2016 Hyundai Tucson Sport
Living in a place with thin air that really degrades the performance of most crossovers, I was very excited by the idea of the new Tucson Sport, which comes with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. By and large, it lived up to my expectations, and is one of the more compelling small CUVs on sale right now.
The Hyundai certainly looks good, with excellent proportions, a good stance—helped by the Sport’s chunky 234/45 tires wrapped around diamond-cut 19-inch wheels—and nice detailing, like the standard LED lights. Inside the Sport model is fairly utilitarian, with solidly constructed shapes made of mediocre materials. Gone are the days when the company felt the need to surprise shoppers with unexpectedly upscale trimmings, apparently. But it is no worse than most competitors, and certainly better than sales leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, which, despite recent updates, are pretty horrid inside. Seating comfort in front is just okay, as the fixed headrests project forward too far, forcing an unwanted reclining of the backrest, but touchpoints like the steering wheel and shifter are nicely finished, and the back seat and cargo are commodious. The Tucson’s touch screen infotainment system interface is fast and intuitive, and there features like heating for the cloth seats (leather is available in the Limited model) are welcome.
Now paired with what was previously a separate, European crossovers, the Tucson now drives better than most vehicles in this class. Steering weight and precision are good, and the chassis is flat cornering and capable on a back road. Ride quality is decent too, in spite of the large wheel/tire combo, and the structure feels solid, as do the brakes. What is missing is that last little bit of élan that makes CUVs like the Mazda CX-5 such a true joy. It is hard to pin down, but there is a sense of playfulness to the Japanese vehicle that Hyundai hasn’t quite replicated yet. But the Tucson’s powertrain does everything it can to make one forget the Mazda.
It is also a prelude to the kind of motivation most of these vehicles will employ in the future, as EPA ratings continue to get stricter. At 1.6-liters displacement, it is about 900cc smaller than the normally-aspirated engines in the Honda, Mazda, Toyota and others, and its 175hp are slightly less as well. What it does have is copious torque. 195lb-ft, available just off idle, make it feel very responsive, even if actual, 7.8 second 0-60mph runs are no quicker than rivals—at least at sea level. Here in the mountains, the difference is magnified, and the Tucson is probably over one second faster to that benchmark. Helping matters is Hyundai’s own twinclutch, seven-speed gearbox, which is just so much more pleasing than horrid CVTs that blight the Nissan Rogue, Honda and Subarus. It is almost on par with Mazda’s direct-drive Skyactiv six-speed; the latter’s still just slightly better in some scenarios. And, as expected, the turbocharged Hyundai returned worse observed fuel economy, though it still managed low-20s in mainly urban use—good for something with a blower strapped on. And in climbs up into the Rockies, the extra puff meant it always felt more ready for action than the mills in most everything else, the one exception being the optional 2-liter turbo in the Ford Escape, which has 240hp, but gets pretty awful fuel economy.
While options are very limited on a Sport (no pun intended) it has most of the essentials, such as blind spot monitors, a smart key and even a power tailgate; it is also priced attractively. I would rank it alongside the Mazda at the top of huge number of vehicles in the class, and it bodes well for Hyundai’s continued growth in this country.
More info: https://www.hyundaiusa.com/tucson/
Isaac Bouchard is owner of Bespoke Autos, an auto brokerage that helps people save time, money and hassle when buying or leasing vehicles. Since 1991 he has helped his clients save over $1 million dollars. He has written extensively about getting the best deal possible when buying or leasing a vehicle, arranging financing or trading in a car. Isaac has been a professional automotive journalist as well for over 12 years, having reviewed most all types of car, truck and SUV.
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