Hyundai in Malaysia is not able to sell as many Tucsons as they used to do because of one little speed bump. This Tucson does not have a talking interactive car cabin that the Proton X70 has. Yes, Malaysians have fallen back in love with Proton and the X70 because it has the GKUI system in the cabin that allows its passengers to have a conversation with it, when it is in the mood, of course.
Hyundai and the other rivals should be looking at installing a similar system as this is an ASEAN love affair with all things technology (useful or not and needed or not). Hyundai should be talking to fellow countryman Samsung on having a rival to the GKUI system in all Hyundais, and soon.
The Tucson Looks
This Hyundai Tucson continues the trend of incorporating Hyundai’s corporate radiator grille which is large and hexagonal.
We found the dashboard to be very restrained, which can be a good thing. Many car brands see a blank section of dashboard as an area to populate with as many creases, bends and trim pieces as they can but Hyundai has gone instead for the ‘less-is-more’ approach which we feel is better executed over some others.
Tuscon Cabin
The interior also carries the ‘modern premium’ brand direction into full swing. Most of the panels are made of high-quality dark plastics save for a few chrome strips. Despite being a ‘compact’ SUV, the Tucson is anything but. Cargo room has been improved to 31 cubic feet while head and legroom are more than adequate for 4-5 adults without pinching comfort.
Performance-wise, we were given ample time to put the car through its paces both on highway stretches and tight urban streets. Our time with the 2WD Nu 2.0 MPI powertrain showed that it had no difficulty at all propelling all 1435kg of the Tucsons weight with its 155 PS and 192 Nm of torque. Drivers should expect a good balance of power delivery and fuel economy thanks to the six-speed automatic gearbox, but don’t expect to take this 2WD Tucson into hardcore off-roading – it’s built as an urban SUV, however with its ride height you can still drive along village roads and farm lanes.
The 2-litre petrol engine fires up quickly and with minimum fuss, and on the move proves a revelation thanks to the low noise and its eagerness to rev. In fact, it will happily spin all the way around to 5,500rpm without complaint, and the rate at which the rev-counter’s needle climbs shows its smooth delivery. The driving experience is backed up by weighty and relatively accurate steering, which mates perfectly with the aforementioned gearbox. There’s a firm edge to the damping, but it never crashes or jars over imperfections and body control is excellent when pushing on. But despite its considerable talents, including a seating position that is neither too high nor too low, it never feels quite as car-like as some of its rivals. However, it feels incredibly grown up, almost from a class above its direct competitors, and we will happily recommend this 2WD SUV on driving experience alone.
The Tucson comes with Hyundai Sime Darby Motors’ 50,000km free service which is valid for 3 years as well as its 5-year/300,000km warranty.
Hyundai Tucson Nu 2.0 MPi 2-Wheel Drive Specifications
Engine: In-line 4 direct injection petrol
Displacement: 1999cc
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Max Power: 155PS @ 6200rpm
Max Torque: 192Nm @ 4,000rpm
0-100km/h NA
Top Speed: NA
Price: RM123,888.00
