2023 Hyundai Tucson review: Full range detailed

Anyone who reckons all SUVs look the same probably hasn't seen the fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson.

When it launched in 2020, just six years separated this Tucson and the bland second-generation model known here as the ix35.

Three years on, the Tucson is still one the most striking-looking mainstream SUV models on the market, with its 'Sensuous Sportiness' design language bringing more angles than an origami swan including a sharp shoulder line, bulging wheel surrounds and bold character lines including a distinctive mark-of-Zorro-like Z-shape on the back door.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, in the case of the Tucson, it doesn't extend too far beyond skin deep.

November 21, 2023: New-look 2024 Tucson revealed

Hyundai’s top-selling vehicle updated with Santa Cruz-like front end, plus a new-look dashboard inspired by the Kona and Santa Fe.

Story continues: 2023 Hyundai Tucson range detailed

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JUMP AHEAD

• Hyundai Tucson pricing
• What body styles are available with the Tucson?
• What features are in every Tucson?
• What key features do I get if I spend more?
• How safe is the Hyundai Tucson?
• How comfortable & practical is the Tucson?
• How much boot space does the Tucson offer?
• I like driving, will I enjoy the Tucson?
• Which Tucson engine uses the least fuel?
• What is the Tucson's towing capacity?
• How long is the warranty & what are the Tucson's servicing costs?
• Which version of the Tucson does Wheels recommend?
• What are the Hyundai Tucson's key rivals?

Hyundai Tucson pricing

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What body styles are available with the Tucson?

Like all of its rivals, the Hyundai Tucson is a five-door SUV only, with five seats.

The Tucson drives either its front wheels or all four wheels, depending on the version. It is classed as a medium SUV, in the volume-selling segment.

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Tucson 2.0 FWD

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What features are in every Tucson?

The features listed below are standard in the entry-level model and will appear in higher-grade variants unless replaced with more premium equivalent features.

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What key features do I get if I spend more?

Entry level: Tucson 2.0L FWD

As the name suggests, the cheapest Tucson comes with front-wheel drive (FWD) and the four-cylinder 2.0-litre 'SmartStream' naturally-aspirated petrol engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission.

It's decked out with 17-inch alloy wheels, including a full-sized spare, while the interior features manually adjusted cloth seats, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen.

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Tucson 2.0 FWD

Tucson Elite

Stepping up to the mid-spec Elite brings a bunch of extras for $5000, but by spending more you do lose wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – which is a quirk with Hyundai and Kia models.

If you're alright to spend even more, the Elite spec brings additional powertrain options, including the four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with an eight-speed auto. Both come with all-wheel drive (AWD).

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Tucson Elite

The Tucson Elite also gains Hyundai's Bluelink remote connectivity app, which features automatic collision notification, SOS emergency call, a valet mode, built-in voice control, connected satellite navigation, and the ability to lock/unlock the doors or start the engine from the smartphone application.

Extras over the base-spec Tucson include:

Tucson Highlander

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Tucson Highlander – Click the above photo to view our full gallery

The Tucson Highlander brings even more desirable extras, including:

Tucson N-Line option pack

Another way to spend more money on a Hyundai Tucson is to tick the N-Line option pack, which for up to $2000 brings sporty-looking interior and exterior trim, including:

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Tucson N-Line – Click the above photo to view our full gallery

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Colours

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How safe is the Hyundai Tucson?

The Hyundai Tucson has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2021. This applies to all variants.

It received a score of 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 66 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 70 per cent for safety assist technology, which includes:

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Blind-spot view monitor in Tucson Highlander

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How comfortable and practical is the Hyundai Tucson?

If someone is won over by the Tucson in a showroom it’s likely to be when they slide into the cabin.

The floating touchscreen has been ditched, with the monitor part of an attractive glossy head that flows down to the centre console.

As a result, the dashboard top is free of clutter and the way it curves into the door cards provides a greater sense of space.

The fit and finish are excellent and, even in the entry-level Tucson, you won’t find any hard plastics up front higher than the door armrests.

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In the Highlander, everything looks very premium, particularly with the brown leather upholstery, which is a $295 option over the standard black leather.

The front seats in all variants are comfortable.

Like the dashboard, the elevated centre console has no protruding clutter with even the shift-by-wire gear selection buttons sitting flush into the fascia.

There’s a decent-sized storage bin, two cup holders and a wireless phone charging pad that’s slightly tilted to allow for ventilation underneath and prevent the device from overheating.

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Rear space and comfort

The Tucson’s 2755mm wheelbase brings plenty of leg and knee room and there’s a nice gap under the front seats to fit your feet.

All three rear seats are comfortable and despite the swept-back roofline headroom isn’t too bad either – even in versions that have a sunroof.

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With two rear passengers, there’s a fold-down centre armrest with two cup holders.

Fitting three adults across the bench might be a bit of a squeeze, but whoever cops the middle will be pleased to see that the Tucson has a very shallow transmission tunnel that allows for reasonable legroom.

With two rear passengers, there’s a fold-down centre armrest with two cup holders. Other rear storage options include map pockets behind the front seats and pokey little door bins designed to take a bottle. Rear seat passengers also get air vents and there are two USB sockets.

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You’ll have no issues fitting three younger people across the back and if you need to put them in child seats there are ISOFIX anchor points at the outboard seats and three top tethers.

However, fitting the top tether on child seats can be difficult due to a narrow gap between the back of the second-row seats and the retractable parcel shelf.

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How much boot space does the Hyundai Tucson offer?

With the rear seats up, the boot holds 539 litres, making it one of the biggest in a medium SUV.

The Tucson has a full-sized spare wheel under the boot floor, so it compares well with the Toyota RAV4. which holds 542 litres with the optional full-sized spare.

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Folding the Tucson’s 60:40 split rear seatbacks down brings up to 1860 litres.

The Tucson's tailgate opens nice and high so you won't hit your head, and there's a 12-volt outlet plus remote seatback releases.

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I like driving, will I enjoy the Hyundai Tucson?

Depending on the engine you choose... yes or no.

The previous model Highlander was only available with the turbocharged petrol and diesel AWD powertrains, but Hyundai opted to provide the more affordable 2.0-litre front-driver as an option across the range to keep entry-level pricing down and for people who fancy all the premium trappings but aren’t too fussed about performance.

Even if performance is down the bottom of your list, there will be times when you’ll find the SmartStream G2.0 engine wanting, particularly when tackling hills.

Curiously, the new 115kW/192Nm 2.0-litre donk produces 7kW and 13Nm less power and torque than its predecessor while bringing nothing obviously new in terms of technology.

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This is essentially the same engine found in the i30 Sedan, but it's pulling an extra 200kg, which makes it a little revvy when you put your foot down.

Reaching 2500rpm in quick time catches the six-speed auto napping and it seems to have trouble finding the right gear, making the engine scream at about 3500rpm for a few seconds before either finding the right cog or, if the pedal is still touching the floor, revs continue climbing to reach peak torque and power at 4500rpm and 6200rpm respectively.

That weight gain also impacts the 132kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo-petrol that, combined with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivers its best work at higher speeds and feels gutsy and decisive on the open road.

But around town, this powertrain combo struggles a little and can feel frustratingly slow and jerky at low speeds, not to mention a tad thirsty.

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The 2.0-litre diesel offers 137kW and 416Nm. That huge jump in torque over the 2.0-litre petrol makes a palpable difference behind the wheel.

It is also paired with a conventional eight-speed torque converter that is smooth and intelligent in operation. Where the six-speed gearbox of the willing but underpowered petrol engine would desperately hold onto gears, the eight-speed plays more confidently with its extra ratios and torque.

Ride comfort across the range is firm but not jarring – endowing the Tucson with a more sporting feel.

The new Tucson misses out on the local tune that was once a staple of Australian-delivered Hyundai models and while it cushions occupants nicely from nasty potholes, the damping is less effective at isolating the cabin from small- to medium-size bumps, making the ride feel a little busy on country roads.

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Body roll is well-contained for a medium SUV and it feels neatly compliant through corners.

The steering likewise feels well-weighted, lending more confidence in corners and on the highway.

Speaking of steering, the lane-keep assist system automatically kicks in once you pass 60km/h and it has a habit of interfering unnecessarily with the steering. It can be switched off by holding a button on the steering wheel but it is on as default when you next start the Tucson.

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Which Tucson engine uses the least fuel?

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is the most frugal of the three engines available in a Tucson.

It has a respectable official combined fuel consumption rating of 6.3L/100km, thanks to its 416Nm of torque and eight-speed auto that pull the Tucson along with little effort.

Take it out on the open highway and fuel consumption can be as low as 5.4L/100km.

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We can't say the same about the 2.0L petrol and 1.6L turbo-petrol engines, which do a great job in a Hyundai i30 but struggle with the Tucson's additional 200kg heft.

The 2.0-litre petrol drinks 8.1L/100km on the combined cycle and a very greedy 11.0L/100km on urban roads, while the 1.6-litre turbo engine's official combined fuel consumption is 7.2L/100km.

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What is the Tucson's towing capacity?

The petrol Hyundai Tucsons have a 1650kg braked towing capacity, while the diesel version can haul up to 1900 kilograms.

Unbraked towing capacity is 750kg across all three powertrains, as is the 100kg tow ball weight limit.

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How long is the warranty and what are the Hyundai Tucson's servicing costs?

As per the wider Hyundai range, the Tucson is covered by the brand’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing for the 2.0-lite petrol and turbo-diesel Tucsons is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

The turbo-petrol variant has a shorter 12-month/10,000km interval.

Lifetime capped-price servicing is available, with costs dependent on the service interval and powertrain.

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Which version of the Hyundai Tucson does Wheels recommend?

Read most Hyundai and Kia SUV reviews and you'll be invariably steered toward the turbo-diesel AWD options.

The fact is, that combination does a much better job of hauling these Korean SUVs than the petrol offerings. This is certainly the case with the Tucson.

For the best all-round package, it's hard to go past the 2.0-litre diesel Tucson Elite, which offers the best value in terms of equipment, driveability, fuel economy and mid-level pricing, even with diesel's additional purchase price and servicing costs.

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What are the Hyundai Tucson's key rivals?

• Kia Sportage
• Mazda CX-5
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Nissan X-Trail
• Subaru Forester
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen Tiguan

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