- For: Spacious, practical, five-year warranty
- Against: Lacks design flair, dull to drive
- Verdict: Better than a Nissan Qashqai of the same era
The new Hyundai Tucson, with its fancy light graphics and minimalist interior, has made this previous model look a bit dull.
Still, the Tucson was never a family SUV to get excited about. Its strengths are practicality, safety and peace of mind. As this model was launched in 2015, the majority will still be covered by Hyundai’s excellent five-year warranty.
The range kicked off with the S Connect, powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine. However, this version lacks punch, while standard equipment was a tad miserly.
Upgrading to SE Nav added more kit and a greater choice of engines, while Premium and Premium SE trim levels opened up the prospect of four-wheel drive.
N Line trim – seen in these photos – was introduced in 2019, with styling inspired by the i30 N hot hatch (now joined, interestingly, by a full-fat Kona N SUV). The sporty makeover shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
The Tucson is sure-footed on the road, with a grown-up, full-size SUV feel. It’s inoffensive on the daily commute and comfortable for long distances.
Inside, quality is good, but practicality is only average for the class and little imagination has gone into the design. A head-over-heart car, then, but a decent one,
KEY INFO
- Launched: 2015
- Facelifted: 2018
- Sales ended: 2020
Rivals: Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Kia Sportage