Hyundai Tucson 2004 test drive - 2009 SUV

Will it go far?

A light morning breeze aroused the streets of Jurmala when unfamiliar cars appeared on them. Yes, it was in this resort city that European journalists were invited to get acquainted with the Hyundai Tucson new SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), a car for outdoor activities.
The world premiere of Tusan took place in February at an exhibition in Chicago. So it was supposed to happen: the American market is the first on Hyunde. Last year, 625 dealers sold over 400 thousand cars in the States, and Santa Fa and Tusan names of not only Korean cars, but also cities in Arizona.
We have a view of a car for a car different from the American one, and only 4x4 will not be taken to Russia offered behind the ocean of the Tusan with front -wheel drive. But such a thing as the opening glass of the fifth door, perhaps, will come in handy. But to get to know the features of the model we will return a little later ...

They will not be deprived of us
Tusan's stylistics resembles his older brother Santa Fa, but he is more compact and, for my taste, prettier. The manufacturer considers competitors to the new Toyota-Rav4 car, Mitsubishi-outlet and Honda CR-V. Compared to them, the new Korean is more spacious a little wider, has a high interior and roomy trunk.
The car is built on the Enntra platform. The main difference, of course, is the transmission scheme: a constant front wheel drive with connected rear. The distribution of the moments is headed by an electronically controlled clutch of a well-known (again, American) company Borg-Warner: with the slightest slip of the front wheels, the high-speed device connects the rear.
Moving along the sand or other loose coating, you can forcibly block the transmission, providing the hard drive of the front and rear axles. You rarely find this useful function on other SUVs. But the suspension is typical for its class independent, in front like McExeson, multi-linking is behind.
In the European market, cars will be offered in the trim levels GL, GLS and LX. Only GLS will come to Russia, but with three levels of equipment. Even the most affordable is very good, and the most expensive, with a leather interior, in fact, what is commonly called LX luxury option. So they will not deprive us with luxury.
Things are somewhat different with power units. Official dealers will not offer Russian buyers a car with a diesel engine, and gasoline motors will be rigidly attached to the gearboxes. Two -liter only with a five -speed mechanical, and 2.7 liters only with a machine gun. True, the latter is equipped with the Shifttronic function: I pumped the lever to the right, and sort it out manually as many transmission.

WITH THE WIND
At first glance, the interior trimmed with light skin seems impractical, if only because the panel is constantly reflected in the windshield. But we will not rush and condemn, but it is better to take into account that the distant Tusan of the city of the Sun, where more than 300 clear days a year. It is not difficult to guess what a dark leather salon turns out for the driver in a sultry afternoon.
But the climate control algorithm can not be called otherwise than a shortage. Until the temperature in the cabin does not decrease to the given, from the deflectors, the frosty air blows from the deflectors, which in a good way to cool it should gradually catch a cold for long.
The turning of the key revives the combination of devices. There are no acoustic accompaniment at idle, but with their growth, the V-shaped six declares a muffled rollene. By this sound, evaluating the mode of operation of the motor is much more pleasant than in the tachometer.
The very first turns make it possible to feel how the attribute of all cars with a 2.7-liter engine and automatic machine lies well in the hands of a skin-covered leather. The variable gear ratio of the steering rack allows the car to be maneuverable in the city, remaining comfortable on the highway. A little lack of zero is a little, you can accidentally reject the steering wheel and not feel the resistance probably, and something from the American spirit.
A set of speed and switching of the machine is surprisingly smooth. A little later, having mastered and often with overtaking, you understand what it has been achieved. When the accelerator pedal is drowned to the floor, the program switches not just comfortable, but slowly ... Or am I too accelerated?
The rolls of Tusana are too big by passing standards, but you expect such people from the SUV he obediently and honestly goes into a turn, without trying to steal or hide the trajectory. However, we can fully evaluate the handling at home when bumps and waves are added to the turns.
I had a few to travel along the grader. In general, Tusan’s behavior liked it. The bends are a small tendency to skidding, but the car holds well, a straight line, seasoned with minor irregularities.

Promising small
The first month of sales in his homeland brought Tusan to the second line in the South Korean rating. Of course, we cannot have this, but interest in the car is quite capable of exceeding the sales capabilities of dealers.
The minimum price and appropriate equipment are already declared, and the first cars should appear on sale by the issue of the room. Well, for $ 25,990, a well -equipped car with a two -liter engine and a rich set of options is offered. Climate control with dust filter, alloy wheels, heating the front seats and mirrors, four electric glass windows, fog lights, radio, anti-lock and anti-tuxes systems, roof religions and protection of a motor compartment only a small part of the base-list of the base configuration. Against the background of the nearest analogues, this is at least inexpensive.
A car with complete minced meat will pull $ 32,490, of course, with a 2.7 liter engine and an automatic gearbox. Well, among other things, the very light leather salon. That we have less sunny days than in Arizona, it does not matter. We also have where to go for summer heat. It seems that Tusan was created for such travels.
 
 

 



Alexander Budkin. Photo by the author and Hyundai

A source: The magazine "Driving"