Hyundai 2012 Tucson

Hyundai 2012 Tucson

Compact crossovers--cute-utes, if you wish--make up a crowded field, one with some robust sellers among them. The Ford Escape is 11 years old, and it's still a large hit. Honda's CR-V lingers near the high ten of sales charts, too. For years, Hyundai's entry in the category was the underwhelming Tucson, but in 2010, it was redesigned to take on the most effective in the category.

The transformation could not be a lot of dramatic, starting with the Tucson's daring sheetmetal. The Tucson truly arrived before the most recent Sonata, Accent and Veloster hit the scene, and its "fluidic sculpture" theme predicted what was coming back to those cars. It is a brash look for a corporation that thrived on conservative appearance for a decade, dramatic, attention-seeking and attention-obtaining in its anti-SUV stance. There may be an inch of straight line in its silhouette, the rest given up to curves and surfacing that swells at the fenders and crests at the front and rear. The tail gets a little thick, and there's masses of brightwork, and it all hangs along in addition or better than a Nissan Rogue or an Acura RDX, even. The interior's just a shade less dramatic, with a big LCD screen and vertical blades of metallic trim knifing into bands of tightly grained, low-gloss black plastic.

The Tucson lineup is all four-cylinder, with a worth-leading a pair of.0-liter with a hundred sixty five horsepower in base versions, offered with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. We tend to've driven the manual transmission and liked its light-weight shift action, but the automatic improves gas mileage to twenty three/31 mpg and has pretty clean gearchanges, too. Even higher is the optional a pair of.4-liter four with 176 horsepower and solely the six-speed automatic. That combination is sweet for an estimated twenty two/32 mpg, and moves the Tucson along at a measured pace with relatively low noise and vibration for a massive four. The Tucson isn't fast--and as of nonetheless doesn't have the turbo four found within the similar Kia Sportage--however it is a passable straight-line performer.

Handling is predictable, and also the Tucson rides better than it steers. The slightly firm, settled ride on higher-end versions comes to base versions this year, in the form of additional sophisticated shocks and retuned bushings. Whereas the road manners are much better than the last Tucson, the new engine-speed-sensitive electric power steering is a weak spot. It brings with it a tiny turning circle, nice for parking-ton squeezes, however the steering feel is not as linear as the better electric systems from VW and Ford, and there is very little direct feedback from road surfaces.

It's more spacious than before moreover, and therefore the new Tucson bests some luxury crossovers for interior space. It's smaller by a sensible margin than the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, but four adults, especially those in front, can realize ample room in all directions. The rear seat has just enough headroom for taller adults, and good leg area. Given the choice, we tend to'd avoid the optional leather seats: the front leather buckets have short bottom cushions that tilt down at their vanguard, leaving them less snug than they may be.

The Tucson earns the IIHS' Prime Safety Pick award, however the NHTSA hasn't crash-tested the latest version. Curtain airbags and stability management are standard, whereas Bluetooth and a rearview camera are obtainable. Visibility is a problem within the Tucson: its heavily styled rear end has thick pillars and less glass than, say, a CR-V.

All versions have standard power windows, locks, and mirrors; cloth seats; remote keyless entry; air-con; and an AM/FM/XM/CD player with USB port. The options list has as several upscale options as some entry-luxury sedans. There's Bluetooth; telescoping steering; leather seating; heated front seats; steering wheel audio controls; an influence driver seat; seventeen-in. wheels; automatic headlights; and twin-zone automatic climate control. Additional expensive choices on the 2012 Tucson include a panoramic sunroof; premium audio; and a touchscreen navigation system fitted in tandem with Bluetooth streaming stereo audio and a rearview camera. Go whole-hog on the options, and therefore the Tucson will reach $30,000

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

 Hyundai 2012 Tucson

Hyundai 2012 Tucson