REVIEW | Hyundai Tucson
Europe’s Best Selling Compact SUV gets a facelift
Westerns. John Wayne. Cowboys. The O.K. Corral. Wyatt Earp. Doc Holliday.
As a kid, I was brought up on a diet of watching cowboy films. John Wayne was a hero of mine, or rather his characters like Rooster Cogburn, the one-eyed US Marshal.
One of my favourite films was Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. You can still visit the O.K. Corral in the town of Tombstone, Arizona. Here’s a good quiz question for you: what does the O.K. stand for? The Answer is Old Kinderhook, no idea why.
Right, here’s the tenuous link. The O.K. Corral is in Arizona, and the second largest city in the state is Tucson, which brings me to the Hyundai Tucson. I wonder if one of the top fellers at Hyundai liked cowboy films? Perhaps that’s why they call their chunky models Tucson and Santa Fe which, incidentally, was the base for a classic film - Easy Rider with Dennis Hopper.
Design & Interior changes
I’ve always liked the Hyundai (pronounced Hun-day of course) Tucson. It seems to be one of those cars that fits in with almost everything I need to do. It can be used to commute, transport family from A to B, shopping, tip, and the occasional holiday outing which seems to require taking the entire contents of our house for some reason.
Bearing in mind that I’d like to think that I’m a fairly average sort of bloke, those are probably the requirements of most of you reading this. Anyway, it’s clearly a recipe that works because the Tucson is Europe’s best-selling compact SUV, and it’s just been given a major facelift.
According to Hyundai’s press blurb, the Tucson’s design is based on the company’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ ideology. Blimey. The business summary is that this 4th generation Hyundai Tucson features redesigned bumpers, larger daytime running lights, revamped alloy wheels, and new colour options.
The interior has been completely redesigned including updates to the dashboard, steering wheel, seats, and infotainment system. The curved display which sweeps across the dashboard combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen in one seamless unit. There’s a three-zone climate control, and those new seats are heated front and rear. Front seats are also ventilated.
I think it looks rather smart.
Powertrain & Prices
In terms of power outputs, all models use a 4-cylinder, 159bhp, turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine but each comes with varying levels of hybrid assistance, apart from the entry-level model which, no surprise, is also the cheapest, kicking off at £32,400 (March ’25). It comes with a manual 6-speed ‘box with the rest being autos.
The same engine is then available with a mild hybrid set-up followed by a full hybrid which ups the power output to 212bhp and, depending on trim, the option of all-wheel drive transmission. At the top end of the Tucson models - and price range - there’s the one you see here, the plug-in hybrid PHEV which churns out a healthy 249bhp. Entry level Advance trim costs £39,285, or Premium trim for £43,365 which gives you all-wheel drive.
If you want to go for a sportier exterior, go for N-Line and N-Line S or, if you want to have all the bells and whistles, you’ll need to go for Ultimate trim but, in something like the PHEV version, it’s starting to look a tad punchy at £44,285.
Standard Kit
To be honest, the entry-level Advance trim is perfectly adequate for most people. You get a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, sat nav, keyless ignition, DAB radio, cruise control and dual-zone air con. I love the daytime running lights and if you’re out on the road at night, you’ll definitely know when a Hyundai Tucson is looming in your mirrors. If you prefer a sporty exterior, the N-Line trim brings 19-inch alloys, twin exhaust pipes, a deeper front pumper, a rear spoiler and sports seats.
Hyundai Tucson Performance & Ride
In terms of performance, the PHEV model can hit 60mph in 9.8 seconds while its top speed is 116mph. Hyundai reckons you’ll manage an average fuel consumption figure of around 45.5mpg and you can do up to 42.9 miles on battery power alone which beats most of the competition. Bearing in mind that the entry level, petrol-only model can manage 41.5mpg, it’s a case of doing your sums to figure out whether the PHEV set-up is worth the additional outlay.
Out on the road, the Hyundai Tucson is one of the most relaxing SUVs around. It manages to get that happy blend between being fun to drive, and reasonably lively yet simple to punt around town or along tight country roads. If you want refinement, go for the hybrid models because they can travel at times without the engine running. The ride is surprisingly cushy too.
The boot can carry well over 600 litres so it’ll be a perfect car for holiday trips. The interior has a real sense of quality about it…roomy too. The outgoing Tucson looked smart in a functional way, but this 4th generation is extremely smart. The switches have a nice action to them and the materials all feel top-notch.
Which trim to pick?
The mild hybrid model with front-wheel drive can manage an average of 44.8mpg and has much the same performance as all of the other models, and the price of £33,980 looks seriously competitive in Advance trim. If you can manage without all-wheel drive, it’s the one I’d recommend. Advance trim has all of the goodies you’d expect and seriously need.
The compact SUV market is packed with options - VW Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Ford Kuga, Volvo XC40 - but the Hyundai Tucson is a brilliant all-rounder and is hard to beat. If you’re thinking about buying one of the other models, think very carefully. Don’t sign on the dotted line until you’ve tried the Tucson.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Hyundai
