Updated Tucson Sport now available in SA
When Hyundai entered South Africa in the 90s, the brand and its product line didn’t feature any performance models.
Hyundai appealed to the buyer looking for value for money and reliability. Although modern-day Hyundai models still have a similar appeal, the brand and its products have evolved to place an emphasis on styling, comfort, technology and even performance. Hyundai is not only just competing in an international racing series, but they are performing well, so much so that Hyundai is currently leading the constructor’s category in the World Rally Championship.
Introduced a few years back, the Tucson Sport was a hit with local consumers. Now there’s an updated version, which I had a chance to drive in Pretoria recently.
Styling
Reflecting on its success in international racing, one can see how Hyundai is incorporating sportiness throughout its line-up with the Tucson Sport being just one example. Upfront, there’s a body-coloured front splitter fitted to the lower bumper, a theme carried through to the side skirts and rear diffuser. Making an aggressive impression on the lower rear end is a dual-tip exhaust while the 19-inch alloy wheels, finished in gloss black, add to the visual appeal. There have been no adjustments made to the suspension to of the vehicle, however, the car does appear lower to the ground with the exterior additions.
The tech
The interior reflects the premium theme shown on the exterior with full leather upholstery while the facia is clean and simple with very few buttons. On the feature front, the centre console features a USB and AUX port while the 7.0-inch infotainment system gets Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The system also features a rearview camera and rear parking assist sensors along with a TomTom navigation system.
Other niceties include dual-zone climate control and even a glove box cooling facility, while the rear occupants also enjoy air vents and a USB connection point. Both the front and rear occupants will enjoy the panoramic sunroof stretching to the second row of seating. The tech does not end there, there’s also a blind-spot detection system along with a clever cross-traffic alert which notifies you of oncoming vehicles as you reverse out of a parking space.
Powering the Sport
The Hyundai Tucson Sport is available with two engine derivatives; you can either opt for the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which produces 150 kW and 300 N.m of torque or a 2.0-litre diesel which produces the same amount of power but sees the torque increase to 460 N.m. The petrol engine is mated to a dual-clutch gearbox while the diesel to a more conventional torque converter.
The drive
During the launch, we got to experience both the petrol and diesel derivatives in both real-world driving conditions as well as on some spirited laps around the handling track at Gerotek. While both the diesel and petrol derivatives are more responsive when applying the accelerator pedal, the petrol had a more noticeable response in comparison to the diesel. The diesel, although slower to respond to the accelerator inputs, kept accelerating when the petrol felt as though it ran out of puff.
While I enjoyed the exterior styling on the Sport models, particularly when finished in blue or red, the feature-packed interior is what brings value to the table. While the 19-inch alloys did not compromise the ride too much, it does though increase road noise within the cabin.
Verdict
The Hyundai Tucson has always competed well with the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan and now fitted with the new specification, presents an even more desirable option within its segment. While for most the appeal comes from the stylistic changes on the exterior, I enjoyed the feature-packed interior and the spirited powertrains, the diesel in particular.
Service plan and warranty
Both models come with a five-year/ 150 000km warranty with an additional two-year/ 50 000km drivetrain warranty as well as a five-year/ 90 000km service plan.
Pricing
Tucson Sport 1.6 TGDI R 654 900
Tucson Sport 2.0 CRDi R 664 900
Likes
– Exterior styling
– Infotainment system
– Diesel engine
Dislikes
– Road noise
– Engine noise
– Petrol engine lacking power at high revs
