Top 3 things you need to know about the Hyundai Tucson

By Farzana Chaumoo

Hyundai’s Tucson, which has been a top contender in its market segment since the launch of the first generation in 2009, has more to offer than just signature looks. Hyundai puts a strong focus on performance and safety for its popular SUV.

 

1. Tucson Sport

Did you know the small family SUV came in a sport derivative? The seventh derivative once sold in Hyundai’s popular SUV range was known as the Hyundai Tucson 1.6 TGDI Executive Sport and was meant for buyers who wanted some extra “presence” on the road. It was powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine that is linked to a slick 6-speed manual gearbox with well-spaced ratios to get the maximum power of 150 kW and torque of 295 Nm to the road effectively through the front-wheel drive system. It boasted the comprehensive Executive level of features found in other derivatives in the range.

The Tucson Sport was fitted with a body kit that was imported from Korea and included pieces for the front, rear and side skirts. Tiger Wheel & Tyre assisted Hyundai in choosing alloy wheels exclusively for this model. The 19-inch black alloy wheels with its low-profile tyres also took the outstanding handling dynamics of the Tucson to an even higher level. They were exclusive to the Tucson Sport and were not available for anyone to purchase off the shelf and fit to their own vehicle. Hyundai also fitted a different exhaust system with four chrome pipes at the rear that audibly announced the sporty nature of this Tucson making it a winner in terms of looks and performance.

 

2. Performance without Compromise

Hyundai has said to put performance at the forefront and is evident in the Tucson range (including NU 2.0 MPi, 1.6 TGDi and R2.0 CRDi engines). The NU 2.0 MPi engine offers 115kW at 6,200rpm and 196Nm at 4,000rpm. Delivering impressive throttle response and performance, the 1.6 TGDi engine puts out 130kW at 5,500rpm and 265Nm at 4,500rpm. The R2.0 CRDi engine delivers 131kW at 4,000rpm and 400Nm at 2,750rpm. These SUVs are all backed by Hyundai’s 7-year, 200,000km manufacturer’s warranty.

 

3. 5-star EURO NCAP Rating

The new Tucson raises the bar when it comes to safety and boasts an impressive 5-star EURO NCAP rating. The Tucson is equipped with several passive safety features that include six airbags for excellent front and side protection. These are dual front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, and curtain airbags for the rear passenger's protection. 

There's also an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), an Anti-lock Brake system (ABS); and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) that gives the driver complete steering control and ensures stability when it’s needed most. In the Executive and Elite derivatives, driver assist systems further include Blind Spot Detection, Cross Traffic Alert, Vehicle Stability Management that keeps the car stable on wet, slippery or rough roads, as well as Hill-start Assist Control to prevent roll-back when pulling off against an incline.

 

Read more Hyundai Tucson Car News & Advice