South Korean automaker Hyundai has just launched its third SUV in India, the Tucson. The soft roader’s introductory prices start from 18.99 lakhs, going all the way up to 24.99 lakhs. The vehicle’s making a comeback after more than half a decade. The older (1st generation) Tucson sold here between 2005-10, and wasn’t received very well. Hyundai seems determined to change all that.
So, what has changed?
Hyundai has skipped a generation, and moved to the third-gen version of the Tucson. The automaker has added automatic gearboxes to the equation, both for the petrol and diesel engines. Talking about motors, the petrol is a 2 liter unit making 152 Bhp-195 Nm, with 6 speed manual and automatic gearboxes.
The diesel is also a 2 liter unit, but with a much higher outputs of 182 Bhp-400 Nm. Why, so? The diesel is turbocharged whereas the petrol makes do with natural aspiration. Both motors get 6 speed manual and automatic gearbox options. There’s no all/four wheel drive option on offer.
Prices, ex-showroom Delhi
Petrol 2WD MT: 18.99 lakhs and 2WD AT: 21.79 lakhs
Diesel 2WD MT: 21.59 lakhs, 2WD AT GL: 23.48 lakhs and 2WD AT GLS: 24.99 lakhs
It’s all about the style…
The 1st-gen Tucson looked butch, and maybe a little bland. The all-new version raises the game significantly. Hyundai has made big strides in terms of design, and the new Tucson is a big beneficiary of that. Nearly 4.5 meters long, the Tucson sits in between the Creta and Santa Fe.
Up front, you have the prominent Fluidic design inspired styling, and the automaker has gotten the proportions right with 17/18 inch wheels, chunky wheel wells and plenty of curves all around. The top-end diesel even gets LED headlamps.
What’s inside?
The SUV is a five seater, and competes with the likes of the H0nda CR-V and the Renault Koleos. In terms of safety, ABS and twin airbags are standard across variants. Curtain airbags, ESP, vehicle stability management, hill hold and hill descent control, and parking sensors are offered on the top-end trims.
Like all Hyundais, the interiors are finished well, with loads of features thrown in. A touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay sits on the center console.Leather seats are standard on the top 2 trims.
The feature list is long: Cruise control, Bluetooth infotainment, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone climate control, heated wing mirrors, automatic headlamps, and it goes on.