Hyundai Tucson 2015 Review

In its upsized form the Hyundai Tucson weaves around the competition from the growing popularity of the new Mazda CX-3, only to now go head to head-to-head with Mazda's medium-sized darling, the Mazda CX-5, as well as the strong-selling Nissan X-Trail and Toyota's RAV4.

The Tucson's four-model line-up – Active, Active X, Elite and range-topping Highlander – offers something for everyone. Add to this a choice of petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions, front and all-wheel drive.

In top spot is the Highlander priced at $45,490, and it offers the pomp and ceremony that for some time was completely at odds with the made-in-Korea label. Much has changed.  The Tucson boasts on-paper credentials to rival more expensive competition.

On the outside, it presents as bolder, with stronger lines – it's somewhat grown-up. Riding on 19-inch alloys (standard on the Highlander), it looks well proportioned, too. LED daytime running lights and fog lights further add to the visual appeal – and value equation.

Inside, design progress is evident; the Tucson is sophisticated, cohesive and the finish feels high-end. It still chases the level set by the Mazda CX-5, but not by much. High shine plastics, splashes of chrome and smooth rolling dials bring a premium familiarity. The eight-inch touch screen is home to audio, navigation, maps and a raft of in-car information displays. Its simple display and intuitive pathways make it a breeze to navigate.  There's also good storage – cups, bottles and incidental – and the 12-volt, auxiliary and USB points are sensibly positioned forward of the gear change, allowing ease of access.

On the road, it fast becomes obvious that the Tucson is quite the game changer for Hyundai.  The 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet of the Tucson Highlander produces 136kW and 400Nm – competitively placed against the CX-5's 2.2-litre developing 129kW and 420Nm and the Nissan X-Trail's 1.6-litre turbo-diesel, which tops out at 96kW and 320Nm.

Just the one transmission is offered with the diesel, which is a downer if you like choice. The diesel is matched exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission and runs on-demand four-wheel-drive with 50:50 torque split with the centre coupling locked.

Step down the model line-up and there's a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch – but neither are available on the top spec. Go figure.

The Tucson's power is quick from standstill and changes are smooth. It's fast to drop a gear when you call for some immediate pace – scooting around town, it also made the right changes at the right time. Decisive.

So the steering brings us to one of the few criticisms of the Tucson. It's direct and offers great feedback, but its eagerness to return to centre feels intrusive.

Fine tuning by the way of three self-selected drive modes – normal, eco and sport – offer some adjustment to the throttle response and steering feel.

The most obvious – quite glorious – difference in feel is the Tucson's suspension, which Hyundai spent significant time tuning for local driving conditions. Hyundai boasts exhaustive testing of dampers, anti-roll bars, springs, drivetrains, transmissions and wheel sizes. And it's paid off. The ride is the perfect balance between firm and forgiving – spot on for Australian roads and mid-life love-handles.

Cabin insulation is top-notch, too. You feel cosy and protected from the elements.

The Tucson's second row offers comfort and space for three. Inclusions such as two directional air vents, two back of seat pockets, partial reclining seats and indoor storage show thoughtful attention to detail.  The centre belt extends from the roofline, but does its job nonetheless.

A much-desired electric tailgate reveals a large load capacity – 488-litres growing to 1478 with the seats folded flat – that offers a good load height, plenty of anchor points, a 12-volt outlet and a dedicated light. There's also a spot to easily secure the retractable cover when it's not in use... which can be achieved expletive-free.

The Hyundai shines brightly when it comes to safety – featuring smart active and passive technology to set a new benchmark for this segment.

In top spec, the standard kit of blind spot, lane changing and lane departure assistance systems are complemented with the more advanced rear cross traffic alert, collision detection and pedestrian-sensing autonomous braking. Smart technology like this was once only found in high-end offerings.

We fell well short of the listed combined fuel average of 6.8L/100km, returning an average closer to 9.0L/100km.

The Tucson sets the benchmark for after-sales care factor, offering a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and 10 years' roadside assistance.

Hyundai continues to close the gap on its rivals – lifting its game, while others appear to have reached a plateau.  Several drives and multiple opinions later, we believe that the Tucson is Hyundai's best car yet – we expect it to dominate the medium-size SUV segment.

2015 Hyundai Tucson Highlander pricing and specifications:
Price: $45,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Output: 136kW/400Nm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 178g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA