Hyundai Tucson: carsales Car of the Year 2021 finalist

The Hyundai Tucson has entered its fourth generation and brings wholesale changes to a model that’s not only one of the Korean brand’s top-sellers, but one the biggest players in the most popular vehicle segment in Australia – mid-size SUVs.

From the dramatic new exterior design and bigger body to a more spacious and modern cabin littered with high-tech features and advanced driver safety systems, Hyundai has left few stones unturned with the new Tucson.

That was recognised earlier this year when the Tucson was named carsales’ Best Mid-Size SUV for 2021, proving itself to be a standout performer from a shortlisted field of 12 candidates.

The question now is whether the Tucson can stand tall against a formidable field of new vehicles lined up for the 2021 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.

Well established as one of Australia’s five most popular mid-size SUV nameplates, the Hyundai Tucson has broad appeal to many buyers.

Yes, the new model’s edgy styling may be divisive, but once you’re settled inside the Tucson is less challenging and decked out with all the mod-cons and safety features we’ve come to expect from all new cars today.

Thoughtful and tasteful interior design elements meet good old-fashioned roominess in the five-seat cabin – particularly in the rear, which makes it suitable for a growing family.

The cargo area is spacious too, which suits everyone, and by ticking almost all the boxes for SUV-specific advantages – higher seating position, excellent forward visibility, a modicum of off-road ability, etc – that really only leaves issues like personal taste, budget, specification details and cost of ownership to sift through carefully.

It’s also worth mentioning the Tucson’s braked towing capacity is 1650kg for much of the range, including petrol-powered 2.0-litre two-wheel drive and 1.6-litre turbo all-wheel drive variants.

AWD 2.0-litre diesel variants tow more, at 1900kg. These figures are about average, but not class-leading, and will be an important consideration for buyers who plan to pull a load.

There are currently 14 variants across the new Hyundai Tucson range, starting at $34,500 plus on-road costs for the base 2.0-litre two-wheel drive model before moving through higher-spec grades (Elite, Highlander), option packs (N Line) and the different engines and drivelines on offer.

At least until hybrid powertrains arrive, the Tucson range tops out at $53,000 plus ORCs for the Highlander diesel AWD model with N Line.

For carsales COTY judging, we’re at the more affordable end of the scale with the mid-tier Elite trim and the base 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 115kW/192Nm and drives the front wheels only through a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s priced at $39,000 plus ORCs.

You can refer to our detailed specification lists from previous articles, but in broad-brush terms the new Tucson is brimming with equipment.

On the safety front, there are seven airbags (including a front centre airbag) and myriad driver assist systems: blind spot and forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction/turning assist, tyre pressure monitoring, dusk-sensing headlights, reversing camera and more.

The Elite has a more sophisticated blind spot warning system and adds rear parking distance alerts to the front sonars already in place.

Elsewhere, range-wide features include keyless entry, tinted windows, remote-folding second-row seats, four USB ports, a drive mode selector, leather-clad steering wheel and a 4.2-inch digital display within the instrument cluster.

The Elite swaps out an 8.0-inch infotainment unit for a 10.25-inch display with embedded satellite navigation, but a strange anomaly with smartphone integration sees it miss out on the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity that’s found at base level. You can still run your phone through the system via a cord.

Elite also has 18-inch wheels (up from 17”), a smart key with remote start, dual-zone air-con, leather seat upholstery and a powered driver’s seat with heating.

It’s onwards and upwards from there, with the prices increasing in accordance with the added spec, while all models come with Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a capped-price servicing plan.

We’ve put the new Hyundai Tucson through its paces in a variety of settings, from a quick track test in a pre-production car and a thorough assessment at launch, to a more focused study of the Elite turbo, a comparison test with the new Haval H6 and, not least of all, lining it up as a short-listed contender in the carsales Best Mid-Size SUV 2021 mega-test.

In all settings, the Tucson has impressed, although the 2.0-litre petrol engine could be its Achilles’ heel.

Here’s a sample of the comments from our reviewers…

“The naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre is essentially a carry-over engine from the previous generation, and while it gets the job done and is rather inoffensive in daily conveyance, the … turbocharged options and even the mooted hybrid show more promise.”

“It’s very easy to see why the Tucson has been declared the carsales best mid-size SUV of 2021. If you’re shopping in this segment and it’s on your list, well done. If it’s not, it should be.”

That said, the choice won’t be as easy for the judges of carsales’ Car of the Year for 2021, proudly presented by Bingle.

Hyundai Tucson Elite at a glance:
Price: From $39,000
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 115kW/192Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km
CO2: 184g/km