Korean products have long had a reputation for value, but the country’s largest maker, Hyundai, wants buyers to see more than just a lowball price when they look at models like the 2010 Tucson crossover. And if our initial drive is any indication, the automaker is likely to succeed.
The 2010 Tucson is the second-generation version of Hyundai’s entry-level CUV, and it’s a lot more stylish than the original, with a more distinctive flair – Hyundai calls it “Fluidic” design – than the boxy original.
The new model is bigger in every metric but one. Though 3 inches longer, 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller than the old model, which first appeared in 2005, the 2010 Hyundai Tucson is about 60 pounds lighter, which translates into better performance and improved mileage. The stretched dimensions, meanwhile, result in a roomier interior than you might expect in a compact crossover.
There’s no question the cost cops have been at work making sure Hyundai can earn a profit despite the new Tucson’s base price of $18,995. There’s a lot of plastic in the cabin, but it nonetheless fits together about as well as anything in its class. There are plenty of well-placed nooks and bins for storage. And, considering the largely youthful audience Hyundai is targeting, it gives them the infotainment system they’d expect.
Even the base GLS gets a nice, 160-watt, six-speaker audio system with standard iPod and USB connectors, as well as standard satellite radio. The upgrade, if you opt for the $1,400 Navi package, adds not only navigation with real-time traffic alerts, but 360 watts of audio fed into seven speakers and a sub-woofer. The Navi screen is a reasonably large 6.5-inch display, and it uses a fast flash memory database.
One of the most striking shifts in the low-end market has been the emphasis on safety technology. Not all that long ago, vehicles like Tucson might have forgone even ABS brakes in order to hold down costs. Not now. The 2010 Hyundai Tucson includes not only anti-lock brakes and traction control, but also electronic stability control, six airbags with a rollover function, and front pretensioner seat belts.
The list goes on. The maker also has thrown in downhill brake control, designed to prevent a car from racing out of control on a steep incline, as well as hill start assist, which means you won’t slide backward lifting your foot off the brake when trying to nose up a steep hill. The Tucson, claims Hyundai, is the first vehicle under $20,000 (base) to get that feature.
