http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14793
The norm dictates that a review of any new Hyundai now begins with corny jokes about their history and less than stellar automotive offerings but as we mentioned in the review of the Sonata a while back, the jokes definitely on its peers now.
Same applies to the all-new Hyundai Tucson that we recently had some time behind the wheel of. So we’ll skip the corny jokes and jump right into the mix of the Tucson. Make no mistake folks, the new Tucson is as similar to its predecessor as chalk and cheese. While the previous incarnation was merely a last resort choice, the current model is definitely giving at the forefront of SUV choices, leaving the Japs for dead.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14795
The primary contributor to the jump from last to first is undeniably the styling. You can’t be blamed for forgetting how the previous Tucson looked, for quite honestly, neither can we. That was precisely the problem, the Korean SUV was too safe in styling and even performance that left it trailing the Japs. For it turns out, even the most mundane of folks demanded a hint of excitement from their SUV.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14796
If first impressions are cardinal, then the Tucson has left an imprint that’s hard to erase. It has adopted similar styling techniques to the Sonata that leaves it with a balanced blend of curvature and strong angles that projects a modern silhouette with styling still identifiable with the current crowd.
During he short jaunt to Malacca from Glenmarie, we were behind the wheel of the 2-liter Standard spec. Hyundai Malaysia Sime Darby could only make that model available that spec as the higher variant 2-liter and premium spec 2.4-liter model has had their stock taken up by customers, such is the demand for the new Tucson.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14797
Even though the model we drove was the lowest spec variant, it certainly didn’t feel like one. We found the dual airbags, ABS, EBD, active headrest, power windows, electric side mirrors and trip computer handy and definite value for money.
The only difference between the 2-liter standard spec and 2-liter high spec as well as the premium 2.4-liter would be the ESP with incorporated Hill Start Active Control and Downhill Brake Control as well as the panoramic sunroof.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14798
Apart from that, pretty much everything else is equal. Power is provided from the all-aluminium Theta II series of engines that feature dual CVVT and six-speed auto transmissions. For the 2-liter models, power stands at 163hp and 198Nm of torque while the 2.4-liter models offer 176hp and 229Nm of twisty force. Both models are excellent for city driving as they develop more than 80 per cent of their peak torque from around the 2,000rpm mark.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14799
Furthermore, the 2-liter models only come in front wheel drive and if you deem all-wheel drive necessary, you’ll have to opt for the 2.4-liter model.
On the inside, the smooth and flowing design cues were carried onto the dashboard and door panels. Although the quality of the plastics were slightly left wanting, on the whole it offered a fine balance between design and quality.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14800
The interior was a splendid place to be in, offering a premium feel that was equivalent to its direct competitor, the Honda CR-V. From the drive, we could feel that the main improvement regarding the Tucson was the build quality. Apart from the quality plastics used, the Tucson was well hammered together and showed no signs of premature creaking and cracking.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14801
It wasn’t as stylish as the Sonata but there was enough panache in its penmanship to make you take a second look and appreciate the Korean offerings that are now giving the Japs a major migraine.
As stylish as the dashboard layout was though, it retained the practical placement of the major knobs and switches to keep ergonomics requirements within reach. The head unit was MP3 capable and came with the USB connectivity and an AUX input cable. Even steering wheel mounted audio controls were standard across the range.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14802
So the major question is, ‘does the Tucson drive as well as it looks and feels?’ In short, the only word that comes to mind is a resounding ‘hell yeah!’ The front absorbs road imperfections with the help of a MacPherson strut setup while the rear rides on an independent multi-link layout.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14803
The drive to Malacca consisted of a combination of highways and B-roads with their fair share of bumps and pot holes. Nonetheless, the Tucson absorbed the road impurities with a somewhat solid thud without giving the driver the sensation of losing traction.
In city traffic, the Tucson was an compliant as a puppy dog. The six-speed slushbox was well ratioed and provided sufficient pick-up from stop-go movement but still provided plenty of pull on the highways.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14804
If pushed, the Tucson was more than capable of taking a solid line through the corner without the slightest hint of discomfort or stiffness. Although it did feel a pinch light on its feet when being thrown around the corners, the premium construction of the interior meant that the occupants still felt like it was a well hammered-together piece of machinery.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14805
The main thing to take away from this short drive we had in the Tucson was the fact that Hyundai has come a long way from their awkward beginnings to a force to be reckoned with in the global automotive market and the fourth largest car maker in the world (on last check).
Furthermore, all new Hyundai vehicles now come with a five year or 300,000km warranty for better piece of mind and with the maintenance-free transmission, value for money is a key-phrase that just keeps popping up in discussions for the SUV market.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14806
On the whole, the Tucson is a force to be reckoned with in the SUV segment and not just it’s an offering from Korea that used to be the last resort but is now a genuine tour de’ force in the SUV segment. Looks and spec wise, it could even surpass the Chevy Captiva, opinions depending.
To sum it up, the Tucson is now back with a vengeance and ready to stake its claim in the SUV segment. The jump from the previous model to the current offering is far too wide to be explained courtesy of a short jaunt to Malacca. Just from that explanation alone, you should be easily surmising that the Tucson is close to being the top offering in its segment in terms of value for money.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14807
Compiling all the improvements placed in the new Tucson, it is undeniable that the Tucson is the best value-for-money bet on the market now. It combines a smooth blend of quality and technology to offer the average buyer the most bang for the buck
The norm dictates that a review of any new Hyundai now begins with corny jokes about their history and less than stellar automotive offerings but as we mentioned in the review of the Sonata a while back, the jokes definitely on its peers now.
Same applies to the all-new Hyundai Tucson that we recently had some time behind the wheel of. So we’ll skip the corny jokes and jump right into the mix of the Tucson. Make no mistake folks, the new Tucson is as similar to its predecessor as chalk and cheese. While the previous incarnation was merely a last resort choice, the current model is definitely giving at the forefront of SUV choices, leaving the Japs for dead.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14795
The primary contributor to the jump from last to first is undeniably the styling. You can’t be blamed for forgetting how the previous Tucson looked, for quite honestly, neither can we. That was precisely the problem, the Korean SUV was too safe in styling and even performance that left it trailing the Japs. For it turns out, even the most mundane of folks demanded a hint of excitement from their SUV.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14796
If first impressions are cardinal, then the Tucson has left an imprint that’s hard to erase. It has adopted similar styling techniques to the Sonata that leaves it with a balanced blend of curvature and strong angles that projects a modern silhouette with styling still identifiable with the current crowd.
During he short jaunt to Malacca from Glenmarie, we were behind the wheel of the 2-liter Standard spec. Hyundai Malaysia Sime Darby could only make that model available that spec as the higher variant 2-liter and premium spec 2.4-liter model has had their stock taken up by customers, such is the demand for the new Tucson.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14797
Even though the model we drove was the lowest spec variant, it certainly didn’t feel like one. We found the dual airbags, ABS, EBD, active headrest, power windows, electric side mirrors and trip computer handy and definite value for money.
The only difference between the 2-liter standard spec and 2-liter high spec as well as the premium 2.4-liter would be the ESP with incorporated Hill Start Active Control and Downhill Brake Control as well as the panoramic sunroof.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14798
Apart from that, pretty much everything else is equal. Power is provided from the all-aluminium Theta II series of engines that feature dual CVVT and six-speed auto transmissions. For the 2-liter models, power stands at 163hp and 198Nm of torque while the 2.4-liter models offer 176hp and 229Nm of twisty force. Both models are excellent for city driving as they develop more than 80 per cent of their peak torque from around the 2,000rpm mark.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14799
Furthermore, the 2-liter models only come in front wheel drive and if you deem all-wheel drive necessary, you’ll have to opt for the 2.4-liter model.
On the inside, the smooth and flowing design cues were carried onto the dashboard and door panels. Although the quality of the plastics were slightly left wanting, on the whole it offered a fine balance between design and quality.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14800
The interior was a splendid place to be in, offering a premium feel that was equivalent to its direct competitor, the Honda CR-V. From the drive, we could feel that the main improvement regarding the Tucson was the build quality. Apart from the quality plastics used, the Tucson was well hammered together and showed no signs of premature creaking and cracking.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14801
It wasn’t as stylish as the Sonata but there was enough panache in its penmanship to make you take a second look and appreciate the Korean offerings that are now giving the Japs a major migraine.
As stylish as the dashboard layout was though, it retained the practical placement of the major knobs and switches to keep ergonomics requirements within reach. The head unit was MP3 capable and came with the USB connectivity and an AUX input cable. Even steering wheel mounted audio controls were standard across the range.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14802
So the major question is, ‘does the Tucson drive as well as it looks and feels?’ In short, the only word that comes to mind is a resounding ‘hell yeah!’ The front absorbs road imperfections with the help of a MacPherson strut setup while the rear rides on an independent multi-link layout.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14803
The drive to Malacca consisted of a combination of highways and B-roads with their fair share of bumps and pot holes. Nonetheless, the Tucson absorbed the road impurities with a somewhat solid thud without giving the driver the sensation of losing traction.
In city traffic, the Tucson was an compliant as a puppy dog. The six-speed slushbox was well ratioed and provided sufficient pick-up from stop-go movement but still provided plenty of pull on the highways.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14804
If pushed, the Tucson was more than capable of taking a solid line through the corner without the slightest hint of discomfort or stiffness. Although it did feel a pinch light on its feet when being thrown around the corners, the premium construction of the interior meant that the occupants still felt like it was a well hammered-together piece of machinery.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14805
The main thing to take away from this short drive we had in the Tucson was the fact that Hyundai has come a long way from their awkward beginnings to a force to be reckoned with in the global automotive market and the fourth largest car maker in the world (on last check).
Furthermore, all new Hyundai vehicles now come with a five year or 300,000km warranty for better piece of mind and with the maintenance-free transmission, value for money is a key-phrase that just keeps popping up in discussions for the SUV market.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14806
On the whole, the Tucson is a force to be reckoned with in the SUV segment and not just it’s an offering from Korea that used to be the last resort but is now a genuine tour de’ force in the SUV segment. Looks and spec wise, it could even surpass the Chevy Captiva, opinions depending.
To sum it up, the Tucson is now back with a vengeance and ready to stake its claim in the SUV segment. The jump from the previous model to the current offering is far too wide to be explained courtesy of a short jaunt to Malacca. Just from that explanation alone, you should be easily surmising that the Tucson is close to being the top offering in its segment in terms of value for money.
http://www.zerotohundred.com/?attachment_id=14807
Compiling all the improvements placed in the new Tucson, it is undeniable that the Tucson is the best value-for-money bet on the market now. It combines a smooth blend of quality and technology to offer the average buyer the most bang for the buck
