2015 for Hyundai has been very good. The Elite i20 has been great performer on the sales chart and the new Creta has been a runaway success. The South Korean car maker is working hard on the model range and plans to further bolster the SUV/Crossover line-up by introducing the new Tucson SUV.
Globally the Tucson falls under the crossover category and is now in its third generation. Hyundai has introduced the first generation Tucson in the Indian market but did not achieve success in terms of numbers.
The third generation Tucson made its debut at the 2015 Geneva motor show and features new Fluidic Sculpture 2.0. The design is very curvy with high emphasis on Aerodynamic design unlike the Creta which is quite squarish.
The new large chrome hexagonal grille, long elongated Projection headlamps with LED positioning lamps, horizontal lines with sloping roofline give the SUV a very sporty look and dominating look. The Tucson borrows some design cues from the Santa Fe and helps to maintain the SUV family look. The rear gets LED taillamps and skid plate with a slot for twin exhaust pipes.
Interiors are quite plush with beige upholstery and focus on functional and organic design. The cabin is packed a huge laundry list of features and technology such as Human machine interface (HMI), Smart tailgate system, Parking assist system (PAS), Auto cruise control, Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)etc.
In terms of safety the SUV gets Active headrests, Electronic parking brake (EPB), 6-airbag system, Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), next-generation in AWD traction system – Advanced traction cornering control (ATCC), Vehicle stability management (VSM), Down-hill brake control (DBC) and Hill-start assist control (HAC)
The Tucson will be imported to India via the CKD route and will be available in petrol and diesel engine options. Hyundai may consider the 2.0 MPi which makes 155 Ps or the 2.0 GDi which produces 164 Ps of max power. Diesel engine will most likely be the 2.0 CRDi which delivers 185 Ps.
The Tucson is also known as ix35 in the European markets and Hyundai JM in the Japanese markets. The pricing could start from Rs. 16 lakhs going upto Rs. 22-23 lakhs depending on the variants. The pricing seems competitive now considering the market is mature and would expect the SUV in this price bracket.
When launched the Tucson will compete with Mahindra XUV 500 and upcoming Honda BR-V and will be positioned above the Creta SUV and will also plug the large gap between Creta and Santa Fe.
New Hyundai Tucson image gallery
Info Source – Autocar India
