Pros
- Fuel economy
- Maneuverability
- Price
Cons
- Engine noise
- Rear visibility
- Road noise
Acceleration
5/10
Tucson's new 4-cylinder has plenty of gusto from a stop, but mid-range power is just adequate and hill climbs can feel taxing. The gas pedal lacks a firm feel. Automatic transmission delivers crisp, well-timed shifts. No opportunity to test with the manual transmission.
Fuel Economy
7/10
No opportunity to measure. Tucson uses regular-grade gas.
Ride Quality
6/10
Pleasant overall. Tucson's ride is generally composed and comfortable around town and absorbent at highway speeds. Only large bumps register sharply.
Steering/Handling/Braking
6/10
Tucson is fairly agile, exhibiting minimal body lean in corners and maneuvering through traffic with ease. The steering is appropriately weighted and responsive. The brakes furnish strong, smooth stopping power. Standard Downhill Brake Control can be turned on to help the driver maintain a constant vehicle speed while traversing steep declines.
Quietness
5/10
Though wind rush is well checked, tire thrum and road noise intrude at highway speeds. Tucson's cabin is also not very well insulated from its buzzy, often loud engine. Engine noise is very noticeable during takeoffs and highway acceleration, but fades at cruising speeds.
Controls
6/10
The climate control dials are large and logically placed. Tucson's new navigation system features a large, clear touchscreen that makes controlling its functions easy. Audio controls are absorbed into the navigation system, though are not overly complicated to master; the iPod integration system is nearly seamless.
Details
7/10
Tucson's cabin is far more refined than the previous generation's. It's trimmed in soft-touch plastics and brushed-chrome bits. The seats' leatherette material is rich and convincing; patterned cloth seat inserts add some personality to the cabin. A weak point is the cardboard-looking and feeling headliner; it adds a degree of cheapness to the interior.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (Front)
6/10
Though headroom in the new-generation Tucson shrunk by an inch, there's still plenty of space for even taller drivers. Legroom is also generous; entry and exit are easy. The seats are all-day comfortable with supportive side bolsters. Thick C pillars hinder visibility to the rear corners. A tilt and telescopic steering wheel and extendable driver and front-passenger sun visors add to the comfort of the front cabin.
Room/Comfort (Rear)
5/10
Headroom is decent for average-sized passengers, but taller folks may need more legroom. Wide-opening doors and a fairly large aperture mean entry and exit are easy.
Cargo Room
8/10
Tucson's seat backs fold nearly flat. A separate-opening glass liftgate window is no longer available, which is a bit disappointing. Generous small-items storage space includes a good-sized glove box, deep center console bin, and large front-door pockets; the backseat's smaller door pockets offer added space for items such as water bottles.
Value Within Class
7/10
With this redesign, Tucson remains a strong value in the compact SUV class. Its blend of maneuverability, comfortable interior accommodations, and level of standard features make it a competitive player in this segment. Though its new 4-cylinder isn't as refined as others in the class, there's no lack of power and fuel economy figures are up. Looking for the V6? Though Tucson's is gone for 2010, you'll still find one in the larger Santa Fe.
Highlights
The 2010 Hyundai Tucson is redesigned with freshened styling, a new engine, and new features. This compact SUV seats five and is about 3 inches longer and 1 inch wider than the 2009 model. It comes in base GLS and uplevel Limited trim levels. The sole engine for all models is a new 176-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. It teams with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain replaces 140-hp 4-cylinder and 173-hp V6 engines. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available on both trims. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Newly standard on the 2010 Tucson is Downhill Brake Control, which is designed to maintain constant speed when traveling downhill. Also standard is Hillstart Assist Control, which is designed to keep the vehicle from rolling backward down an incline. Leather upholstery and heated front seats are Limited-exclusive standard features. A navigation system and rearview camera are new features for Tucson, and they're optional on both GLS and Limited. A panoramic sunroof is optional on the Limited. This review is based on preview test drives.
Competition
Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are typically the least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are 5-passenger vehicles; some offer seating for 7.
Our Best Buys are the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota RAV4.
New or significantly redesigned models include the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Mitsubishi Outlander.