Hyundai India have strengthened their crossover-SUV portfolio with the all-new Tucson starting from Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The all-new Tucson – pronounced ‘too-sawn‘ and named after the city in Arizona – from Hyundai is the latest shot from their arsenal, taking on the premium midsize crossover segment. The Tucson, first seen last decade as a model from a couple of generations ago, makes a stunning comeback in an exciting new avatar; Fluidic design language and all. The Tucson is positioned between the Creta and the Santa Fe, and will take on the likes of the inimitable Škoda Yeti as well as the popular Renault Duster (also the Koleos) and Mahindra XUV500, all of which are crossovers built for the rough on a monocoque car platform and are renowned for their practicality and ease of use.
As expected of Hyundai, the interior is well-put-together and, at least in the top-end version, features all the necessary safety, communication and entertainment equipment you would ever need. The quality fit-and-finish and the elegant yet modern layout of the displays and panels all complement the striking exterior. Some of the new features include a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, an 8.0-inch touchsceen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, hill-assist, down-hill brake control, front and rear parking sensor with a reverse camera, automatic headlamps, an electric parking brake, and a powered tail-gate.
The Tucson is being offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, both 2.0-litre four-cylinder units. The petrol engine is similar to the naturally-aspirated unit seen in the Elantra, but with 155 PS and 192 Nm. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is a new engine, available in two states of tune globally. We get the more powerful one (yes!) with 185 PS and 400 Nm. A six-speed manual as well as automatic transmission options are available for both. You also get drive modes to choose from: Eco and Sport. However, we get only the two-wheel-drive versions, with no 4×4 drivelines on the cards. Even so, with a 172-mm ground clearance, it seems to have what it takes to give you the confidence you need.
The introductory pricing for the new Tucson (ex-showroom, Delhi) is as follows:
Petrol M/T: Rs 18.99 lakh
Petrol A/T: Rs 21.79 lakh
Diesel M/T: Rs 21.59 lakh
Diesel A/T GL: Rs 23.48 lakh
Diesel A/T GLS: Rs 24.99 lakh
Watch for the first-drive review shortly.
Story: Jim Gorde
