A smart alternative to the name brands.

Introduction

The Hyundai Tucson is a compact SUV designed to compete with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V and for the most part it succeeds. The Tucson comes standard with a comprehensive list of active and passive safety features, including six airbags and electronic stability control. It's aggressively priced and it comes with Hyundai's five-year/60,000-mile warranty. 

We found the Tucson to be comfortable around town and on the highway, with light steering, adequate power from the available V6 engine, and a smooth four-speed automatic. The interior is nice, it doesn't look cheap, and the controls are easy to operate with big knobs. It's easy to get in and out of the front and back seats, the rear seatbacks flip down easily, and there's a decent amount of cargo space available. 

We actually preferred the ride and handling of the four-wheel-drive models, even on dry pavement. On wet pavement, the 4WD models don't spin their front tires the way the front-drive models do when accelerating from a stop. In the snow, they benefit from an all-wheel drive system that directs power to the rear wheels as road conditions change. A switch allows the drive r to lock in a 50/50 torque split when creeping through drifting snow. Though not intended to be a highly capable off-road vehicle, the Tucson can certainly manage rocky, dirt two-tracks and other light off-highway duties. 

The Tucson looks good, too. It's nicely proportioned with clean lines and short overhangs front and rear. 

For 2007, the Tucson features some new interior convenience features, a revised model range, and an enhanced audio system. 

Lineup

The 2007 Hyundai Tucson is offered in three trim levels. The entry GLS models are powered by a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The mid-range SE and top-of-the-line Limited models are powered by a 173-horsepower 2.7-liter V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. 

The GLS ($16,895) comes with power windows, door locks, heated power mirrors, an 80-watt AM/FM/CD audio system, remove keyless entry, roof-rack side rails, and 16-inch alloy wheels. However, air conditioning is optional ($900). It comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but is also available with a four-speed automatic ($18,895), which includes the air conditioning. The CD/MP3/cassette audio system is an option packaged with cruise control ($450). The four-wheel-drive GLS ($18,395) comes with the five-speed manual transmission only. 

The SE comes with the V6 and front-wheel drive ($20,895) or four-wheel drive ($22,395). The SE also features upgraded cloth trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a more powerful audio system with cassette and MP3, a trip computer with two modes, air conditioning, front wiper de-icer, illuminated vanity mirrors, gray lower body cladding, a tire pressure monitor, cruise control, fog lights, and wider tires. Mirrors and door handles are body color instead of black. Options include a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, heated front seats, upgraded 200-watt audio system ($1,650). 

The Limited comes with front-wheel drive ($22,245) or four-wheel drive ($23,745) and features leather seats and door trim, heated front seats, automatic climate control with outside temperature display, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, windshield wiper de-icer, and a 200-watt sound system with a six-CD changer. Lower bodyside cladding is body-color rather than gray. A power tilt-and-slide sunroof and a 200-watt CD changer package ($1,300) is optional. 

Safety features on the Tucson include electronic stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and traction control. It comes with side-impact airbags for torso protection and side curtain airbags designed to provide head protection for passengers in both rows. Tucson has earned a five-star safety rating from the U.S. government (NHTSA) in front and side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducts crash tests differently than the government, has rated the Tucson 'acceptable' in its frontal offset and side-impact crash tests. The system rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor. 

Walkaround

Hyundai's larger SUV, the Santa Fe, has always drawn mixed reviews for its styling; some like its unusual curvy lines while others think it's goofy-looking. Although the Hyundai Tucson is built on the same platform as Santa Fe, it is a fraction of an inch longer in wheelbase and seven inches shorter overall, creating very different proportions and a totally different look. Where Santa Fe is elongated, Tucson is stubby and cute, not dissimilar from the Honda CR-V. 

The Tucson has clean lines with a relatively big grille up front and headlamps that blend in well with the hood line and edges of the fenders. The front bumper is a large one-piece molding that begins just below the grille, houses three large air openings and two fog lights (on models that have them) and then forms a spoiler at the bottom. Yet in profile this impressive piece of plastic barely protrudes in front of the grille opening. At the back, the outer edges of the rear bumper reaches up to the tail lights; this bumper sticks out a few inches, adding protection. 

Tucson's rear tailgate slopes forward, avoiding the van-like vertical look of many other small SUVs. The rear window can be opened separately from the main tailgate although it is not very big, making it ineffective for loading much more than small light stuff. 

The SE comes with lower body cladding that runs from the front bumper, around the fenders and along the lower edges of the doors, to the rear bumper. Finished in matte black, the cladding is not too obtrusive. Limited features a monochromatic look, with body-color cladding as well as the same body-color mirrors and door handles as the SE. 

All models come with 16-inch alloy wheels; although the wheels on SE and Limited are more intricately styled. A roof rack and tinted windows are also standard on all models. 

Even though Tucson is not intended for serious off-road driving, it does have relatively short front and rear overhangs for improved clearance. This is largely thanks to the Tucson's long wheelbase, fractionally longer than that of the Honda CR-V or Ford Escape, even though both of those vehicles are several inches longer overall. Tucson's longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs is a sign of superior design. The Tucson also has a relatively wide track, which helps improve its stability. 

Interior

There's nothing cheap or spartan about the interior of the Hyundai Tucson, although it won't be mistaken for a luxury vehicle. Trim accents are matte black in the GLS and metalgrain in SE and Limited. The SE comes with brightly colored cloth seats that some people find too gaudy, while others like the pattern as it brightens up the interior. 

Big radio and climate controls are mounted reasonably high for easy reach, as is the shift lever. The instrument pod contains three gauges with a decent-sized speedometer in the center and a smaller tachometer and fuel gauge off to the sides. 

Big storage pockets in each of the four doors contain an indent for a large cup, plus room for several maps or whatever. In addition there are a couple of cupholders in the center console. It's also nice to see a proper parking brake lever in the center instead of a pedal-operated parking brake. There are no fewer than three 12-volt power outlets; apart from the usual one at the front there is one in the rear cargo area and one at the back of the center console for use by the rear seat passengers. The rear armrest also includes a cupholder that can accommodate a juice box. 

Thanks again to Tucson's long wheelbase, ingress to and egress from the rear seats is good. Once inside, rear-seat passengers will find adequate head and leg room for all but the tallest people. The rear seatback splits 60/40 to fold down with the push of single lever for more cargo space; you don't have to remove the headrests. The front passenger seat folds flat also, providing room for long objects or a convenient desk for a lone driver. 

A reasonable amount of rear luggage space can be hidden by a solid rear cargo cover/parcel shelf. A large washable rubber mat covers a hidden under-floor storage area. The mat also helps protect the flooring, as well as providing a non-slip surface. There are six tie-downs at the side for securing cargo in addition to three grocery bag hooks. 

Driving Impression

The Hyundai Tucson performs its duties in a perfectly adequate manner. Around town and out on open highways the 173-horsepower V6 delivers adequate power for what is a relatively heavy vehicle for its size. This engine features variable-length intake runners for good power and torque across the rpm band. 

The four-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Those who want to be more in command can push the shift lever over to the Shiftronic semi-manual mode. Just a few years ago such an option was only offered on high-end sports cars. 

The steering felt connected, although a tad light in feel. 

The brakes were smooth and stopped the vehicle efficiently. ABS keeps the wheels from locking up and sliding on slippery or uneven surfaces, so the driver can maintain steering control even in a panic stop. Electronic brake-force distribution adjusts the front-to-rear proportioning of braking force according to the load on the wheels and continuously adjusts as the weight shifts forward during a stop. This helps improve stability under braking. 

A brief drive along a rocky dirt track showed that the Tucson can manage some light off-highway duty. 

We drove both four-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models on pavement, and somewhat to our surprise found that we liked the ride and handling of the 4WD versions slightly better. This might seem counterintuitive, but it was probably because the 4WD models pack a little more weight over their rear wheels, making them better balanced overall, even though they are slightly heavier. What's more, the 4WD models didn't spin their front wheels on wet and slippery roads, as the FWD models tended to do. All told, the 4WD option is worthwhile and we recommend getting it. 

The four-wheel-drive system is a part-time setup, but once engaged it operates more like full-time all-wheel-drive, automatically routing power to the end of the vehicle that can use it best. (Unlike all-wheel drive, traditional part-time 4WD, the kind associated with older pickup trucks, does not alter the torque split according to conditions.) Most of the time the electronic brain sends most of the power (up to 99 percent) to the front wheels. Then as road conditions change the system diverts up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels. Called Electronic InterActive Torque Management, Tucson's Borg Warner system is essentially the same system Hyundai installs in the AWD Santa Fe, except that Tucson provides an additional mode that allows the driver to lock in a 50/50 torque split for really slippery conditions. The lock automatically disengages above 20-25 mph, or when the ABS is activated. 

We did not have the opportunity to drive the base model with a four-cylinder engine. This is a relatively sophisticated power plant, with four valves per cylinder and Hyundai's continuously variable valve timing. Still, it produces only 140 horsepower at 6000 rpm, and 136 pound-feet of torque at 4500. Judging from the modest performance of the V6-powered Tucson, we expect anemic acceleration from the four-cylinder. 

Summary

The Hyundai Tucson is fully competitive with the established players in this segment and we've found the quality to be good. Tucson is no barnstormer as far as performance goes, but the V6 engine provides enough power to satisfy most people. Tucson costs hundreds of dollars less than its rivals yet it comes loaded with comfort and convenience features as well as a full complement of safety features. 

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent John Rettie is based in Santa Barbara. 

Model Lineup

Hyundai Tucson GLS FWD 5M ($16,895), GLS FWD 4A ($18,895), GLS 4WD 5M ($18,395); SE FWD 4A ($20,895), SE 4WD 4A ($22,395; Limited FWD 4A ($22,245), 4WD 4A ($23,745). 

Assembled In

Ulsan, South Korea.