Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDI and 2.0 R-Series CRDI –The SUVs that are Punching Above Their Belts

Introduction

The Tucson is Hyundai’s most current mid-sized SUV, that was introduced by Hyundai back in the year 2016 and it comes highly specified. The mass market isn’t the target for Hyundai Malaysia, and you’re likely to find many premium features in the Tucson that you wouldn’t normally expect in a car of its class.

One would expect to pay a hefty price of around RM 200k for a car of its class, however the Tucson comes in at a more reasonable price of RM 145,688 for the 1.6-litre T-GDI and RM 155,788 for the 2.0 R-Series CRDI. Both prices are on the road, without insurance.

Beyond the large difference in powertrain, the two models feature fairly similar specifications. Both the CRDI and T-GDI get LED headlamps with bending lights, auto hold functionality for the brakes, and a smart powered tailgate along with optional 19-inch rims. There’s also an optional bodykit, along with red, white, or black interior trim colours. These, plus the more complex powertrains, are more than enough justification for the premium to pay over the normal 2.0 Elegance model.

Specifications for 2017 Tucson 1.6 T-GDI

· Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged, direct injection

· Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch, front wheel drive

· Power: 177 PS at 5,500 rpm

· Torque: 265 Nm from 1,500 – 4,500 rpm

· Safety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, VSM

· Price: RM 145,688 (on the road, without insurance)

Specifications for 2017 Tucson 2.0 R-Series CRDI

· Engine: 2.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged

· Transmission: 6-speed automatic, front wheel drive

· Power: 178 PS at 4,000 rpm

· Torque: 400 Nm from 1,750 – 2,750 rpm

· Safety: Six airbags, ABS, ESC, VSM

· Price: RM 155,788 (on the road, without insurance)

Exterior of the Tucson

As Hyundai’s has gone through numerous revisions for a vast majority of its models including the Tuscon, one would be forgiven if they didn’t instantly recognize the Tucson as a Hyundai product apart from the badge.

The Tuscon features 19-inch wheels which helps the Tuscon manoeuvre corners with ease.However, at the end of the day you will be trading some comfort for style and marginally improved performance, so whether you opt for the wheels or not is entirely your choice.

Interior of the Tucson

On the inside is where you begin to see what Hyundai has really done with the Tucson. It isn’t the overall looks or the functionality that matter the most, but rather the interior layout and the features available to occupants. The audio visual navigator, or AVN, sits front and centre- and while it can be a little clunky in operation, it doesn’t take long before you figure out how to make it do what you want it to do.

The layout has been kept clean and simple, sort of in the way a Volkswagen Touareg manages to keep it clean and simple without feeling particularly boring. Both rear legroom and trunk space are well accounted for, with the trunk swallowing up luggage for two with plenty of room to spare. Then again, would you expect any less from a modern mid-sized SUV?

Perhaps the only recommendation we can make is to be careful with your interior colour choices. Don’t opt for the red leather interior unless you’re absolutely sure you can live with the colour, because it can be extremely bright and distracting at times. But if you’re in the market for something different, then it could very well be a deciding factor between the Tucson and something more mainstream.

Does the Tucson feels intimidated by bumpy surfaces of Malaysian roads?

The Tucson impresses us with its well-weighted precise steering, with body control that does a good job of hiding the high kerb weight.Even when braking in tight corners it reacts well to throttle and brake inputs, excelling on both highway and trunk roads. You don’t really feel the lack of all-wheel drive being a problem, although the roads were mostly dry during our excursion.

Between the two models, however, there are some differences worth noting. While the CRDI is more powerful compared to its siblings T-DGI by 1 PS more, it doesn’t quite feel as effective in the real world. Most of our driving was conducted at high speed on empty roads, where the low-end grunt of a diesel isn’t as apparent. That being said, the powerplant is smooth, coupled with a responsive 6-speed automatic gearbox.

On the other hand, the T-GDI variant seems to outperform our expectations. At higher speeds of around 110km/h-120km/h it continuously to provide a wave of torque, also courtesy of that extra gear ratio in the 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

It is quite remarkable that such a small engine can propel a car at such high speeds for long durations, and yet it manages to make do.

Summary

Hyundai has really embraced the idea of the modern SUV, neatly fulfilling the expectations of potential buyers. The Tucson is a great product that delivers on both practicality and comfort, even affording a little bit of luxury along the way.

Both powertrains tested here provide the decent level of comfort that is sufficient for day to day driving. However, if you feel that you don’t particularly need that amount of low end torque, the 2.0 Elegance is a perfectly fine model at RM 123,888 (on the road, without insurance).

Eventhough you wouldn’t be able to get some of the goodies of the higher end models, but the base platform and comfort are definitely things that are maintained through the range. If you really feel like you could benefit from a little more luxury, then feel free to take either T-GDI or CRDI, depending on your personal preference.