The all-new Hyundai Tucson brings some flair to the medium SUV segment. But could this mid-spec Elite grade with diesel power be the pick of the range?
- Effortless diesel powertrain
- Interior design and comfort
- Spacious second row and boot
- Plenty of gloss-black accents attracting grimy fingerprints
- Lack of a physical ‘home’ button for infotainment grates
- Push-button gear selector not to everyone’s taste
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Hyundai Tucson Elite 2.0D -
Hyundai Tucson Elite 2.0D -
Hyundai Tucson Elite 2.0D
Introduction
When it comes to the modern 21st century family chariot, it’s the medium SUV that stands tall. Carmakers know this, which is why they’re keen to keep their mid-sized high-riders minty fresh. Case in point? The 2021 Hyundai Tucson range, which brings fresh metal and fresher technologies to what was already a popular choice in the medium SUV segment.
The exterior has been radically redesigned, bringing an altogether more angular and aggressive profile to the Tucson.
Out front, a futuristic-looking grille frames new LED headlight designs, while defined creases and angles along the Tucson’s side offer a sharp profile that looks aggressive and purposeful.
The Tucson range is a complex one, with a choice of three engines and three transmissions across three trim levels. The range starts with the eponymous Hyundai Tucson priced at $34,500 plus on-road costs and tops out at $52,000 (plus on-roads) for the Tucson Highlander diesel.
In between, an array of petrol, turbo petrol or diesel-powered variants, riding on either a front- or all-wheel-drive platform with either a seven-speed dual-clutch or a more conventional six- or eight-speed automatic, matched to the particular engine option.
On test here we have the mid-spec diesel variant, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite that is priced at $45,000 plus on-road costs.
It’s well-equipped for the price, bringing 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, power-adjustable driver’s seat, front seat heating, push-button start, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen featuring smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, inbuilt satellite navigation, DAB+ radio, and dual-zone climate control.
Additional equipment highlights for the Elite include auto up/down electric windows front and back, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, and front and rear parking sensors.
There’s also a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies.
It makes for a compelling proposition in a segment where competition is rife, where the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Mitsubishi Outlander rule the roost in terms of sales. Still, the Tucson has always been popular with buyers, sitting fourth on the sales charts just behind the Outlander.
| Key details | 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite diesel |
| Price (MSRP) | $45,000 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Deep Sea |
| Options | Premium paint – $595 |
| Price as tested | $45,595 plus on-road costs, $49,989 drive-away (Syd.) |
| Rivals | Toyota RAV4 | Mazda CX-5 | Mitsubishi Outlander |
Inside
Hyundai has gone all-out with the interior of its new mid-size SUV, at once more refined and elegant than the model it replaces.
The material quality is top-notch, although a surplus of piano black on some key touchpoints could grate after a while, prone as that material is to fingerprints and scratches.
The leather-appointed front seats are comfortable, well-bolstered and supportive, while ergonomically the majority of the Tucson’s critical functions fall to hand easily.
The driver’s seating position is nice and high, too, affording good visibility to the road ahead. Those front seats are also heated for those brisk winter mornings.
Storage amenities up front include a generous central bin, a pair of cupholders, and another cubby in front of the push-button gear selector that houses a wireless smartphone charging pad.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the proliferation of push-button gear selectors, finding them unintuitive and clunky to use. It seems carmakers the world over are coming up with new ways to frustrate, and this is one of those ways. Make mine a good old-fashioned lever. Still, many buyers will love the extra centre console space afforded by the absence of a more traditional lever.
Convenience items include keyless entry and push-button start as well as a pair of USB-A points, one for charging, the other for smartphone mirroring. No wireless mirroring here, instead wireless connection is exclusive to the entry-level Tucson.
Passengers in the second row will marvel at the amount of space available to them. Hyundai has packaged the Tucson nicely, and back seat passengers are the winner with ample room in all key areas.
The seats are soft and plush, too, but without compromising support. It’s easy to imagine long road trips spent in comfort – not something true of every medium SUV.
Amenities for back seat passengers include a pair of USB-A charging points as well as a fold-down armrest with cupholders. There are air vents back there, too, although no separate climate controls.
The boot is capacious measuring in at 539L to the second row or 1860L with the second row folded away in 60:40 fashion. There are six tie-down points in the boot and a retractable cargo cover keeps items away from prying eyes. A pair of cubbies in the boot can take smaller objects, while a 12V outlet in the cargo area is a handy addition.
A full-size alloy spare wheel and tyre package lives under the boot floor, increasingly a rarity today. Kudos.
Access to the boot is via a manual tailgate, only the top-spec Highlander models feature electric opening. Not a deal-breaker by any stretch.
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite diesel | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 539L seats up / 1860L seats folded |
| Length | 4630mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 1665mm |
| Wheelbase | 2755mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Hyundai’s new infotainment system is a peach, with crisp and clear graphics and a nicely integrated 10.25-inch colour touchscreen.
It features all the usual phone connectivity including Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It should be noted, however, you’ll need a cable to mirror your smartphone. Only base-grade variants score wireless smartphone mirroring.
Satellite navigation is standard as is digital (DAB+) radio, while a six-speaker sound system is standard. The top-grade Highlander scores a premium eight-speaker Bose system.
Hyundai’s infotainment interface is clear and easy to use with an intuitive menu structure. Shortcut buttons below the screen help with functionality. But, and there’s a big but, that array of shortcut buttons doesn’t feature the simplest button of all – home.
The Elite grade misses out on the bells-and-whistles digital instrument display found in Highlander spec, making do with traditional analogue dials with a smaller TFT screen nestled in between that displays various driving data, including a digital speed readout.
Safety and Technology
The new Hyundai Tucson range scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating earlier this year, scoring decently across the four critical testing criteria. Adult occupant protection was rated at 86 per cent, child protection at 87 per cent, vulnerable road user at 66 per cent, and safety technologies at 70 per cent.
The entire Tucson range comes fitted with Hyundai’s Advanced SmartSense suite of safety technology that bundles in blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, tyre pressure monitoring, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors.
A suite of seven airbags covers all occupants, including a centre airbag between the front seats that mitigates head clashes between occupants in the event of an accident.
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite diesel | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2021) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
Value for Money
Hyundai covers the Tucson range with its standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is par for the course in today’s new car landscape.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, and can be prepaid at the time of purchase for either three ($1125), four ($1500) or five ($1875) years.
Alternatively, owners can opt for pay-as-you-go servicing at $375 a pop for the first five years. That brings with it some additional benefits, such as extended 24/7 roadside assist and annual sat-nav mapping updates.
Hyundai reckons the Elite diesel will use just 6.3L of diesel per 100km on the combined cycle. Our week with the Tucson saw an indicated 7.2L/100km heavily skewed towards urban running. More highway driving should see that number edge close towards Hyundai’s claim.
| At a glance | 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite diesel |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1125 (3 years), $1875 (5 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.3L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel tank size | 54L |
Driving
Behind that sharp and menacing grille out front lives a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine. It’s good for 137kW and 416Nm. A conventional eight-speed automatic transmission sends those outputs to Hyundai’s H-Trac all-wheel-drive system.
While we’ve been a little underwhelmed by the non-turbo petrol engine in the broader Tucson range, this turbo diesel quickly establishes itself as the pick of the bunch. It’s a responsive engine offering sharp around-town engagement when you need it most, while also being willing to settle into an easy rhythm out on the highway.
Acceleration from standstill is predictable and linear, while punching the accelerator on the move – for an overtake, say, or freeway merge – offers little resistance, the Tucson simply piling on the revs and speed with ease.
That’s partly down to the slick eight-speed automatic transmission that responds eagerly to throttle inputs, downshifting quickly in the hunt for engine revs and the commensurate torque boost. That auto transmission is equally adept around town during general driving duties, with slick and seamless shifts that are barely noticeable.
Despite missing out on Hyundai’s local suspension tune, the Tucson behaves nicely on the road, absorbing the worst of our local conditions with aplomb.
Small bumps and lumps fail to unsettle the mid-sizer, while bigger obstacles, such as speed humps, see the Tucson settle quickly and easily without too much wallowing. The overall feeling under wheel favours comfort – exactly as it should in this segment.
The steering feels nice and light, perhaps a touch too light for those that favour more feedback from their tillers, but it translates to an easy manoeuvrability around town, and something we’d wager buyers in this segment value.
| Key details | 2021 Hyundai Tucson Elite diesel |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
| Power | 137kW @ 4000rpm |
| Torque | 416Nm @ 2000-2750rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 77.3kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1773kg |
| Tow rating | 1900kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.8m |
Conclusion
The medium SUV segment continues to evolve, and evolve dramatically. As the new default family car, the segment is growing ever larger and ever more refined. This new Hyundai Tucson is the embodiment of that shift.
Families will love the generous space afforded all occupants, while its commodious boot is amply big for most applications. A full-size spare is just icing on the cake.
While today’s new car buyers are eschewing diesel power for their day-to-day motoring needs, the diesel powertrain in this Tucson specification is arguably the pick of the range, offering effortless around-town driving and a relaxed highway experience.
Throw in a well-designed cabin that looks and feels pretty special, and you have all the hallmarks of a decent family hauler.
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