Pros:
- Hyundai warranty and quality provide peace of mind.
- Well equipped for the price, even in base SE trim.
- Great safety, with optional packages.
Cons:
- Conservative exterior styling.
- Interior materials feel dated and cheap.
- Most sought-after options only available in top trim with additional Ultimate Package.
Would we buy one? Probably.
Vehicle Type: Four-door, five-seat compact crossover
Price Range: Hyundai Tucson models start at an MSRP of $23,595 for the base SE model, up to $30,795 for the top-tier Limited trim. Prices including destination, but before options.
Powertrain: Two engine options are available for the Hyundai Tucson. A 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine with 164 horsepower, connected to a 6-speed transmission drives base SE trim models.
Eco, Sport, and Limited trims benefit from a peppier 1.6 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with 175 horsepower and a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. All trims have standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive an available option.
Competitors: Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Ford Escape, Kia Sportage, and Mazda CX-5.
Overall Score: 6.9/10
Safety Features: 7/10
High-end safety features only come to the Hyundai Tucson Limited with the addition of the Ultimate Package, which adds blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and emergency braking, along with a suite of other tech and luxury features. With the Ultimate Package, the Tucson received an IIHS 'Top Safety Pick Plus' designation.
Lower trim levels will have to do with more conventional safety features like eight airbags and electronic stability control. The Hyundai Tucson did receive 'Good' ratings from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating in NHTSA crash tests. The Tucson did get only four stars in the NHTSA rollover test.
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Value: 8/10
Hyundai has made its name providing more for your money, and the Tucson is no different. The base SE trim comes with the expected modern conveniences like air conditioning, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, keyless entry, and cruise control.
The Hyundai Tucson Sport trim is the box to check, adding features like heated front seats, a power liftgate, 19-inch wheels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The Hyundai Tucson also includes a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Tech Features: 6/10
A brand new car in 2016, the Hyundai Tucson still came packed with modern features in 2017. Lower tier models get a 5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth to run the audio system, HVAC controls, and the rearview camera display.
The top-end Hyundai Tucson Limited trim includes an 8-inch touchscreen with a navigation system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Also available on the Limited trim is a 315-watt Infinity stereo system.
The Ultimate Package again adds high-end touches like ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, and adaptive headlights.
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Practicality: 7/10
Crossovers are skyrocketing in popularity primarily due to their practicality, and Hyundai designed the Tucson with that in mind. Slightly larger than the previous generation, the Hyundai Tucson has 31 cubic feet of cargo space. When you fold away the rear seat, it nets you an additional 30 cubic feet for a total of 61.9.
Towing capacity is a measly 1,000 pounds, and ground clearance is just 6.4 inches. The Hyundai Tucson may not be the best crossover for the weekend adventure crowd.
Styling & Design: 6/10
Attractive, if understated design, means the Hyundai Tucson may blend in with the rest of the crossover crowd, especially its larger sibling, the Santa Fe. It's certainly not a bad-looking vehicle, but it is a little bland. Alloy wheels standard across all trims helps avoid a cheap look, even in base SE trim.
The driver's seat, interior plastic materials, and upholstery are not the most pleasing to the eye or touch, but they do feel sturdy and durable.
Rear seat comfort is better than expected in the class, and most trims receive rear air-vents for the climate control system.
Driving Experience: 7/10
Not the top of the class for driving fun, like the Mazda CX-5, the Hyundai Tucson is not far behind. The suspension soaks up road imperfections and feels nimble aside from the most spirited driving when the Tucson reminds you it is closer to an SUV than a car.
The 6-speed automatic transmission suffers from less-than-smooth shifting, but the dual-clutch versions with the turbocharged engine are much more pleasurable to drive.
Fuel Efficiency: 7/10
The Eco trim with FWD leads the Hyundai Tucson's fuel economy, with 32 highway mpg, 26 city mpg, and 28 combined. Adding AWD to the Eco trim lowers mileage to 30 highway, 25 city, and 27 combined.
Sport and Limited models match the AWD Eco in FWD, drop to 28 highway, 24 city, and 25 mpg combined when optioned with AWD.
The 2.0 non-turbo four-cylinder Hyundai Tucson SE returns the worst gas mileage with 30 highway, 23 city, 26 combined in FWD form, and 26 highway, 21 city, and 23 combined mpg in AWD.
Both engine options only require regular unleaded gasoline, which is a benefit at the pump.
