We are with the Hyundai Tucson at Bodrum.
The Tucson is the new compact crossover model of the Hyundai.
This new model had lots of request from you in the recent period.
I am here at this moment at the press launch, to test this car.
Let’s see what features the Tucson, with its brand new form offers, let’s analyze it together.
As always, if I am to start to narrate the Tucson from the design also, I can easily say that it is very powerful and attention grabbing.
In this, in my opinion, the new hexagonal grill, which now is the signature characteristic of the brand, being much more dynamic and striking has a huge share.
I think, the new head lamps with bifocals and the daylight lamps with LED have also share in this powerful appearance.
When the Tucson is observed from the sides the ascending shoulder line adds a sportive air.
From the rear the Tucson still looks more refine and powerful than the ix35 it replaced.
Again in this the taillights with LED that were positioned longitudinal, the smoke-colored piece under the bumper and double exhaust outlet which comes with the fully equipped model have a great share.
The Tucson which was reformed at brand new infrastructure naturally has different dimensions.
Its length increased 65 mm, its width 30 mm while the hight decreased 10 mm.
This of course provides definite benefit to the car’s compact outlook.
But the most important point is, due to 30 mm increase of the axle span, the interior which was already wide became more spacious.
If I have to start to talk about the living space in the interior from the front, I can say that you encounter a quality cockpit as soon as you get into the car.
There is no problem in the appearance.
But on the surfaces you touch, it took my attention that cheap and hard plastic have been used especially at the top but if we were to look in general it really look high quality.
The dashboard that have been renewed completely, are very legible and the A/C controls are under hand and can be used easily.
If I am not mistaken, in the ix35 that I had tested there was no touchscreen multimedia.
But in the Tucson now, a big multimedia is offered.
It is not only the size, as you can see the digits and the map here are so big, you can easily read and follow it.
For your small items so many areas have been offered that it can virtually constitute a reference.
In front of the gear lever there is a large area and next to it is two cup holders and another small place has been offered.
Furthermore inside the arm rest there is also ample room.
The cooled glove compartment in my opinion is very important in this hot weather to chill the water that I really need when I shoot on location.
When we come to the rear seats, due to the 30 mm increase in the axle span, the knee room that was already good was ensured much well.
The head room also satisfies the class standards and expectations.
Just as in the previous ix35 test I have done, heated rear seats in the fully equipped model, separates the Tucson from its rivals.
513 liters loading capacity, not only by its value but also due to its easy loading structure in my opinion deserves praise.
Let us consider the engine and driving features of the Tucson.
The Tucson now is sold with 3 different engine alternatives as 1.6 liters petrol engine, 1.6 liters turbo charged petrol engine and 2.0 liters diesel engine.
But what really concern us here, and what you have anxiously been waiting naturally is the 1.6 liters turbo charged new petrol engine and double clutch automatic gearbox combination.
Naturally, I am testing this combination here, in other words the 1.6 liters turbo charged petrol engine that develops 177 HP and 265 Nm of torque and 7 speed DCT double clutch automatic gearbox.
The engine already reveals its power in numerals. OK what waits you when you drive, is what I shall mention.
First of all the engine has a lively structure. In other words, when you want accelerate and reach high speeds it succeeds to answer you well.
And it is in harmony with the gearbox.
However, the gearbox, naturally to be able to control the fuel consumption, take its choices early and chooses the top gears early.
In this instance, when you want to accelerate the gearbox naturally prefers to decrease the gears one or two speed.
Even though you lose time because of this, the engine with its powerful structure make up the difference and as I just said earlier satisfy the expectations explicitly.
Since you do not feel any jolt in the passes of the gears in my opinion deserves praise as well.
Of course when you want to use it as manual you can only intervene from the gear lever, I would have clearly preferred the pedals behind the steering wheel as we are accustomed.
One of the most important pluses that took my attention was the quietness of the cockpit.
I think the improvement due to the new infrastructure has a share.
Furthermore as the petrol engine works silently, really you do not hear any sound when traveling on sensible speeds.
For example, I am going at 100 km/h now and I can say that neither the road noise nor wind noise enter the cockpit.
The only sound I hear here is the sound of the A/C fan working on 4th stage.
The ix35 in the subject of driving comfort offered some things nice to its user, the Tucson has the same and even better comfort features.
I can say that the suspensions in the daily use and on the curvy roads that I have been driving or on the highway as now works silently and on comfort.
The shock absorbers filter the rough surfaces very well.
But on the route that I drove, on some slight off-road areas the suspension clearly was hard put to absorb the hard impacts.
But on daily use I can say that the suspension was very good.
The unfavorable thing about the Tucson that grabs my attention was that the steering system was still, as previously, exceedingly artificial.
Even though if you choose the Sport mode by pressing the button Drive Mode behind the gear lever
and the steering becomes firmer, in my opinion it still is exceedingly artificial.
Nevertheless, as always I don’t reckon the standard user will take this much into account.
Just because I did not mention it when talking about the engine do not think that I will not refer to it.
The Tucson, with this engine and gearbox twosome is offered with 4-Wheel Drive system.
But still, if you want to buy the 1.6 liters turbo charged petrol engine as front wheel drive than you have to choose the manual gearbox.
The Tucson like many 4-Wheel Drive car naturally advance as front wheel drive.
But if traction loss is felt in the front wheels than some of the power is transferred to the rear and it moves as 4-Wheel Drive.
Of course apart from this, on slight off-road conditions up to 40 km/h, pressing the Lock button behind this gear lever you are able to lock the differential electronically.
And by this way you are able to advance up to the speed I have mentioned with 4-Wheel Drive system.
And at last the time came for the subject of fuel consumption.
Let me tell you this, I have been driving this car for 2-3 hours around Bodrum and have covered 100 kilometers.
At the moment the trip computer indicates 10.2 liters fuel consumption averages.
This value definitely is not low, I can guess that you will mention this on your comments.
But it is beneficial for you to know that if you are buying a crossover this size and if you are buying 177 HP, automatic gearbox and 4-Wheel Drive System
than this is an acceptable value, you should know this.
The Hyundai Tucson is one of the rare compact crossovers that offer powerful petrol engine, automatic gearbox and 4-Wheel Drive System together.
In this sense it is clear that it will be competitive in its class.
And in my opinion it looks powerful in this matter.
But still, before you decide, you can click here to watch the videos of one of the strong player in this class the Nissan Qashqai
and one of the new players in this class the Renault Kadjar.
See you…