Tucson steps into the future

Hyundai’s latest version of the Tucson is a great SUV, except for one thing, as Damien O’Carroll explains.

The Tucson is Hyundai’s midsize mainstream SUV and, as such, faces probably one of the strongest lineup of competitors in the new car market. How does it stack up? Really, really well. Except for that one thing. . .

Outside

I’m going to leave you on that cliffhanger for now, because one of the things that Hyundai has got very right with the Tucson is the way it looks.

Regardless of whether you like it or not (and I very much do), the Tucson’s frontal styling is remarkably striking and distinctive, particularly when the stacked LED headlights are ablaze. Hyundai has leaned into its bold styling language of late, and no vehicle represents the potential successes of that approach more than the Tucson, with its bold, futuristic face.

The sharp intersecting lines along the flanks could look awful and misguided, but work brilliantly here, and although things start becoming a bit ‘‘generic SUV’’ as you get closer to the rear, the bold tail lights come to the rescue and tie the styling up nicely at the back. And those striking 19-inch alloy wheels are the icing on the styling cake.

Inside

Like most modern Hyundais (the Ioniq 5 aside), the Tucson is a strange, yet oddly appealing contrast between its aggressive external looks and its rather old-school and conservative interior that features plenty of buttons and a sensible, straightforward layout.

It is appealing largely because it is so straightforward and traditional, and it is also impressively high quality. Even the hard plastic parts have a quality feel to them.

But then you would expect that

from a car that costs $68,990 like this AWD Limited model does. Yes, that should cause a sharp intake of breath, because that is a hefty price for a mid-size SUV, even one that does everything to convince you of its value by being jammed with the latest technology, all of which function beautifully, of course.

Under the bonnet

Now we will resolve that cliffhanger from the start, because here is where that one big weakness rears its head.

But it’s not with the 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder turbo engine, because that is a lovely little unit. Happy to rev and with an excellent low down response, it is a delight to drive around town and out on the open road, thanks to its flexibility and responsiveness.

The weak point comes in the form of the clumsy dual clutch transmission that ruins all of the engine’s excellent work. As well as being reluctant to respond at low speeds, and slow in those eventual responses, the DCT is also coarse and clunky when it finally makes up its mind to shift. Things get much better at open road speeds, where less is asked of it, but around town it is irritating and intrusive thanks to its botched responses.

On the road

As mentioned, however, the transmission is far more at home out on the open road, and becomes a slick partner in swift driving, making the most of the engine’s responsive nature.

The Tucson is an accomplished handler, without being anything spectacular, allowing it to make the most of the engine’s flexibility and the transmission’s eventual compliance. While understeer is the expected eventuality when you push it hard, it is nicely progressive and thoroughly predictable.

Verdict

Ultimately, the Tucson is an excellent car that is tarnished by its recalcitrant transmission, much like many Hyundais that have packed the seven-speed DCT have been, as the Korean company has just never managed to programme that dual clutch shifter quite right.

The fact that the not-so-good transmission comes on the pricier high-spec cars just makes it all the more frustrating, as the entry cars get the rather good six-speed automatic, that is unfortunately hooked up to the not-as-good 2.0-litre engine.

Should this put you off buying a Tucson? Not necessarily. A test drive will let you know whether the transmission’s urban performance will be a deal-breaker for you or not. It just very much would be for me.