All-new for 2010, Hyundai’s Tucson compact SUV has gotten an entirely new outlook on life. This formerly somewhat dowdy do-all’s latest makeover adds confident, dramatic lines with a silhouette that speaks of urban freeways rather than country backroads.  Under the hood, a new engine offers a significant boost in fuel economy as well.  It seems like a familiar tactic, though not one that’s been commonly seen at this price point. Then again, if the luxury vehicles like BMW’s X3 and Audi’s Q5 are going sporty and carlike, why not the affordable ones as well?

Aimed primarily at “soft-roaders” like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue, the new Tucson features extroverted styling that enables it to stand out in the crowded compact crossover/SUV class.  Improved economy and comfort are the biggest news.  The Tucson is also the lightest vehicle in its segment, which provides a number of performance and efficiency benefits.

The Tucson is still petite, but it’s grown for 2010, gaining an inch of width and three inches in length.  The styling is pulled almost whole from the “ix-onic” concept truck…or perhaps vice versa, as Hyundai often uses concept vehicles to tease upcoming production cars.  Whatever the origin, this is a striking little sport-ute.  The Tucson’s new face is dominated by a narrower, hexagonal grille with strong upper and lower elements and recurring X shapes.  Diamond-shaped door handle cutouts distinguish the sides, and a steep rake to the rear hatchback cuts cargo space but provides a racy look.  Uplevel Tucsons are set apart by two-tone cladding, while piano-black and chrome accents, mirror-mounted turn signal repeaters in the mirrors and fog lights are used on the Limited model.  In full-dress trim, the Tucson is a very handsome little SUV indeed.

The interior looks more finished than before, a drastic improvement in materials and finish.  Hyundai’s first panoramic sunroof is available as well, brightening the cabin.  There’s ample seating for four, and five will fit in a pinch.  The X-shaped theme continues on the new dash, which features dramatically improved materials and trim–there’s no more industrial-grade plastic here.  Soft-touch buttons and a striking layout bring the Tucson’s radical new look inside.  The sloped hatch results in extraordinarily tiny D-pillar windows and a smaller cargo area, but the Tucson will still carry up to 55.8 cubic feet of cargo when the seats are folded down.  Hyundai hasn’t skimped on amenities, as an iPod/USB connecter and satellite radio are standard.  Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control and a CleanAir ionizer are optional.  The CleanAir unit kills germs and limits mold in the AC ducts, providing a comfortable interior environment for allergy sufferers.  An upgraded navigation system is available.
It includes a 6.5″ screen, XM NavTraffic, rearview camera and voice recognition.  The navigation also adds a 360-watt sound system with a subwoofer.

Underneath the skin, Hyundai’s emphasis in redoing the Tucson was on noise reduction.  A three-layer dash panel and firewall keeps engine noise down, while foam in the B and C-pillars and a denser hood mat keep road noise down.  The exterior aerodynamics have also been designed to cut wind noise.  As a result, the Tucson is extremely quiet, even on the freeway where tire noise is the largest distraction.  On-road handling is confident thanks to a new independent rear suspension and thicker stabilizer bars front and rear.  The front bar is hollow, to reduce weight, and the Tucson is as nimble as an economy car on the road, with only the barest hint off top-heaviness in corners.  The feeling of security is aided by the standard electronic stability control and traction control.  Anti-lock brakes are also standard equipment.

Under the hood is a new 2.4 liter sixteen-valve four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing.  It’s shared with the new Santa Fe SUV.  Power is rated at 176 horsepower, and the Tucson returns impressive 23/31 economy.  The 2.4 is a deliciously torquey engine, and the Tucson is light enough to make the most of the power.   The engine sits freakishly low in the chassis, contributing to the low, stable center of gravity and nimble handling.  A six-speed manual transmission is available in the two-wheel drive version, unusual for a compact crossover.  This will no doubt please the three-pedal faithful, but to be honest the manual transmission’s clutch is extremely light, and lacks feel.  The six-speed automatic is better suited to the Tucson (something I don’t frequently say) and provides performance that belies the compact powerplant.  It’s well-geared, and the Tucson feels relaxed at freeway speeds, unusual for a compact sport-ute.  176 horses is average for the class, but the Tucson’s light weight improves performance significantly.  When the going gets rough, the available all-wheel drive systems use a driver-selectable lock that holds a 50/50 power distribution up to 25 mph.

The fresh dose of style and efficiency go a long way toward giving the Tucson something that it lacked previously:  personality.  As the compact SUV/CUV market becomes more crowded, that’s the X-factor that’s going to determine success or failure, and the new Tucson is poised to make a much greater mark than before.  Of course, attractive pricing doesn’t hurt either, and the Tucson’s bottom line of $18,995 makes things even more attractive.  All-wheel drive starts at $23,195, and the well-equipped Tucson Limited stickers for less than $30,000.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2010 Hyundai Tucson
Length:  173.2 in.
Width:  71.7 in.
Height:     65.2 in.
Wheelbase:  103.9 in.
Curb weight:   3203 lb. (GLS 2WD automatic)
Cargo space:   25.7 cu.ft. (seats up); 55.8 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:  $18,995
Engine:   2.4 liter DOHC inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain:  six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:  176 @ 6000
Torque:  168 @ 4000
Fuel capacity:  14.5 gal.
Est. mileage:   23/31

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