WHAT IS IT?
Tucson, ix35, Tucson – I'm not sure why Hyundai flip-flopped on the name here in South Africa, but it's the Korean company's mid-size SUV, recently replaced with an entirely new model that is better (and better looking) than ever before.
WHY THIS?
Value for money is one thing, but attractiveness for money is even better, and, at the moment, the Tucson delivers the best attractiveness for money. This is the biggest leap that Hyundai has made in terms of styling, and beneath the stylish exterior is a car eminently practical and full of features.
OUTSIDE
The design is mostly about the lights, both front and rear. When you see the Tucson with the front lights off, the car seems to have a massive grille that stretches from side to side. But when the lights flicker on, the design is illuminated, and you realise how cleverly and impactfully the LED light clusters have been incorporated into the styling. The large fog lights accentuate the lights above them by being bold and angular. Similarly, the taillights are design elements as much as they are practical necessities, with more than a passing resemblance to those of modern Peugeots – some of my favourite designs on the road today. A bold chrome strip on the profile is another touch of class to the overall appearance.
INSIDE
The cabin doesn't have the same daring look as the exterior, but that's fine – it is well appointed and very comfortable. Instead of pushing the boundaries in terms of styling, Hyundai has made it incredibly ergonomically successful with everything in the right place and materials high in perceived quality.
For passengers and luggage, the cabin is more spacious than before, and there is a myriad of features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen from which everything is controlled. One thing I really liked is the diffused air feature of the three-zone climate control – you can choose to have the air-con diffused through more air vents so that the car cools down quickly without a torrent of cold air blowing into your face.
THE DRIVE
There are two engine options: the 2-litre petrol (115kW/192Nm/8.9L/100km) and the 2-litre turbodiesel (137kW/416Nm/7.9L/100km). As the figures suggest, the diesel is the one to go for, especially since it uses an 8-speed auto gearbox instead of the 6-speed auto in the petrol models. All models are front-wheel-drive only, with no all-wheel-drive models on offer.
When on the road, it is noticeable how quiet and polished the drive is, while the steering is sharp enough to be enjoyable and the ride quality on the verge of outstanding. It is a car that you will enjoy driving in all situations, from the commute to a road trip in the Karoo.
FINAL WORD
It must be one of the best-looking SUVs out there, but it's also much more than that: it's spacious, drives well, is very quiet from the inside, has loads of features that you'll actually use, and is pretty good value. It'll also stand out amongst others that it can be compared to.
GO GET IT
The new Tucson is priced from R519,900 up to R699,900, with the sweet spot in terms of pricing, probably the mid-range 2.0 petrol Executive at R569,900. Don't forget Hyundai's 6-year/90,000km service plan, 7-year/200,000km warranty and 7-years/150,000km roadside assistance.
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