Hyundai Tucson - First Look Review

The Hyundai Tucson made its Indian debut at the 2016 Auto Expo and will be launched in our country by September this year. It is the only SUV from Hyundai not offered in the Indian market yet and will be slotted into the D-segment of cars when launched.

This is the third-generation of the Tucson that was unveiled globally for the first time in February 2015. Like its other siblings, it is also based on the company's Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 (FS2.0) design philosophy, which has been well appreciated in our country. The new Tucson looks quite similar to the Santa Fe and shows off its similar muscular and modern appearance. While the fascia sports Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille and swept back LED head-lamps with LED DRLs, the side profile with sculpted wheel arches and a prominent high shoulder line give it a beefy stance. At the back, the horizontal wrap-around tail-lamp units, a new rear skid plate and dual exhaust pipes add to the attractive design bits.

On the inside, the interior design is quite familiar with its conventional layout like other Hyundai cars. Globally, it is loaded with many comfort and connectivity features including an eight-inch touchscreen display, automatic parking, blind spot assist system, autonomous emergency braking, drive mode selector, lane keeping assist etc. Most of these features are expected to be offered in the India-spec model. The five-seater SUV will offer more space in the cabin in comparison to the Creta. The soft-touch material quality and leather upholstery will enhance its premium appeal.

The Hyundai Tucson will be offered in both petrol and diesel variants in India. Globally, the oil-burner of the Tucson is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel mill that produces 136bhp and 373Nm of torque. We can expect Hyundai to power the petrol variant by the 1.4-litre turbocharged mill and on the transmission front, both the guises might come mated to a six-speed AT gearbox.

The first-generation of the Tucson was introduced in India in 2005, but was discontinued within five years due to the lack in its demand. Nevertheless, the 2016 Tucson is expected to receive a good response following the footprints of the carmaker's successful Creta. The new SUV will bridge the gap between the Creta and Santa Fe in Hyundai's Indian SUV line-up. We can expect it to be priced competitively as the Korean automaker is planning to produce the SUV with a high-level of localisation in India. Expected to be priced in the range of Rs 18 lakh to Rs 23 lakh, it will face competition from products like the Honda CR-V, upcoming Nissan X-Trail and others in this segment.