2022 Hyundai Tucson Highlander, Brand New, Better Than Ever

Hyundai’s all new Tucson looks stunning, with big bold angles, and vast, impressive light arrays, but is it any good?

Tucson has only been on sale for a few months but sales are down 22.8% for 2021. Supply issues continue to dog the auto industry and are set to continue through 2022.

Full Specifications HERE: Hyundai_NX4-Tucson_Spec-Table

OUTSIDE:

Tucson comes in 3 trims, Tucson, Tucson Elite, and Tucson Highlander, each with a $1,000 N-Line option. Highlander pricing is $50,298 Drive away, and $51,298 for the N Line pack, but the range starts from a measly $38,345. That’s an awful lot of car for under 40 grand.

The new Tucson is awash with cuts and angles faceted deeply into the metalwork. LED headlights are set discretely below the massive DRL arrays. Disappointingly, base models have a projector beam, but all other models get the full LED boomshakala which look ahead with the power of a small sun. There is standard dusk sensing and auto high beam for added safety.

The DRLs only come on once the car is started, and park brake released. How economical of Hyundai to use energy only when absolutely required, right?

The door handles are lit at night, and the rear wiper remains secreted under the upper rear spoiler until needed. Those thoughtful touches give a premium feel that punters once had to look to Europe for.

19” wheels are standard, but N Line brings a slightly different design, with all Tucsons getting a full-size alloy spare under the rear floor. There is nothing more annoying than having to summon a hot tradie because your repair kit has failed you, again. Although, there is much to be said for summoning a hot tradie, but that’s enough about me.

She is a beefy lassie at 1560 kg for the 1.6 petrol. The body is a cleverly packed design on a 2755mm wheelbase. N Line kit adds 10mm to the length for a total of 4640mm, and is 1865mm wide and 1665mm tall.

The only bad thing about the all-new Tucson is that it makes the old model look positively old-hat.

Premium paint is an option costing $595, so why not. Unlike almost every other brand in the segment, paint and different colour interiors are the only options available. Hyundai tosses almost everything is as standard, something the likes of VW would do well to note.

Full Specifications HERE: Hyundai_NX4-Tucson_Spec-Table

Above: This Week – 2022 Hyundai Tucson Highlander 1.6L Petrol FULL REVIEW

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ABOVE: 2022 hyundai Tucson Highlander

Inside

Korean cars have always been let down slightly by cabins that feel a more Target than David Jones. Hyundai noted this, and has taken the challenge right up to the front door of the snobby Europeans, with a posh look and feel worthy of something costing many more shekels.

Rather unusually, White leather is standard, with brown or grey costing $295 extra.

Front pews have heating and cooling, but it is the cabin design that is most striking. Graceful sweeping lines swoop along the doors, around on to the dash, and under the windscreen. Front passengers are further defined by an aircraft style cockpit look cocooning each seat. The driver has 2 X 10.25” screens as standard. The centre touch screen tackles infotainment and vehicles settings. It’s worth noting the Bose speakers have a deep rich sound that we liked a lot.

The 5-seater has bags of space, even in the back. Knee and head room is brilliant, with the large sunroof taking none of the space from rear passengers. So often, headroom is sacrificed on the sunroof alter, but not here.

There is powered seat adjustment with auxiliary buttons on the upper part of the front passenger seatback. With them, rear seat travellers can get a little extra legroom as needed. There is no lockout that we could find, so I am imagine the Hijinx that will follow.

Highlander has an electronic button array for gear selection, and AWD models add Snow, Sand,  and Mud to the standard on-road drive modes.

Tucson will give you a cheeky reminder to check the back seats as you leave, but only if it senses you’ve put something back there in the first place.

The suit-like linen fabric on the and doors complements the soft-feel surfacing elsewhere, combining to leave the impression of a cosy 1^st class aircraft cabin.

Wireless CarPlay is only available in non-navigation audio systems. All other Hyundais have Apple CarPlay/Android Auto by USB.

There are 4 X USB ports, one of which connects to Audio, a 12v outlet, and a Qi wireless phone charger.

Full Specifications HERE:

The Drive:

I continue to be impressed by Korean engineering, and Tucson scored a 5-star ANCAP rating in May 2021.

Occupants are protected by some very smart technology, and there are airbags aplenty, including thorax airbags between the front riders. That stops them from banging in to each other, preventing unintended head butting. Remember, airbags only work once, so is no substitute for good driving.

All Tucson models have Hyundai SmartSense including smart lane assistance and all-speed smart cruise control.

All trim levels have the option of a 2.0L, or 1.6 turbo petrol, or a 2.0L turbo diesel engine. They have a 6-sp auto, 7-sp DCT, and 8-sp automatic respectively. The last 2 have AWD, and you can really feel that in nasty weather. There is little hint of wheel slippage which gives a feeling of confidence.

The ride is sublime over almost all roads, including the ratty B- roads rural Australia is known for. Handling is decent, but you’re always reminded of the fact that you’re driving an SUV that is much happier cruising. MacPherson struts at the front, and Multilinks around back, do their best, but column-mounted electric steering always feels a little vague. Tucson always goes where you point it, so you just have to have confidence, as road feel is kept at arm’s length.

That has its advantages on the highway. Not only is the ride smooth, but the cabin is blissfully quiet, and it isn’t by accident. Even the windscreen has acoustic shielding for that “gentlemen’s Club” experience.

There is one annoying trait: Hyundais insist on bonging you every time the is a speed warning, or road traffic/speed camera. The only way to silence the warnings is to silence the navigation system completely. It would be fine of there was a Jaguar-esque ding, and a discrete warning message, but there are no less than 8 bings and bongs, and an array of voice warnings for every event. That wears on the nerves, especially around town. No, get rid! Banish it all. Out damned Spot! You’ll still get visual warnings, but my advice is to get a dashcam, that way you get silent warnings, and a recording when something goes tits-up.

Either way, the system isn’t completely accurate. Sometimes it will think you’re on a parallel road, and speed sign recognition may think you’re in a 40 zone when in fact you’re meant to be keeping up with the 110kph traffic.

The 1.6 turbo petrol is the sweet spot in the range. Sure, t diesel has a couple of extra features, but the 1.6 is smooth as a Bublé ballad. The Euro 5 engine range is modestly powered, and 132kw/265Nm feels leisurely at best, but don’t take that as being bad, it isn’t.

There are advantages to being Euro 5. You can use Australia’s filthy 91ron or E10 fuel, for a claimed rating of 7.2L/100k. It drops to 6.3L/100k on the highway, for a range of around 857km. A 1000km roadtrip would cost around $84 from the 54L tank, making the need of a diesel almost obsolete.

We’d have liked Tucson with reverse AEB, but you can’t have everything.

We took Tucson on a short 3 day camping trip. Camping leaves much to be desired, and after spending the first night in the car, I left the boys to it, and checked into a pub a few K’s away. I can tell you who had the better weekend. I only joined the crew for relaxing daytime drinks. A chauffeur would have been nice.

Full Specifications HERE:Hyundai_NX4-Tucson_Spec-Table

Conclusion:

Tucson tackles most situations with alacrity. There is a clear reversing camera and a bunch of warning sensors. We found Tucson easy to drive on all road surfaces, including gravel roads.

• Price: $51,298 (with N Line Package) Drive Away
• Engine: Euro 5 1.6L Turbo Petrol
• Power: 132kw/265Nm
• Econ: 7.2L/100k
• CO2: 164g/k
• Trans: 7sp DCT (dry clutch)
• Towing: 1650kg (diesel 1900kg)

Tags: Hyundai Tucson, 2022 Hyundai Tucson, gay Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Tucson suv, Hyundai Tucson 1.6litre, Hyundai Tucson AWD, Hyundai Tucson camping,

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