Hyundai holds media test drive of fifth-generation Tucson with larger body
In short
Hyundai Motor let reporters drive its fifth-generation, fully redesigned Tucson SUV, "The All-New Tucson," on Oct. 7 from Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang to Gimpo and back. The new model is 60 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller, with a 30 mm longer wheelbase, and its 1.6 turbo gasoline engine makes 193 horsepower, 13 more than before. Reviewers praised the space and ride, but two outlets noted loud engine noise under acceleration.
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Hyundai Motor held a tech day and media test drive for The All-New Tucson, the fifth-generation, fully redesigned version of its Tucson SUV, on Oct. 7 at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Reporters drove the 1.6 turbo gasoline model from Goyang to a stop in Gimpo and back; Newsis and the Seoul Economic Daily put the route at about 90 km, while Yonhap gave 92 km. Yonhap and the Seoul Economic Daily said the model arrives six years after its predecessor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The new Tucson is 60 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller than the previous model, with a wheelbase 30 mm longer, all three outlets reported. Second-row legroom and headroom grew by 14 mm and 29 mm, and Yonhap and the Seoul Economic Daily said first- and second-row shoulder room each grew by 6 mm. Trunk capacity rose by 23 litres for the gasoline model; Newsis put it at 645 litres, up from 622. The rear doors open to 83 degrees, up from 73 degrees, according to Yonhap. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The 1.6 turbo gasoline engine produces 193 horsepower, 13 more than before. Yonhap and the Seoul Economic Daily said it uses a large turbocharger and an eight-speed automatic transmission in place of the previous seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Yonhap said the lineup has two powertrains, 1.6 turbo gasoline and 1.6 turbo hybrid, and the Seoul Economic Daily reported the hybrid's output at 245 horsepower, up 10, with combined fuel economy of 17.4 km per litre, 1.2 km better than before. The outlets differ on the gasoline model's official combined figure: Newsis gave 12.1 km per litre and the Seoul Economic Daily 12.2 km per litre. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis said wind and road noise were reduced, citing dual-laminated sound-insulating glass and front side glass 1 mm thicker, but that engine noise at high revs was noticeable; the Seoul Economic Daily also said engine noise was loud when accelerating. Newsis said power did not feel lacking in everyday driving, while Yonhap said the car felt somewhat short of power on slopes and when accelerating to 100 km/h. The Seoul Economic Daily said the body stayed stable at 150 km/h. Newsis recorded about 8 km per litre on its drive, which included sport mode and repeated acceleration and braking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The car carries the Pleos Connect (플레오스 커넥트) infotainment system and the Gleo AI (글레오 AI) assistant, the first Hyundai SUV with Pleos Connect, according to Yonhap. The Seoul Economic Daily said Hyundai applied a backup power supply for door unlocking after a crash for the first time on the Tucson, along with nine airbags. Choi Soo-young (최수영), a senior manager on Hyundai's forming verification team, told the Seoul Economic Daily the company ran at least three times more forming analysis and verification than for other models to realise the design. Yonhap said the Tucson, first launched in 2004, last year became the first Hyundai Motor Group SUV to pass 10 million cumulative global sales. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Yonhap describes the Tucson, first launched in 2004, as a best-selling model that last year became the first Hyundai Motor Group SUV to pass 10 million cumulative global sales. The fifth generation is the first full change in six years and the first Hyundai SUV with the Pleos Connect infotainment system, according to Yonhap.
Key facts
- The All-New Tucson is Hyundai Motor's fifth-generation, fully redesigned Tucson. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Reporters test-drove the 1.6 turbo gasoline model on Oct. 7, starting from Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The model is 60 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller than its predecessor, with a wheelbase 30 mm longer. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Second-row legroom and headroom grew by 14 mm and 29 mm respectively. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 1.6 turbo gasoline engine produces 193 horsepower, 13 more than the previous model. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- An eight-speed automatic transmission replaces the previous seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Trunk capacity for the gasoline model rose by 23 litres. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The car carries the Pleos Connect (플레오스 커넥트) infotainment system and the Gleo AI (글레오 AI) assistant. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The All-New Tucson is 60 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 20 mm taller, with a 30 mm longer wheelbase. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 1.6 turbo gasoline engine delivers 193 horsepower, up 13. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The model arrives six years after the previous generation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The gasoline model uses a large turbocharger and an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rear doors open to a maximum of 83 degrees. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The car is equipped with the Pleos Connect infotainment system and Gleo AI. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The official combined fuel economy of the 1.6 turbo gasoline model. Newsis gives 12.1 km per litre while the Seoul Economic Daily gives 12.2 km per litre.
- Whether the gasoline engine has enough power for the larger body. Newsis said power did not feel lacking in everyday driving, while Yonhap said it felt somewhat short of power on slopes and when accelerating to 100 km/h.
- Specifications of the 1.6 turbo hybrid model. Only the Seoul Economic Daily reports the hybrid's 245 horsepower and 17.4 km per litre combined fuel economy.
- The length of the test-drive route. Newsis and the Seoul Economic Daily say about 90 km; Yonhap says 92 km.