Hyundai Tucson review, test drive

The Hyundai Tucson is returning to India. But does the third-generation SUV have what it takes to rake in sales this time?

Published on Sep 27, 2016 06:00:00 PM

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Street smarts

The Hyundai’s 2.0-litre diesel puts out 136hp and 373Nm of torque. These are pretty modest figures, which translate to adequate performance at best. The engine is pretty refined and delivers a smooth power delivery. There’s not much turbo lag and the Tucson pulls quite cleanly and strongly from low revs but what you miss is the sudden rush of power you expect in the mid-range. This lack of punch is a bit disappointing and I found myself working the smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox excessively to extract the most out of the engine on empty English country roads. The good thing is that gear ratios are intelligently spaced out and each upshift lands the tacho needle bang in the meat of the power band for you to make the most of what the engine delivers. The clutch is quite progressive and light by SUV standards, which took the sting out of driving in London’s daunting rush-hour traffic. For the Indian market, in addition to the six-speed manual, the Tucson will also come with an automatic, and this could be a six-speed unit. Unlike the Creta, the Tucson also gets a four-wheel-drive option but it’s unlikely Hyundai will bring this version initially as Indian customers wouldn’t want to pay extra for 4x4 hardware.

The Tucson is a superb motorway cruiser, loping along effortlessly in sixth gear at the 110kph speed limit, with enough grunt for gentle overtakes. On Indian single-lane highways, I suspect a bit more overtaking power would come in handy to dodge oncoming cars.

The Tucson is built on a brand-new chassis with a high level of rigidity. Overall body control is pretty good, despite the suspension set up on the softer side. The supple ride easily dealt with the odd bits of broken tarmac or sharp edges I experienced and in fact, ride comfort is one of the Tucson’s biggest strengths. Even on undulating country roads, the ride is fairly flat thanks to well-judged damping, which keeps oscillations in check, especially on the suspension rebound.

Show the Tucson a set of corners and it’s clear that this isn’t an SUV that likes to be hustled. Body roll is pretty well contained but the Tucson isn’t eager to switch direction and steering feel too, is a bit numb. The Flex Steer system, which alters the steering weight makes the steering heavier at speed but doesn’t improve the feel. Also, there’s a bit of a wooly, dead zone around the straight-ahead position, which is typically Hyundai and this robs the steering feel of consistency.

Deserving dime

The Tucson is clearly not a car for the keener driver and it doesn’t have the dynamic verve of say, the CR-V. But what it does offer is a good level of luxury, refinement and feel-good factor. That a Hyundai could deliver on these fronts was unheard of when the first Tucson was launched. It’s obviously a bit more expensive this time round too. The Tucson will come to India this October at an estimate price between Rs 17 lakh and Rs 22 lakh, the Tucson is clearly for those who want a bit more than the Creta and are ready to spend for it.