Hyundai Tucson, Track Test

In the Hyundai range in India, which is quite stylish as a whole, the Tucson stands out as being perhaps the most striking of the lot. It features excellent proportions and some great design highlights, which ensures that it looks very good indeed no matter which angle you view the car from. And the LED taillights offer it a design signature that has now become very distinctive to Hyundai. Similarly, the front is aggressive, with its large chrome grille that’s paired with rather sharp looking LED headlamps. 

In fact, even on the inside, the Tucson offers a great package. With just enough interior room, the car is a very comfortable vehicle for five adults while also providing a reasonably large boot. Equipment levels, as one would expect, are pretty high and the Tucson features a very comprehensive equipment list as standard. This includes Hyundai’s touchscreen multimedia system, with in-built navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We do wish, though, that the Tucson had ventilated seats – which are fitted on both the Elantra and now the Verna. 

Power for the Tucson comes in both petrol and diesel forms, but we drove the 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Refinement in the Tucson is class-leading with very well controlled NVH levels. Moreover, the 182bhp power of the engine is delivered in a very linear manner – which makes for a great driving experience when paired with the slick-shifting automatic gearbox. And the ride-and-handling balance is pretty good too, with the Tucson remaining an excellent choice for everyday use. 

The issue with the Tucson, then, is not with the product, it’s very capable – and is now even offered with four-wheel drive as an option. The trouble is with the fact that the Tucson faces stiff competition from the likes of the Jeep Compass – which essentially sits a segment below – as well as the full-size SUV lot, which aren’t that far away in price. 

With the Tucson, it’s great style and refinement that you’re paying for – not size. As long as you’re able to live with that, you’ll absolutely love this striking Hyundai SUV.  

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