Yay, yet another crossover! I know, I know, it’s high time I got used to the fact that they are everywhere and that’s not going to change. Hyundai have been consistent contenders in this sector, with their first-generation Santa Fe being one of the earliest, and the smaller Tucson joining some time later. The second-generation version is a common sight in Sri Lanka, due to fitting into a popular permit category at the time, but the third generation (2015 onwards) has been a rare sight thus far. For 2020 however, the newly appointed Hyundai agents are putting a renewed focus on it. It’s helped by a facelift and the availability of a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which is slightly more tax-friendly than the bigger mills previously available.
At first glance, it’s a decent looking thing – significantly larger than the older models and bearing a very strong resemblance to the previous Santa Fe. Indeed, if you park the two of them together, it takes a practised eye to tell the difference. It’s not particularly eye-catching but isn’t boringly anonymous either. A nice middle ground. The doors feel solid and the step into the interior isn’t too high. Once inside, your eyes fall on a very contemporary-looking dashboard with a prominent free-standing screen, clear and legible instruments, and solid controls. The materi als are mostly quite nice, with plenty of soft-touch surfaces, soft leather seats and such, but there are still a few cheap plastics to mar the overall look. It’s well equipped, with electric seats for both passengers, dual-zone climate control (including vents for rear passengers), a huge sunroof, and Apple Car Play/ Android Auto.
The infotainment system is straightforward enough but, after several tries, I couldn’t get my phone to work with the Android Auto setup. I gave up and used Bluetooth, which also took longer than in some competitor vehicles. Seat comfort is very good, and there is more than enough space to stretch out front and rear, regardless of how you are proportioned. Out on the road, the overwhelming impression is of subdued all-round competence. It’s quiet and quite refined. The ride is very well controlled even on terrible road surfaces, and the 1.6-litre turbo under-hood pairs well with the 7-speed DCT to help you surf on a nice wave of torque in every day driving. If you’re concerned about whether a 1.6 is enough for something as large as this, fear not, modern tech ensures it’s mostly indistinguishable from a naturally-aspirated bigger motor. However, I say “mostly” because there are certain times when you can tell, mainly when you’re moving at higher speeds and want to get extra acceleration. At those times, the little four gets a bit loud and you know that it is working hard. This only really happens at speeds that are, shall we say, a bit extra-legal, so it really shouldn’t worry you.
Handling? Yes, it has some of that. With the standard AWD, the Tucson sticks well and is willing to keep speed up on the twisty bits but, obviously, it is still tall and heavy, so the limits are not super high.
The Tucson is currently priced at Rs12 million (that’s inclusive of permit purchase. Without it it’s Rs14 million fully duty-paid), which is a bit higher than similar vehicles like the Jeep Compass due to the 1.6-litre motor getting hit with a higher tax rate. However, the Tucson counters with a lot of space and a very refined overall driving experience, as well as reliability that is likely to be very good. As a companion for the long haul, it’s a solid choice.