2015 Hyundai Tucson Elite Review – Smart, Comfortable… The ‘Happy Medium’ SUV
The skinny: The Hyundai Tucson, replacing the ageing ix35, has now grown up enough to be considered a medium SUV to rival the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail and Subaru Forester (in order of sales popularity).
It is an all-new collaboration between Europe (where it is styled and built), the US (which did its packaging and interior) and Australia (local engineers had a big hand in the way it drives).
We’re testing the middle-grade specification of this mid-sized SUV, called Elite and priced competitively at $38,240 plus on-road costs. Can it be a happy medium in the class?
Vehicle Style: Medium SUV
Price: $38,240 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 130kW/265Nm 1.6 4cyl turbocharged petrol | 7sp dual-clutch automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 7.7 l/100km | tested: 9.9 l/100km
OVERVIEW
SUV sales are booming, up 15.4 per cent compared with last year, where passenger cars are collectively down 2.8 per cent.
So the Hyundai Tucson is more important to the Korean brand than the Sonata sedan launched just before it. Why do we mention that medium sedan? Because the new Tucson and Sonata represent the ‘new’ Hyundai in the way they drive.
For the first time, Aussie engineers have helped pick the chassis ‘bones’ of these models rather than just tuning ex-factory.