The 2016 Hyundai Tucson is a Score

Small Scale with No Compromise

Walk along a busy street and look around. It won’t take long to notice the popularity of cross-over SUV’s nowadays. And by no surprise, it’s an ever-demanding market in that particular segment. It’s the modern definition of “do it all” in automotive vocabulary in today’s terms.

Though a crowded market, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson certainly holds a sharp edge in the cross-over competition pool. With its stunning looks, appreciative interior decor, and respectable fuel economy at an affordable price tag, it’s difficult throw this one out of the equation for any buyer seeking the perfect small scale family vehicle on a budget.

Modern and Fresh Styling

It’s not a luxury vehicle; yet it looks like one. Out front comprises of razor-like LED headlamps with a xenon LED masquera along with lower LED bulb-like fog lights with its large polygonal Hyundai front grille as its main course. Side view displays its sex appeal with two sharp-edge contour extrusions, slim-shaped side windows and a display of its integrated rear spoiler. Out back is equally pleasing with its dolphin-fin shaped rear tail lights, integrated rear spoiler and lower overhanging bumper skirt. The end result is a display of contemporary design with a visual enticement of performance and uplifted automotive status.

Interior cabin space deserves a positive accolade. Choice and quality of material feels nice to the touch especially the leather seats that fall close to par with that found in luxury brands. Interior is also well laid out with thick good quality panels layered throughout the interior.  Sound isolation is great and has an overall good looks and feel. Its 8″ infotainment system available in its premium model is also fairly intuitive and responsive as well. Voice recognition also worked well and convenient for navigation.

 

Balanced Performance

Hyundai engineers were smart enough to realize that you don’t need big horsepower to survive the demands of daily family commute. With that said, the engine sizes shrunken down to only what’s needed – a choice of a 2.0L DOHC I4 with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), or a 1.6T DOHC I4 with turbocharger engine. Powertrain can also be configured as a FWD (not available with the 1.6L engine) or AWD.

 

Coupled to the 2.0L engine is a basic 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC control while its 1.6L revision is mated to a more sophisticated 7-speed dual clutch. Benefit of fuel economy can be realized with its smaller 1.6L than its 2.0L version with its EPA scoring in at 11.0/9.0 L/100 km city and highway while its 1.6L version saves a 1.1/0.6 L/100km of fuel. It’s not a lot, but enough to notice a difference in your monthly bank statement, especially for those that require a lot of commuting.

A Positive Driving Experience

As a family commuter, the Tucson is well behaved in both city and highway. Our tested model was equipped with the 1.6L turbo. Producing only 174 horsepower doesn’t sound a lot on paper, but the lifted torque of 195 ft.lbs of torque by its turbo charger helps masks that fact during acceleration. Speaking of which, standstill acceleration feels lazy and requires a bit of pre-planning on the driver’s part, but once momentum is established, the 1.6L is actually fairly capable of living up to both city and highway speed demands without too much stress.

 

I would have expected more out of the 7-speed dual clutch transmission, but in terms of feel, there isn’t too much of a difference in terms of driving comfort, or performance. But nevertheless, gear shift transitions are smooth with minimal torque discontinuity between shifts on our 1.6L model. Driving experience in the Tucson feels pleasant with the help of a quiet ride, and well configured suspensions to offer good comfort. Steering also feels smooth and relaxed, but also precise enough to throw it into a corner with a decent level of confidence.

Comparing to the 2.0L I4, horsepower and torque output is limited to 164 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. So the 1.6L offers a double benefit of increased power output and fuel efficiency.

The base model 2.0L FWD comes at a price tag of $24,399 while its FWD premium model can be had for $26,699 and finally the AWD premium model for $31,299. It is a bit pricey to opt for the AWD premium model, but is well worth the condition for the added power output, fuel cost savings and a bit of weather proofing. It’s also got all the quality and digital amenities one could expect for its price tag and to that point, is well justified. A little bit of coin can be saved to opt for a 2.0L FWD premium model if harsh climate isn’t a concern however.

 

The Hyundai Tucson offers a good balance of driving comfort, quality, modern looks and good fuel economy at a justifiable price tag. But that doesn’t mean it should be considered the default choice in today’s competitive market in the Cross-over SUV segment. The Ford Escape 1.6L Ecoboost, Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have long been in the game. But what makes the Hyundai Tucson more exciting is the fact that it was designed out of a clean slate rather than some of its other competitors who have pulled bits and pieces out of an existing parts bin to solve a puzzle.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2016 Hyundai Tucson
• Model : Hyundai Tucson 1.6L AWD
• Vehicle Type : Crossover SUV
• Seating Capacity : 2+3
• Powertrain Configuration : AWD
• Engine : 1.6L Turbo
• Transmission :  7 Speed Dual Clutch
• Fuel Economy: 9.9/8.4 L/100km city/highway

 

Pros

• Good fuel economy
• Excellent build quality inside out
• Fresh and modern exterior design
• Quiet cabin space while offering a comfortable ride

Cons

• Lack of driving enthusiasm
• Price point can be a bit high with all fees added in
• Sluggish acceleration from stand-still