roll that comes with the SUV-style, although the City sits on a pretty good chassis so there is little body roll to speak of anyway.The 104kW, 184Nm engine does well to shift the 1467kg with starting acceleration sprightly off the line. Traction control helps acceleration in both wet and dry conditions.Under medium to harsh acceleration the small engine is a little noisy. It is noticeable on take-off, overtaking or accelerating uphill. The four-speed automatic is geared lower than the Tucson but does a good job and is rarely left hunting.The new model sits on 16-inch alloys and has a full-size alloy spare. Inside, it is almost identical to the Tucson, except for the missing 4WD lock button.The City has airconditioning, four-wheel disc brakes (front vented) with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and steering,roof rails and front and rear fog lights as standard features.One small gripe is the leather steering wheel. The smooth feel is nice but it lacks grips to hold when turning a corner. When the wheel slides between the hands the stitching tends to bite a bit.The lack of steering wheel-mounted stereo controls is a bit of a bugbear, especially when the company's baby car, the Getz has recently acquired them.The seats fold down to a flat floor and there is no need to remove the head restraints.The City has a lift-out, washable cargo area floor and washable backs of seats.There are plenty of storage places including four cupholders and four bottle holders.Safety is good with traction control, four body rollover hoops and dual front airbags.

Almost all of them are powered by four-cylinder engines. Buyers want something with a little off-bitumen ability but economical to run, plus they must be easy to drive and park.Hyundai claims to be the only one with a V6 engine priced under $30,000 in this category, although 4WD Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.5-litre V6 meets that criteria when it is being discounted.The Hyundai Tucson is a worthy addition to this AWD set. Its 2.7-litre V6 quad camshaft engine delivers 129kW power at 6000rpm and 241Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Tucson comes only with automatic transmission – a four-speed with sequential mode shift.Tucson normally runs as a front-wheel-drive. As soon as front wheel spin is detected, torque is sent also to the rear axle via an electro-mechanical clutch mounted just ahead of the rear limited-slip differential.For tricky going, the driver can hit a dashboard button to lock the torque to a 50-50 split front-rear.As it accelerates from 30km/h to 40km/h, the 50-50 lock progressively reverts to on-demand AWD.A second dash button allows the traction control to be disabled. This is handy when a certain amount of wheelspin is desirable such as in sandy beach driving.Tucson is very pleasant to be in and drives easily.It has a fresh, modern interior that is also practical.Even the front passenger seat back can fold forward flat to be used as a shelf.Ground clearance is 186mm and despite the mid-range Elite version having bitumen-biased tyres, the AWD system put it through light mud tracks and surprised with its competence on soft and cut-up beach sand.The willingness of the V6 engine is evident compared with four-cylinder rivals, but then, fuel consumption is a drop more, too.

That would cost about $90 in petrol, which by sheer coincidence is close to the price difference between the Hyundai Santa Fe and its barely smaller sister, the Hyundai Tucson.Naming its cars after historic western US cities is cute – though I'm nervously waiting for the Hyundai Tombstone, Lubbock or Pueblo – but needs some pronunciation lessons. Tucson is "too-son", not "tuck-son".The arrival of the Tucson produces a problem for Hyundai because it is similar in size, price and power to the long-standing Santa Fe.But the financial and physical closeness of the two Hyundai softroaders is temporary. The next model Santa Fe grows bigger to widen the gap and, as early as 2006, there's a much larger 4WD to outclass the Terracan.Tucson impresses as being more confident on the road than the Santa Fe, with better steering feedback – though still on the vague side – and crisper handling.The 2.7-litre V6 engine is shared with the other model, though feels livelier in the Tucson. But it gets thirsty when pushed.Both share a neat yet simple dashboard design, with lots of grey plastic relieved by the alloy-look centre console trim.The rather uninspiring dash isn't helped by a cabin decor of even more grey plastic, matched with grey cloth upholstery in the Elite as tested, overlaid with a pronounced plastic odour. Get over that and the Tucson is a pretty neat thing.It's a part-time 4WD, meaning it's a front-wheel-drive for dry bitumen work and automatically capable of directing power to the rear wheels when things get slippery.It drives well with good directional stability and pleasant steering wheel feedback.The visibility, thanks to big glass areas and the Tucson's height, is generally good, with guesswork required only for the front bumper.It seats four though, because of the vehicle's inflated height, feels airy even with three squashed along the rear seat.But best of all is this vehicle's versatility.Typically, the wagon design has split-fold rear seats enhanced by the fact the seats actually fold flat. There's shopping hooks at the back of the rear seats to stop plastic bags of groceries rocking and rolling in the rear.There's a cargo net plus tie-down hooks in the back to secure luggage. There's a tray beneath the front seat for extra items, plus enough cupholders to drown any thirst.The rear hatch includes a separate glass-only lift-up action to access smaller items.So the Tucson impresses as a sensible and versatile wagon.The car is well equipped. Even in standard it comes with electrics, cruise control and airconditioning, but gets better with the Elite version by adding an electric sunroof, side and curtain airbags, trip computer and leather-rimmed steering wheel.Personally, the standard model offers more for less.

Picnic basket, rugs, director's chairs complete with chair covers, my bag, his suitcase (yes, suitcase), an Esky, camera, cushions, food ... and the dog in her portable cot.Now, I better allow some space for a few cases of wine as well ...Hoorah for the Hyundai Tucson. All this wouldn't fit in my little hatchback. From the outside, this is a mid-size SUV yet it hosts a lively V6 2.7-litre engine, making it a powerful figure around the Barossa. Hop inside and it's like you've stepped into a large room because from the driver's seat, the boot looks a long way back.Yes, it's great for the long-legged varieties and great, too, for those of us who haven't learned to pack minimally. Luckily, there are plenty of storage pockets for maps, sunglasses, keys, books and small bags.In the back, there are even shopping bag hooks to keep perfect purchases in perfect place and I discover an under-seat tray for tucking items like shoes out of sight.Still searching for more storage pockets, I am pleased to find that one of the cup holders in the front – tucked neatly out of the way of the handbrake – can fit a 1.25-litre bottle. Very handy if you're hot and on a road trip. Anyway, back to the technical details. There's a choice between driving manually or in automatic mode for it has an electronic automatic transmission. Most of the time, I opt for convenience and keep it in auto while revelling in the Tucson's quiet efficiency.I am also feeling lazy, so I click on the cruise control and all that is left to do is sit back in its spacious seats and enjoy the scenery. And on the dirt road up to the B&B, the traction keeps me in control with a solid grip on the dusty gravel.Yes, the Tucson makes our journey very easy, perhaps because we are left wanting for little. Airconditioning keeps the heat at bay, the sunroof shows us what a beautiful day it is, while the CD player reminds that neither of us can sing.The dual vanity mirrors also let me know that after a few hours in a car, it's always time for a lipstick touchup, especially before you say hello to your hosts for the weekend.After all, good first impressions are imperative – especially when you may be coming home later that night a wee bit sozzled and may wake up your neighbours – but not in the Tucson, of course!And had I bought more wine than expected, I could have made use of the Tucson's ability to fold its seats completely flat – it is a thought I keep in the back of my mind as we pass winery after winery after winery ...Hyundai Tucson Elite THE rear window flips up without having to open the entire boot, which makes it easy to slip in bags, shopping or extras.ADJUSTABLE armrest that doubles as a centre console.THE plastic leather-look veneer on the dash looks a bit cheap.HEAVY on the fuel.

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.