Cars

Bold look for new Tucson

Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tucson Hyundai Tucson

WHEN it launched a new version of its Tucson SUV in 2015, Hyundai scored a direct hit with Irish families, writes William Scholes.

The Tucson's combination of chunky good looks, strong practicality, value for money and sheer jack-of-all-trades all-roundedness made it a best-seller north and south, frequently topping the monthly registration charts.

Hoping to repeat the trick in 2021, Hyundai has a newly-minted Tucson with which to woo anyone with an eye on family duties.

It's a striking piece of design, with its so-called 'parametric jewels' hidden front lighting a genuinely bold feature, while the rest of the bodywork has distinctive origami crease lines

The new Tucson isn't a conventionally handsome SUV - it's no Mazda CX-5 or Alfa Romeo Stelvio - but nor is it bland and forgettable, like a Ford Kuga.

There's nothing else that looks quite like it, and Hyundai deserves enormous credit for having the confidence to bring such an individually styled car into the family market.

Eye-catching exterior aside, the Tucson fulfils family SUV duties with aplomb. It's spacious, thoughtfully designed and tooled up with the latest infotainment and connectivity kit.

There's a wide range of engines - mild-hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid - and transmissions, as well as trim levels.

Drive's eye is drawn to the N Line versions, which give that distinctive exterior a sportier aesthetic, with more spoilers, twin-tip exhausts and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside are sports seats, suede trim and lots of red stitching.

Prices start at £28,710 for a Tucson in SE Connect trim with a 148bhp 1.6-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine; N Line trim starts at £31,110, with a top-of-the-tree plug-in hybrid Ultimate priced from £42,030.