Hyundai Tucson (2015-2020) review

The Hyundai Tucson revived an old name, but everything about this Korean-built family crossover is fully up-to-date. It faces some very stiff opposition in the shape of cars such as the Peugeot 3008, Kia Sportage and SEAT Ateca, but the Hyundai Tucson competes well on most levels.

It looks good thanks to a design that has been inspired by the larger Santa Fe, but inside it is a little bland and uninviting, especially when compared to the modern-looking Peugeot.

The Tucson is pretty spacious and beats some of its competitors when it comes to practicality and boot space. It comes with a generous amount of standard kit, too. Go for one of the diesel options and you’ll have yourself a well priced, well specced and spacious family transport.

The Hyundai Tucson isn’t short of rivals in a highly competitive class, but if you're looking for a family car with good passenger room and boot space, it's definitely worthy of consideration. As the mid-size model in the Hyundai SUV range, the Tucson slots between the smaller Kona and seven seat Santa Fe. The current third-generation model arrived in 2015 and the range was treated to an update in 2018.

In this fiercely competitive class, the Tucson goes up against the Peugeot 3008, Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca – all of which we rate highly. But there are far more rivals than this to consider. The Kia Sportage is mechanically similar to the Tucson, while the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar – which are also closely related – are two other cars worth considering. The Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Vauxhall Grandland X and Ford Kuga are all vying for attention too.

The Tucson offers good space inside, both for passengers and luggage, while most specifications  are generously equipped. Power comes from a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, while two and four-wheel drive is offered.

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That Tucson engine range comprises a 1.6-litre petrol and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol, while diesel power is handled by two different 1.6-litre units and, further up the trim level table, a 2.0-litre, all of which come with mild hybrid assistance. Power outputs across the engine line-up range from 114bhp to 182bhp, and all models bar the 2.0-litre diesel hybrid are front-wheel drive.

You get a six-speed manual gearbox with the 1.6 GDi petrol and 1.6 T-GDi, while the latter has the option of a seven-speed DCT auto. The least powerful diesel also gets a six-speed manual, while the more powerful 1.6 CRDi is available with a manual or auto. The 2.0-litre mild hybrid is only available with an automatic gearbox.

Not all engines come with every trim level, but there is a broad enough spread to cater for most needs. The entry point to the range is S Connect, which is only offered with the 1.6 GDi petrol engine. Despite its bottom-rung status. S Connect features 16-inch alloys, a seven-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, DAB Radio and USB connections, auto lights and dual-zone climate control.

Hyundai doesn't offer much in the way of options, so instead you need to move up a trim grade to get more kit. SE Nav adds (as the name suggests) route guidance on an eight-inch touchscreen, plus 17-inch wheels and auto wipers, while Premium cars have luxuries such as a premium stereo, wireless phone charging and an electric parking brake. Premium SE is fully equipped with a heated steering wheel, 360-degree parking cameras, LED headlights and 19-inch wheels. It's also the only model to get adaptive cruise control.

2019 saw the addition of the sporty N Line trim. This model sits roughly between SE Nav and Premium in terms of kit, and adds a new bumper design inspired by the i30 N hot hatchback, plus 19-inch wheels finished in black, a matching roof, door mirrors and a larger rear spoiler. Inside, the black leather and Alcantara trim is lifted with red highlights. It’s available with the 48-volt mild-hybrid 1.6-litre diesel and the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol; both get tweaked braking and steering calibration, while the latter gains a firmer suspension setup to sharpen up the handling. Pricing is similar to that of the SE Nav trim.

However, the top-spec models are pricey at up to around £35,000, while the entry point to the range is around £22,000. We'd go for the N Line trim with the mild-hybrid 1.6 CRDi diesel, which costs just under £29,000.

For an alternative review of the latest Hyundai Tucson SUV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk