Splendidly practical
Introduction: If you appreciate the nicer things in life, then have a closer look at the delightful Hyundai Tucson 2 Liter Diesel Executive. You will be thrilled by the vehicle in its entirety and will be pleased by the element of luxury afforded in this new 2025 version. As you step into the Tucson, you will notice four dots in a row on the steering wheel, which represent the letter "H" in Morse code, a visual representation of the Hyundai brand. Then the side by side seamlessly integrated and total combined length of sixty-two centimetres, infotainment and instrument cluster screens will no doubt impress. Given that 634,294 units were sold globally last year, the model is expected to surpass the ten million mark during the middle of 2025, which are incredible sales figures that prove this models worth. I do believe that this spirited looking Tucson, Hyundai’s best-selling SUV, should attract new customers and retain old ones. In this fiercely crowded market, it is great to see that any reluctance from any brand to adapt and change to what is on offer from fellow competitors, will no longer be acceptable.
Engine/ Drive/ Economy/ Comfort: The Tucson’s 2 Liter turbo diesel engine’s 137 kW and 416 Nm of torque, coupled with a seamless eight speed automatic transmission performed like a dream. I am super impressed with the overall drive and available torque to get you past that gauntlet of trucks, sadly plaguing our roads in South Africa. If you put my family of four into the Tucson with groceries and drinks for a weekend away and add all that to the kerb weight of 1618 kgs, the car weighed in at about two tons. Despite this, the economy was excellent with a claimed average of around 7.5 Liters per one hundred kms, but I reached 7.9 on the open road and 8.7 in and around town. My daughters talked fondly about the leg and headroom in the rear and loved the rear aircon vents and type c usb ports. The Tucson was extremely comfortable and definitely a good contender for extended road trips!
Interior/ Exterior/ Boot: The classy and spacious interior coupled with a well-presented dashboard, blew me away. The very fast connectivity of the BT to the huge infotainment screen was a bonus. The leather seats were super comfortable, and the leather seats and rear air-conditioning add a degree of sophistication to the plush interior. The exterior looks modern, slick, and sharp giving the Tucson an up-to-date modern look. I loved the wing shaped front grille, the sporty rear lights, and overall look of the Tucson, to me, looking the part of an all-purpose soft off-roader, which can deliver abundantly to a customer looking into this market. With a 172-millimetre ground clearance, the Tucson gives the adventurer in us, the luxury of exploring the back country with confidence and having taken the Tucson down some dirt road tracks on a farm this past weekend, I am pleased to be able to report back that it did very well. My generous over packing obsession was satisfied with the generous 539 Liters of boot space, which allowed for the kitchen sink to come away with us, to the beautiful area of Cobham in the majestic Drakensburg mountains.
Features: The curved panoramic infotainment screen seems to float along the dashboard, LED headlamps and 18-inch alloy wheels, a heated multi-function steering wheel, front seat warming and cooling, electronically adjusted front seats and keyless entry and start, electric tailgate, auto lights, 5-star rating from the Euro- and Australasian NCAP, Six airbags, Lane assist, Rear cross traffic alert, Front and rear parking sensors with audio on and off, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, driver alert monitoring and forward collision warning, automatic (Sync function) dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, and the list goes on!
Warranty/ Price: The Hyundai Tucson is sold at a price point of around the R709 900 mark, with a 5-year/150 000 km vehicle warranty, 7-year / 200 000km drivetrain warranty and a service plan now at 75000 kms and 5 years, compared to previously, a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.
In summary: I loved driving the N Line nearly a year ago and now I was reminded why so. The Tucson, like the Hyundai brand has a very warm place in my heart. I love so much about the car, especially that its practical and can be used for town and country driving. The exterior, interior, finishes, space, comfort, and engine tick all the boxes for a customer looking for a world class SUV at around the R700k mark.

*This article is written in my opinion only. For detailed accuracy of all specs contact Hyundai SA*