Buying a used Hyundai Tucson (2004-2010)

Since entering the motor manufacturing arena in 1975, Hyundai has been steadily plugging every popular niche in the world car market.
US buyers created huge demand for economical 'sport utility vehicles' and Hyundai saw an opportunity that could be explored via a taller, more spacious adaption of its Elantra hatchback.

Slipping just under the $30,000 price barrier in 2004, Hyundai's V6 2.7-litre Tucson was initially available to Australian buyers only with four-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.  Under normal conditions, the car drove through its front wheels; the centre differential sending torque to the rear once grip at the front diminished. Locking it in 4WD involved pushing a dash-mounted button.

Three V6 versions were available; the cheapest costing $29,990 and the $33,200 Elite S the best equipped. Features included 16-inch alloy wheels, an electric sunroof, trip computer and premium sound system, a limited-slip differential and switchable traction control.

Keen to build a strong reputation for secondary safety, Hyundai fitted all of its Tucsons with dual air-bags, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, five lap-sash belts and pre-tensioners. Choosing an Elite expanded the list of safety gear to include side air-bags and, from 2006, side-front bags as well.

Late in 2005 and a year after V6 versions had made their impression on the market came a four-cylinder, front-wheel drive City model. Selling at $4000 less than the basic V6 and including almost the same complement of features, the City became a strong seller and helped Hyundai turn a 5.8 per cent share of the Compact SUV market segment during 2006 into 13.5 per cent (more than 11,000 vehicles per annum) chunk by 2009.  

Manual transmission was at last available with the 2.0-litre engine and helped compensate for the smaller motor's 25kW power deficit. Zero to 100km/h acceleration times for the 2.0-litre manual and 2.7-litre auto were around 11 seconds.

Awards recognising the Tucson's design, quality and value arrived thick and fast; among them the gong for 'Highest Quality All-New Model' conferred in 2005 by US-based motor industry researchers J D Power.  Australia's NRMA also recognised the City as 'Most Affordable SUV To Own and Run'.

Hyundai's 2007 model year took until April to begin but brought new SX versions of the City and V6 4WD. There was also an auto-only 2.0-litre City Elite with leather interior trim and more safety equipment than the basic SX for only $3000 more.

The V6 now came only in SX form and at a starting price of $30,990, however it had pretty much the same level of equipment as had been standard in the $34,490 Elite S.

For 2010 the Tucson was replaced by a more modern iX35 model and the range was set to finally include a grunty turbo-diesel.

At conservative, around-town speeds the pliant suspension delivers good ride quality and a bit of body roll. Find a few tight bends to test the car's comfort and grip levels and you find it wanting to run wide of every apex, squeal the tyres and generate lots of uncomfortable body leaning.  

The brakes are all-disc and should have plenty of bite for the kind of use seen by most owners. Towing capacity is 1500kg for a braked trailer and 750kg unbraked and that might stretch the Tucson's abilities, especially in hilly areas.

'Soft-roader' is a very apt description of the all-wheel drive Tucson's abilities. The chassis is competent enough when fed a diet of gravel or sand-tracks, light snow and moderate slush but some people take them beyond sensible limits for a car-based design.  

The high-set stance is handy for positioning the car on narrow tracks and dodging obstacles but traversing a slope can make you feel -- with just cause -- that an unexpected bump or dip could flip the car.  

Limited suspension movement and absence of a limited-slip diff on some versions can see Tucsons stranded in places that won't perturb something like a Forester or RAV-4.  Check the net for videos showing the kinds of places you should not be taking your Tucson.

Interior space and load capacity are excellent and it is this versatility that attracts many used-market buyers. The seats fold into a wide, flat platform and with the luggage blind removed there's plenty of space for tall items. The shopping can be popped through the hinged rear window without having to open the hatch.

The cloth seats are narrow between the shoulders and, after a few years' worth of wear, a bit scratchy under the thighs.  Most obvious of the Tucson's attributes is head-room that allows the tallest driver to feel comfortable and make fitting a car seat easy. The presence of a proper spare wheel will be comforting for those who drive in isolated areas.

Fuel economy -- or lack of it -- causes grumbles from owners who were expecting 11L/100km but found that realistic consumption was somewhere between 13.8 and 15L/100km.

The V6 Tucson is a roomy and reasonably heavy (1630kg) vehicle with 4WD underpinnings and low gearing. The engine needs to be revved pretty hard before delivering decent performance and many owners use fuel-gulping kick-down when accelerating rather than manually selecting a lower ratio.

Add 300kg of occupants plus some luggage and you have two tonnes heading for the hills or plodding through peak hour and it becomes easy to see how a Tucson can slurp 95 Octane at the same rate as a V8.  

ALSO CONSIDER: Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Mazda Tribute