Design flourishes like bulging fenders and bold chrome accent strips typically would be considered over the top. Get past those embellishments, however, and you’ll find the Hyundai Tucson has plenty of substance to support its style.
The new fourth generation of this compact crossover has grown six inches overall, going from one of the smallest in the segment to one of the largest. The result is a more spacious interior, with an additional 3.1 inches of rear-seat legroom and a 74.8-cubic-foot cargo area—numbers that put it on par with its most popular competitors.
Elsewhere, the Tucson’s interior is well equipped, with the top-of-the-line Limited model I drove sporting such nice-to-haves as leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, and a 360-degree surround-view display. If we’re picking nits, the dash’s touch-sensitive controls the audio system’s lack of good old-fashioned volume and tuning knobs would top our list.
Overall, though, when you consider the available hybrid powertrain’s sprightly acceleration and impressive fuel economy, the Hyundai Tucson makes an excellent choice for those shopping for a crossover.
STRENGTHS
- New larger interior
- Comfortable ride quality
WEAKNESSES
- Touch-sensitive controls are hard to use.
- Not all important advanced safety features are standard.
BOTTOM LINE
- A worthy competitor to best-selling compact crossovers
PRICING
- Base Price: $24,950
- As Tested: $36,269
SAFETY
- NHTSA/Overall: Not yet rated.
M.P.G. (city/highway)
- 37/36 (1.6L Hybrid FWD)
- 24/29 (2.5L AWD)
