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Review of 2011 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai, Reviews

October 14th, 2010

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For 2011 Hyundai has pressed the refresh button and how. The earlier docile SUV has been transformed to one from Hyundai’s “Fluidic” family. Well, if all vehicles just sold on their outer appearance then we should be seeing more of Alfa Romeos. The new Hyundai is a lot more curvier than the previous generation. Its grille bears a strong resemblance to the 2010 Sonata and the Verna Transform. This is the corporate face for the future ix-35 and many more models to come. The new car though does look like a proper cross-over. The rear resembles a Veracruz and that’s not a bad thing either.

Under the hood lurks a 1.6 Liter Gamma Turbo Inline-4 engine or a 2.4 Liter Theta II Inline-4 engine. Gone is the V6 engine which made the Hyundai stand out amongst a slew of 4 cylinder SUVs in 2010. The new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Theta that produces 176 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. Blue models of the new Tucson are equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that gives better fuel economy. Both the engines are equipped with a manual six-speed transmission however there is also an alternative in the 6 speed automatic on all models. All the models have FWD{ Front Wheel Drive} but you can order one with AWD{ All Wheel Drive}. Hyundai claims that the engine down-size was done keeping in mind the growing emission norms. They do have a point when you actually see that the new 4 cyclinder one gives you the same torque and power as also 20% better fuel economy . The 2.4 liter engine is comparable in power and torque with its competitor Honda CR-V. However it is nowhere buzz free or refined as the Honda. The engine is best kept at cruising speeds.

The interiors of the previous generation Tucson have been carried forward to the new model albeit with a few modifications. The new car has a coral red hue. Though opinions may be polarized on its use, we found out it to be quite pleasing to the eyes. The leather wrapped steering wheel, the door pockets and the gear shift knob all are soft to touch and feel. The plastic quality is of high order though the dashboard seems to have been made of hard plastic. But who cares to touch the dashboard that often? The seats themselves look like they would endure a family nuclear war and then be ready for some more. The seat material is made from a combination of polvinyl material. This acts like a decoy to leather while giving the same feeling. The mid-section of the seats is also made from a durable cloth which looks like it would be difficult to stain. The new 2011 Hyundai Tucson doesn’t sacrifice interior volume at the altar of weight-cutting and cost reduction thanks to some efficient packaging. The front as well as back seats are very comfortable offering enough leg room and side bolstering. It is a 5 seater and five 6 ft adults can sit comfortably behind each other.

To keep the occupants comfortable, you get cup holders at every seat and many cubbyholes to hold your knip knacks. Standard is the power windows and locks, fold-away mirrors, steering-wheel audio controls and remote keyless entry with alarm. The extensive features list has leather upholstery, heated front seats, power driver seat with lumbar support, integrated turn-signal mirrors, front windshield-wiper defogger, voice-activated navigation system monitored by voice activation or a 6.5-inch LCD dashboard touch-screen, dual front automatic climate control and dual-panel panoramic sunroof. You can also opt for the 18 inch alloys or have the 17 inch standard ones.

Fuel efficiency is top notch with an EPA claimed 22/30 city/highway figures for the 2.4 engine with 2WD and 22/29 for the AWD version. Hyundai claims that the Blue editions would even be more frugal thanks to their small, specially tuned engines, gearing and low resistance tires and a spoiler or two to even better the aerodynamics. So expecting a real world fuel efficiency figures of 28/34 wouldn’t be unreal. This should put it in the same ball-park as the Ford Hybrid Escape.

Safety assumes paramount importance to Hyundai as to any manufacturer worth its salt. It comes with front seat side airbags to protect your torso, curtain side air-bags to protect your head. The curtain air bags would deploy only when they sense an impending rollover. The Tucson also has Hill descent-ascent program as standard. This is a rare feature not even found amongst big SUVs. Tucson makes no bones about it been a soft roader however features like the Hill descent-ascent program ensure that you can go for the ocassional off-road jaunt. Wheel locking in slippery roads is prevented by the ABS system, by controlling brake fluid pressure. ESP is also present. The risk of secondary injuries caused by whiplash is reduced by the seatbelt pretensioners, equipped with load limiters.

The point of contention here is the starting price of $20,000 to $23,000. This puts it into the league of every car buying person. Combined with the splendid fuel economy, good looks, reliable engine and optimum features, Hyundai has got a winner on its hand. The Honda CR-V’s thrown may be usurped come the 2011 Tucson.