Is a used Hyundai Tucson a good car for a new driver?
Not all young drivers will be entering the entry-level segment of the market with Kia Picantos, Polo Vivos and Hyundai Grand i10s, so if you are in the position to buy something more substantial between R200k and R250k, would a pre-loved Hyundai Tucson be a good buy?
The Hyundai Tucson has been a massive hit in SA. Even when it was sold under the ix35 nameplate (pre-2016), it enjoyed very favourable sales figures, and before then it was equally popular. I wouldn't advise new drivers to buy a second-hand car that has more than 100 000 km on the clock, however, so if you are looking at used Tucsons from 2016 onwards, you'll have to spend at least R225 000, which is a lot for a new driver or student. However, for R225 000 in the new-car market, you won't find anything that comes close to the Tucson where space, ground clearance, and safety features are concerned.
Can I get a well-looked after, not-too-ancient Tucson in this price range?
We checked our listings for Tucsons, and it turns out you can get a decent 2016 – 2018 2.0-litre petrol model (in Premium guise) with less than 90 000 km on the odo in this price bracket. The fact that the petrol engines are naturally aspirated (in other words, no turbo!) means that there's less that can go wrong in the long run. Check out used 2016 -2018 2.0-litre Tucsons on AutoTrader for less than R250 000, here.
Interested in a diesel model, instead? Remember that you'll have to be very diligent with services and oil changes because our South African diesel is so dirty. You can read my road trip-review on the 2017 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi Elite, here. It was the flagship model of the line-up at the time, so it's better equipped than the aforementioned Premium variants.
What's on offer in the 2.0-litre Premium models? (2016 - 2018)
The 2.0-litre Premium models have enough power (115kW), safety features galore (6 airbags, for starters), daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, a radio / CD player, Bluetooth, USB port, and a logical dashboard layout, along with satellite buttons on the steering wheel, a trip computer, and alloy wheels. For a new driver, it's ideal. Hyundai SA has a good after sales reputation, and a massive dealer footprint in SA.
New(er) models cost considerably more, but you'll there's more on-board tech and convenience features, and of course it's not just suitable for new drivers, it's suitable for all ages and experience levels.
Smaller budget? Why not opt for a Hyundai ix35?
If your budget is between R120k and R200k, a 2011-2014 Hyundai ix35 with less than 90 000 km on the clock is a sensible buy for a new driver. (Seriously, I would rather be in a 7-year-old ix35 than a brand-new Renault Kwid.) Check out these sub-R200k ix35 deals on AutoTrader, already filtered to fall within this range.
