Hyundai Tucson review, test drive

On the face of it

Compared to the first Tucson, it’s hard to believe that the all-new model, launched internationally in 2015, comes from the same planet, let alone the same car company. They may be just two life cycles apart but the difference feels like light years and is a solid example of Hyundai’s meteoric progress, especially in the area of design.

Inside story

The interior design feels rather subdued after the Tucson’s flashy exterior and it’s obvious that Hyundai has prioritised function over form and there’s a sense of blandness in the cabin. In fact, the dashboard, in this instance, looks closer to the Creta than the Santa Fe. There’s a familiar two-tone design with a distinct separation between the infotainment and air-con control units. The touchscreen sits high up and is closely flanked by wing-shaped air vents – all Hyundai cues. Below the pod for the air-con unit below sit all the power sockets (two 12V, one USB, one aux) and under that is a spacious cubby hole – it’s the same logical layout you have in the Creta. The instruments too are simple and easy to read with a small screen in between. The four-spoke steering is again familiar with buttons that are shared with the Creta.

Passenger room is quite generous in the Tucson and again, the space on offer is closer to the Santa Fe’s. But unlike the Santa Fe, there’s no third row in the Tucson, which allows second row seating to be optimised. What this means is that there is more than enough width, legroom and headroom for five average-sized adults to get genuinely comfortable. All the seats are high set and the visibility out of the cabin, except in the rear three-quarter area, is pretty good. Boot space, again, is very generous and the seats can be flipped down to accommodate more.