DRIVEN – THE NEW HYUNDAI TUCSON

The fourth generation Hyundai Tucson is a feast for the eyes and a delight to drive. The exterior has an aggressive masculine feel with harder cutting lines across the design. The new wing-shaped front grille is very distinctive and the lights have been integrated into this look as well. With the daylight running lights on, it is a definite head turner. There are a few tyre options on the all-new Tucson completing the new look. A set of 17-inch alloy wheels for the Premium derivative; 18-inch alloy for the Executive variant, and 19-inch alloys for the Elite.

The vehicle is 150 mm longer, 15 mm wider, offering 9 mm extra ground clearance and the wheelbase is 85 mm longer. Inside the vehicle is where you can really feel this extra space as there is so much room from the front to the rear – the boot included. The new touch screen has been designed into the front fascia of the dashboard creating a clean look with all the ergonomics well balanced.

Keeping everyone cool is a three-zone climate control system as well as heated and ventilated seats in the Executive and Elite derivatives. 

Excellent driver comfort is experience whether you’re on the highway or navigating some long dirt roads. The panoramic double sunroof in the Elite variant is a lovely added bonus to the experience overall. After a long trip, you would arrive fresh at your destination as this new Tucson is really well thought through. That’s why, to date,     15 346 of the third generation were sold locally, and its successor looks in great shape to surpass this number.

“We have had significant success with the Tucson in South Africa – it soon became the mainstay of our range after its local introduction in 2004. The new Tucson is another step up both in build and design quality, with a superior ride,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations manager at Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

Two four-cylinder engines – a naturally aspirated two-litre petrol and a two-litre turbodiesel – are used as powerplants for the new Tucson in South Africa. The Smartstream G 2.0 MPI petrol engine, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission, does duty in the Premium, Executive and one of the Elite variants, while the Smartstream D 2.0 turbocharged diesel engine, coupled with an eight-speed transmission, is used in the other Elite derivative.

The two-litre petrol engine delivers 115 kW peak power at 6 200 rpm and 192 Nm peak torque at 4 500 rpm. The turbodiesel boasts with 137 kW peak power at 4 000 rpm, and 416 Nm maximum torque between 2 000 and 2 750 rpm.

The Hyundai Tucson comes in four variants; Tucson 2.0 NU Premium AT, Tucson 2.0 NU Executive AT, Tucson 2.0 NU Elite AT and the Tucson R2.0 Elite Turbodiesel AT. Prices start from R519 900.

Hyundai have been on a redesign mission to create “Sensuous Sportiness”. Mission accomplished!

By Claire Macfie