2015 Hyundai Tucson

Available in three trims - GLS, SE, and Limited, the Tucson is quite the affordable compact SUV starting at just $21,650 and comes with a front-wheel-drive system as standard. This can be upgraded to an all-wheel system at an additional cost. The base GLS trim comes with an underpowered engine but packs decent features like single-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch wheels, cruise control, etc. The SE and Limited trims get a more powerful engine at 2.4-liter liter capacity and that is added with a leather steering wheel, satellite radio, dual-zone climate control, etc.

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The base trim is adequately specced but its sluggish performance does not play well in everyday scenarios. It is recommended that the SE trim would be a great value as it packs the same features as the base trim with some added safety features and has a bigger and more powerful engine. At only a slight premium over the base trim level’s price, the SE is a great buy.

The 2015 Hyundai Tucson is powered by two powertrain options- a base 2.0-liter as well as a 2.4-liter engine. The base engine is a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline 4 which churns out 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of maximum torque. This engine is mated to a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission and comes with a front-wheel drivetrain as standard. The other engine is a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated inline 4 which produces 184 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of maximum torque. 

The latter engine is more powerful and is a better choice among the two. The base engine offers a sluggish performance and that shows in the acceleration results. It takes 9 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour and 17 seconds for a standing-quarter mile. With the other engine, the figures are 8.2 seconds for the 0-60 miles per hour run and 16.4 seconds for the standing quarter-mile.

The Sportage is comparatively a more powerful SUV in the competition and is followed by the Equinox, sharing similar acceleration timings. The Forester is the only all-wheel-drive option that comes as standard and has a better engine output than the Tucson but is not faster in accelerating. All are priced in nearly the same range.

This mid-size SUV delivers a city fuel efficiency rating of 23 MPG, along with 29 MPG on the highways, and combined fuel efficiency of 25 MPG. The numbers are adequate as compared to the competition. But the only caveat is the gas tank capacity which is limited to 15.3 gallons. For such an underpowered base engine, the fuel efficiency figures are disappointing especially when you consider the fact that the rivals offer similar figures with significantly better performance.

All four SUVs are on par with the fuel efficiency with the Chevy on the top with an exceptional highway figure and an enormous gas tank. The Hyundai and Subaru are not far behind and are quite similar to each other when it comes to fuel economy despite the latter being equipped with an all-wheel-drive system as standard. The Kia performs the least in the competition and is a fuel guzzler among the others.

The interior of the new 2015 Tucson is similar to the outgoing model year without any visual changes. The cabin can fit up to 5 people and offers decent specifications for the price. The dashboard has a sleek design and compliments the cabin’s overall looks. The interior is full of plastic bits and that is quite expected in this segment. The center holds the infotainment screen with silver accents around it and the left holds the beautifully designed steering wheel and driver’s console.

As standard, cloth seats are the only option and that being said, the seats offer good cushioning. The rear seats are the same but have limited legroom and a slightly lower headroom. The cabin has adequate spaces for storage at the front and also boasts 25.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity which is not the best but does the job well and can carry enough luggage for your weekend trips.

The Subaru does a good job in the overall cabin spaciousness that includes the class-leading cargo capacity. It is followed by the Chevrolet with comparable figures. The Hyundai does a good job too with a slightly higher shoulder room and rear legroom, leaving the Kia at last in terms of interior space. A few of the major interior features that are worth mentioning for the 2015 Tucson are as follows:

• Leather steering wheel
• Leather seats with a power-adjustable driver seat
• Multiple heating options for both the front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Keyless ignition

How intuitive is the 2015 Hyundai Tucson’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment system on offer in the 2015 Hyundai Tucson is simple but lacks in some areas. The base GLS trim does not come equipped with any infotainment screen but has a 6-speaker audio system, auxiliary audio input, and HD radio. The higher trims get a 4.3-inch touchscreen which is laggy and there is a 7.0-inch optional touchscreen display that is more color-rich and responsive. The other features are pretty standard and nothing extraordinary. Some of the key infotainment features are:

• 4.3-inch / 7.0-inch touchscreen display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 6-speaker audio system
• Auxiliary input audio
• USB connectivity
• Satellite radio
• Navigation

The exterior of the 2015 Tucson looks outdated but a few tweaks over the years have contributed a sharper design language. The front gets HID headlights with LED DRLs with a fairly large intake grille. The rear gets all-LED treatments with a single exhaust cutout and a small rear spoiler. The roofline slopes towards the rear and the sides have a few cuts and trims. In terms of dimensions, Tucson holds quite the compact form factor. 

At just 173.2 inches of length, 103.9 inches of wheelbase, 71.7 inches of width, and a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, it is one of the most compact options in the competition. That being said, its compact dimensions make city rides pleasurable because of its maneuvering abilities.

In the competition, both the South-Korean SUVs have a compact form factor and do weigh lower than the other two options. The Chevy is the largest at 187.8 inches of length and 112.5 inches of wheelbase but has a lower ground clearance compared to the Subaru which is off-road ready. The Equinox is also a very heavy car at 3,777 lbs. A few of the exterior features of the 2015 Tucson are:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Heated mirrors
• Dusk sensing HID headlamps with LED DRLs and taillights
• Keyless entry
• Wheel locks
• Mirror-mounted turn signal indicators

Despite not having a bag full of safety features in its favor, the Hyundai Tucson comes with great build quality. This contributes to an impressive crash resistance rating. The NHTSA has rated the same with a 4-star rating and the IIHS awarded it with “Good” in almost all major categories except a “Poor” in driver side front small overlap. That being said, the safety features on offer are decent for the price. Some key safety features are:

• 4-wheel ABS with traction control
• Stability control
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Emergency braking assist
• Dual side-mounted airbags and front airbags for the front row
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Rear door child safety lock
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation

For the price and its practicality as a daily driver, the Hyundai Tucson is a definite steal and the experience will get better if you choose the SE trim which will eliminate the laggy power output and also feature some added functionalities over the base trim. Hyundai has hit the mark when it comes to stylish compact SUVs, and if you can ignore the minor caveats, the Tucson will not let you down.