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Driving Impressions

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Hyundai Tucson Encounter On The Route To The Stars! - Chapter 3

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Chapter 3:
Drive time... Going cross-country
in the new Hyundai Tucson!

Morning would bring our much-anticipated official driving day. After breakfast, we had a quick orientation session that covered the planned route, rest stops and driver changes, which would allow us to drive different versions of the new Hyundai Tucson.

Our first stint was in a gasoline-powered fully loaded model. On entering the vehicle, it was readily apparent that everything was taken to a higher level in terms of the quality of materials, soft-touch surfaces, ergonomic design, and premium touches. While there is still considerable use of hard plastics, tackiness is kept at bay with good overall design and a simple, intelligent layout. The steering wheel also features the usual tilt and telescoping adjustability, and there is a noticeable increase in overall roominess, especially for rear passengers.

Cargo space is also increased to 513 litres, with a two-level floor visually secured by a cargo screen, and of course, the rear seats fold down to increase usable space for larger items. 

 

As if the previous Hyundai Tucson wasn’t packed with enough amenities, there are a few new useful and innovative features normally found in more expensive brands. Some of these include available ten-way driver and eight-way passenger adjustable seats, new Blind Spot Detection system (BSD), Back Warning System (BWS), puddle lamps, glove box cooling, push button engine start, and a leather-wrapped gear shifter and steering wheel.

There’s also an enormous panoramic sunroof and even a powered tailgate– signalling that Hyundai has now set its sights squarely upmarket. We were assured, however, that despite the enhancement of various attributes, the Tucson would never be priced out of the reach of its well-established market, but continue to bring a larger increase in perceived value for a moderate price increase. 

As we navigated out of the hotel along a narrow pathway lined with traffic cones, it was easy to average. Using a route book as a guide and following the convoy, we made our way out of La Serena through its hillside street grid. Here we were able to appreciate the 2016 Tucson’s suspension tuning for city driving with lots of ruts, undulations and the occasional pothole. The chassis, now some 18 per cent stiffer, feels more solid, and along with larger engine mounts for additional smoothness, gives the Tucson a more European demeanour on the road. 

I didn’t get any unexpected tugs at the steering wheel due to tramlining and just like the previous Tucson, there are three driving modes– Comfort, Regular and Sport. Now, instead of just adjusting the steering assist, the modes now affect transmission and throttle response as well– broadening the driving appeal to a wider audience. The changes are significant enough to provide a change in driving character, but are not so far apart that they create a sense of automotive schizophrenia. Steering feel is better too and I was able to pick the mode that suited my mood– I was enjoying my drive in a way in which I did not expect in a Hyundai.

Off the bat, I recognised an immediate improvement in engine response. Although the 2.0-litre GDI petrol engine model we were driving only produces 166hp@6200rpm and 151ft-lb@4000rpm, there is a lot more grunt and responsiveness in the low- and mid-range areas. You no longer have to wring the engine to redline to feel like usable momentum is being generated. Instead, a third or half throttle through the lower rpm range will allow you to ease into your lane changes or pass slow-moving vehicles without ruffling your date’s feathers. Naturally, the high-rpm surge is still present when you wish to take advantage of opportunities at hand. For our market, engines are mated to a standard six-speed automatic transmission. 

We had made it out to Highway 41 heading east, which was a nice series of long, rolling corners mixed with tighter ones between the long undulating straights. Here the Tucson’s slippery 0.33Cd aero figure (improved by 0.2Cd) came into play. Hyundai achieved this through the addition of a new lip to the front bumper, and the use of various under-body panels and covers.

We also took the opportunity on one of the longer stretches to do our acceleration, panic braking and the usual ‘60-wiggle’ 60km/h evasive tests, which the 2016 Tucson handled easily.

The revised shock absorbers and suspension subframes also seemed to improve steering feel and ride quality. As we drove along in the noticeably quieter cabin, it was also fascinating to see palm trees set against the stately snow-capped mountains of the Andes. This sense of duality was also evident in our drive– remarkably, we now live in an age where it is possible to enjoy a practical, yet sporty vehicle in a sustainable way, with only minimal trade-offs. 

Chapter 4 >>

TT Motorsport Car Clubs

  • Autosport - Drags, Drag & Wind
  • C.A.R.S. - Solodex/Autocross
  • Rally Club TT - Rally
  • Side-B - Off Road
  • Trail Blazers - Off Road
  • Trini Truckin'
  • TTASA - Drags, Circuit, Karting
  • TTDA - Drift
  • TTKA - Karting
  • TTORC - Off Road
  • TTundra - Drag Racing