Hyundai launches 3rd-gen Tucson in India
Mid-size SUV makes a return after years to fill the gap between Creta and Santa Fe
If you’re going to buy a 19-lac SUV, you may as well get the name right. It’s pronounced “two-sawn”, not “tuckson” or whatever else you call it on your end of the basti. The new Tucson fills the gap between the Hyundai Creta and Santa Fe, and is available in 2WD only. You do, however, get a choice of petrol or diesel motors, and a manual or automatic transmission with either. A total of five variants are offered.
This is the third generation of the Hyundai Tucson, and uses the “Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy”. What that means is that the slashes and creases make the SUV even more rakish than what we’ve been used to with recent Hyundais. The claimed first-in-class double-barrel headlamps are sufficiently swept-back to look aggressive, and flank a big, wide grille with three chrome-accented slats. Fog lamps get LED DRLs below and in general, the SUV is bigger and more imposing than its predecessor.
Hyundai is claiming a lot of “first-in-class” features in the Tucson, including puddle lamps, twin chrome exhaust tips, static bending headlamps and 18" diamond-cut alloys. We’ve seen those before, but not in this class, so that’s a pass.
Petrol motivation comes from the 2.0-litre “Nu Dual VTVT Petrol Engine” that generates 155ps and 192Nm while the “2.0 R e-VGT Diesel Engine” outputs 185PS and a stonking 400Nm. If the weight is kept in check, that diesel should make for a storming fun ride. Both the manual and automatic transmissions have six speeds. Interestingly, Hyundai is offering “steering modes” on the manual to choose between a comfortable or sporty feel. Hyundais have traditionally had feather-light steering, which does not lend itself to spirited driving, so this is a bonus.
The automatics come with Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes, as is expected with this price segment these days. The petrol manual is rated at 13.03kmpl, while the auto is rated at 12.95kmpl. The diesel manual delivers 18.42kmpl while the auto delivers 16.38kmpl (all ARAI figures).
The third-gen Tucson comes with a 5-star EuroNCAP rating, and is an IIHS top safety pick. Six airbags are available, as are hill-start assist and downhill brake control. ABS with EBD is present, as is ESP with VSM. Parking sensors are present on the front and the back.
Hyundai continues to provide feature-rich variants. An 8" touchscreen infotainment system is available with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, as is a hands-free powered tailgate. You also get dual-zone climate control, 60:40 splitting and reclining rear seats, auto headlamps, auto defogger and powered ORVMs with a heater. At this point, we’re getting tired of typing up the features.
Prices
Petrol 2WD
MT Rs 18,99,000
AT GL Rs 21,79,000
Diesel 2WD
MT Rs 21,59,000
AT GL Rs 23,48,000
AT GLS Rs 24,99,000
