Hyundai Tucson 2.0 (A) Review
24 Feb 2010|41,573 views
The first Tucson that Hyundai launched back in 2004 wasn't much of a looker. To be honest, it looked quite bland with its unsophisticated body lines that looked as if it was designed by a 5 year old during art class. It was nothing more than a 'box' fitted within another box with slightly bigger wheels for it to look the SUV part.
Nevertheless though, the car went on to be a success because it did what every SUV owner wanted it to do. Possess a significant amount of ground clearance to roll over nearly everything and enough bootspace to fill it for a weekend trip up North. To top it all off, the crossover SUV sat five in relative comfort. What the Tucson really had going for it was affordability.
Now after some rethinking in its design and with help from Thomas Buerkle, former BMW designer, Hyundai is sprucing up their image. This focus on livening up the looks of their new models is aimed at creating an emotional connection with the car's owners. Something that was always absent in previous models.
Nevertheless though, the car went on to be a success because it did what every SUV owner wanted it to do. Possess a significant amount of ground clearance to roll over nearly everything and enough bootspace to fill it for a weekend trip up North. To top it all off, the crossover SUV sat five in relative comfort. What the Tucson really had going for it was affordability.
Now after some rethinking in its design and with help from Thomas Buerkle, former BMW designer, Hyundai is sprucing up their image. This focus on livening up the looks of their new models is aimed at creating an emotional connection with the car's owners. Something that was always absent in previous models.
 |
Hyundai have proved with their recent models that they're making a huge effort never to go back to those generic boxes again. Hyundai is calling their latest design language "Fluidic Sculpture". The art school design jargon aside, I think their latest paradigm shift has helped the Korean manufacturer set itself apart from competitors in its home country.
The latest Tucson has lines that flow unobtrusively from the front of the car all the way to the back and merging again within itself round the back. It is an excellent example of fluidity indeed. The lines running along the side kind of gives you a visual appearance of how the wind would flow down the side of the car as you're driving.
 |
The front fascia of the SUV gives a rather taunt impression with an intake that looks like a set of lips that've been discretely pursed. The pair of headlamps are seamlessly blended into the wind-swept lines of the body that curve gently over the bonnet.
Go around the back and you notice the rear is immediately a lot more visually interesting than its predecessor ever was. The pronounced rear haunches give the Tucson a wider more defined rear end. Although this makes the Tucson look a little Tribecaish, we still like it.
Interior
The visual symphony continues on the inside with the interior given a complete makeover as compared to the drab interior from the Tucson of yesteryear.
The interior is a marked improvement over the previous Tucson but some of the tacky plastics remain (I will elaborate further on that later). Once in the driver's seat, you can adjust the seat's position using the driver side electric seat. Unfortunately though the steering wheel is only rake adjustable. Manufacturers often forget how much we appreciate being able to get the steering just right with rake and reach adjustable ones.
The centre console is dominated with large tactile buttons that control the factory fitted sound system. A large display backlit in cool blue takes pride of place on the centre console. The factory fitted sound system is well equipped with a choice of AUX-in or USB connections for the MP3 player or iPod/iPhone.
Go around the back and you notice the rear is immediately a lot more visually interesting than its predecessor ever was. The pronounced rear haunches give the Tucson a wider more defined rear end. Although this makes the Tucson look a little Tribecaish, we still like it.
Interior
The visual symphony continues on the inside with the interior given a complete makeover as compared to the drab interior from the Tucson of yesteryear.
The interior is a marked improvement over the previous Tucson but some of the tacky plastics remain (I will elaborate further on that later). Once in the driver's seat, you can adjust the seat's position using the driver side electric seat. Unfortunately though the steering wheel is only rake adjustable. Manufacturers often forget how much we appreciate being able to get the steering just right with rake and reach adjustable ones.
The centre console is dominated with large tactile buttons that control the factory fitted sound system. A large display backlit in cool blue takes pride of place on the centre console. The factory fitted sound system is well equipped with a choice of AUX-in or USB connections for the MP3 player or iPod/iPhone.
The CD and MP3 CD functionality combine with the possible connections to offer endless aural pleasure. Although the standard speakers tend to neutralize the experience somewhat. The sound coming through the factory speakers were muffled like they were trying to project their music while submerged.
Rear seats in the Tucson were nothing short of comfortable. Legroom was reasonable even for long-limbed passengers. Moving over to the trunk, the Tucson is able to swallow a respectable amount of cargo like most SUVs. This cargo capacity expands itself even further once the rear seats are knocked down.
On build quality however, during the test one of the A-pillar plastics fell off. It went back in after a few thumps from my fist. This could just be a one-off incident but it did make this journalist question how well this car was put together.
The Drive
The Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre inline-4 Theta II engine that produces 166bhp. Nothing to shout about but it gets the job done. On acceleration the car pulls well with enough confidence that it'll be able to handle a full complement of passengers and cargo.
On the highway the car irons out the bumps quite well. This comes as no surprise considering its ride height and long suspension travel from its Macpherson and multi-link type setup. At low speeds over town roads however, the damping felt a little firm but never jarring.
Rear seats in the Tucson were nothing short of comfortable. Legroom was reasonable even for long-limbed passengers. Moving over to the trunk, the Tucson is able to swallow a respectable amount of cargo like most SUVs. This cargo capacity expands itself even further once the rear seats are knocked down.
On build quality however, during the test one of the A-pillar plastics fell off. It went back in after a few thumps from my fist. This could just be a one-off incident but it did make this journalist question how well this car was put together.
The Drive
The Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre inline-4 Theta II engine that produces 166bhp. Nothing to shout about but it gets the job done. On acceleration the car pulls well with enough confidence that it'll be able to handle a full complement of passengers and cargo.
On the highway the car irons out the bumps quite well. This comes as no surprise considering its ride height and long suspension travel from its Macpherson and multi-link type setup. At low speeds over town roads however, the damping felt a little firm but never jarring.
 |
Hyundai's main aim with the latest Tucson was to improve the fuel economy. Thus the swoopy exterior lines and the new 6-speed transmission. Hyundai developed it in house to be lighter and provide better mileage than the previous 5-speed.
So has it helped? Well according to LTA's website, the car reportedly manages 11.3km/L. To be honest, I don't think that's too shabby for an SUV with a 2.0-litre engine.
So has it helped? Well according to LTA's website, the car reportedly manages 11.3km/L. To be honest, I don't think that's too shabby for an SUV with a 2.0-litre engine.
Conclusion
Hyundai is taking a serious step towards competing directly with their European counterparts with the latest Tucson. Having made a huge leap in terms of design and interior build quality. The wind-swept design of the Tucson not only looks the part, it combines with the severely raked windscreen to improve economy.
However, at $79,000, the Tucson might be priced a little too close to the Japanese brands. Perhaps a little price adjustment might blow more consumers towards the Tucson.
Hyundai is taking a serious step towards competing directly with their European counterparts with the latest Tucson. Having made a huge leap in terms of design and interior build quality. The wind-swept design of the Tucson not only looks the part, it combines with the severely raked windscreen to improve economy.
However, at $79,000, the Tucson might be priced a little too close to the Japanese brands. Perhaps a little price adjustment might blow more consumers towards the Tucson.
The first Tucson that Hyundai launched back in 2004 wasn't much of a looker. To be honest, it looked quite bland with its unsophisticated body lines that looked as if it was designed by a 5 year old during art class. It was nothing more than a 'box' fitted within another box with slightly bigger wheels for it to look the SUV part.
Nevertheless though, the car went on to be a success because it did what every SUV owner wanted it to do. Possess a significant amount of ground clearance to roll over nearly everything and enough bootspace to fill it for a weekend trip up North. To top it all off, the crossover SUV sat five in relative comfort. What the Tucson really had going for it was affordability.
Now after some rethinking in its design and with help from Thomas Buerkle, former BMW designer, Hyundai is sprucing up their image. This focus on livening up the looks of their new models is aimed at creating an emotional connection with the car's owners. Something that was always absent in previous models.
Nevertheless though, the car went on to be a success because it did what every SUV owner wanted it to do. Possess a significant amount of ground clearance to roll over nearly everything and enough bootspace to fill it for a weekend trip up North. To top it all off, the crossover SUV sat five in relative comfort. What the Tucson really had going for it was affordability.
Now after some rethinking in its design and with help from Thomas Buerkle, former BMW designer, Hyundai is sprucing up their image. This focus on livening up the looks of their new models is aimed at creating an emotional connection with the car's owners. Something that was always absent in previous models.
|
Hyundai have proved with their recent models that they're making a huge effort never to go back to those generic boxes again. Hyundai is calling their latest design language "Fluidic Sculpture". The art school design jargon aside, I think their latest paradigm shift has helped the Korean manufacturer set itself apart from competitors in its home country.
The latest Tucson has lines that flow unobtrusively from the front of the car all the way to the back and merging again within itself round the back. It is an excellent example of fluidity indeed. The lines running along the side kind of gives you a visual appearance of how the wind would flow down the side of the car as you're driving.
|
The front fascia of the SUV gives a rather taunt impression with an intake that looks like a set of lips that've been discretely pursed. The pair of headlamps are seamlessly blended into the wind-swept lines of the body that curve gently over the bonnet.
Go around the back and you notice the rear is immediately a lot more visually interesting than its predecessor ever was. The pronounced rear haunches give the Tucson a wider more defined rear end. Although this makes the Tucson look a little Tribecaish, we still like it.
Interior
The visual symphony continues on the inside with the interior given a complete makeover as compared to the drab interior from the Tucson of yesteryear.
The interior is a marked improvement over the previous Tucson but some of the tacky plastics remain (I will elaborate further on that later). Once in the driver's seat, you can adjust the seat's position using the driver side electric seat. Unfortunately though the steering wheel is only rake adjustable. Manufacturers often forget how much we appreciate being able to get the steering just right with rake and reach adjustable ones.
The centre console is dominated with large tactile buttons that control the factory fitted sound system. A large display backlit in cool blue takes pride of place on the centre console. The factory fitted sound system is well equipped with a choice of AUX-in or USB connections for the MP3 player or iPod/iPhone.
Go around the back and you notice the rear is immediately a lot more visually interesting than its predecessor ever was. The pronounced rear haunches give the Tucson a wider more defined rear end. Although this makes the Tucson look a little Tribecaish, we still like it.
Interior
The visual symphony continues on the inside with the interior given a complete makeover as compared to the drab interior from the Tucson of yesteryear.
The interior is a marked improvement over the previous Tucson but some of the tacky plastics remain (I will elaborate further on that later). Once in the driver's seat, you can adjust the seat's position using the driver side electric seat. Unfortunately though the steering wheel is only rake adjustable. Manufacturers often forget how much we appreciate being able to get the steering just right with rake and reach adjustable ones.
The centre console is dominated with large tactile buttons that control the factory fitted sound system. A large display backlit in cool blue takes pride of place on the centre console. The factory fitted sound system is well equipped with a choice of AUX-in or USB connections for the MP3 player or iPod/iPhone.
The CD and MP3 CD functionality combine with the possible connections to offer endless aural pleasure. Although the standard speakers tend to neutralize the experience somewhat. The sound coming through the factory speakers were muffled like they were trying to project their music while submerged.
Rear seats in the Tucson were nothing short of comfortable. Legroom was reasonable even for long-limbed passengers. Moving over to the trunk, the Tucson is able to swallow a respectable amount of cargo like most SUVs. This cargo capacity expands itself even further once the rear seats are knocked down.
On build quality however, during the test one of the A-pillar plastics fell off. It went back in after a few thumps from my fist. This could just be a one-off incident but it did make this journalist question how well this car was put together.
The Drive
The Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre inline-4 Theta II engine that produces 166bhp. Nothing to shout about but it gets the job done. On acceleration the car pulls well with enough confidence that it'll be able to handle a full complement of passengers and cargo.
On the highway the car irons out the bumps quite well. This comes as no surprise considering its ride height and long suspension travel from its Macpherson and multi-link type setup. At low speeds over town roads however, the damping felt a little firm but never jarring.
Rear seats in the Tucson were nothing short of comfortable. Legroom was reasonable even for long-limbed passengers. Moving over to the trunk, the Tucson is able to swallow a respectable amount of cargo like most SUVs. This cargo capacity expands itself even further once the rear seats are knocked down.
On build quality however, during the test one of the A-pillar plastics fell off. It went back in after a few thumps from my fist. This could just be a one-off incident but it did make this journalist question how well this car was put together.
The Drive
The Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre inline-4 Theta II engine that produces 166bhp. Nothing to shout about but it gets the job done. On acceleration the car pulls well with enough confidence that it'll be able to handle a full complement of passengers and cargo.
On the highway the car irons out the bumps quite well. This comes as no surprise considering its ride height and long suspension travel from its Macpherson and multi-link type setup. At low speeds over town roads however, the damping felt a little firm but never jarring.
|
Hyundai's main aim with the latest Tucson was to improve the fuel economy. Thus the swoopy exterior lines and the new 6-speed transmission. Hyundai developed it in house to be lighter and provide better mileage than the previous 5-speed.
So has it helped? Well according to LTA's website, the car reportedly manages 11.3km/L. To be honest, I don't think that's too shabby for an SUV with a 2.0-litre engine.
So has it helped? Well according to LTA's website, the car reportedly manages 11.3km/L. To be honest, I don't think that's too shabby for an SUV with a 2.0-litre engine.
Conclusion
Hyundai is taking a serious step towards competing directly with their European counterparts with the latest Tucson. Having made a huge leap in terms of design and interior build quality. The wind-swept design of the Tucson not only looks the part, it combines with the severely raked windscreen to improve economy.
However, at $79,000, the Tucson might be priced a little too close to the Japanese brands. Perhaps a little price adjustment might blow more consumers towards the Tucson.
Hyundai is taking a serious step towards competing directly with their European counterparts with the latest Tucson. Having made a huge leap in terms of design and interior build quality. The wind-swept design of the Tucson not only looks the part, it combines with the severely raked windscreen to improve economy.
However, at $79,000, the Tucson might be priced a little too close to the Japanese brands. Perhaps a little price adjustment might blow more consumers towards the Tucson.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Also read our comparison article on:
Tucson 2.0 (A) vs Forester 2.0i-L (A) vs RAV4 2.0 Premium (A)
Car Information
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 (A)
CAT B|Petrol|11.4km/L
Horsepower
124kW (166 bhp)
Torque
197 Nm
Acceleration
-
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Hyundai Tucson
Thank You For Your Subscription.
Tags
Products & Services
For Owners
Quick Links
About Sgcarmart
