Hyundai announces new SUV

[ivol07]

Continuing to expand its model line in the United States, Hyundai today introduced the Tucson sport utility vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The vehicle is the company?s first entry into the small SUV segment. The Tucson is smaller than Hyundai?s hot-selling Santa Fe SUV and will go on sale late this summer in the United States.

http://www.hyundaitucson.com/

Looks okay to me. If I was looking for a small SUV I would consider it. I like the way the back seats completely fold down.

 

[teckmaster]

that should be pretty cheap to buy considering you can get a loaded Sante Fe for $19,000

 

[TwinkleToes77]

I am driving a Santa Fe currently and i consider that a small SUV. I can only imagine how much smaller this one this.

 

[Eli]

Interesting.

Type: Hyundai Beta 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder, inline with CVVT
Materials: Cast iron block/aluminum cylinder head
Displacement: 2.0 liters (1975cc/120.5 cubic inches)
Compression ratio: 10.1:1
Horsepower: (estimated) 140 @ 6,000 RPM
Torque: (estimated) 136 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
Fuel system: Electronic multi-port fuel injection
Emission controls: Three-way catalyst
Exhaust: Single outlet with chrome tips

Type: Hyundai Delta DOHC 24-valve V6
Materials: Aluminum block/aluminum heads
Displacement: 2.7 liters (2656cc/162 cubic inches)
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Horsepower: (estimated) 173 @ 6,000 RPM
Torque: (estimated) 178 lb-ft. @ 4,000 RPM

Not bad.

 

[rh71]

The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

 

[malbojah]

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

So you think the Honda Element looks better??

How about the Aztek??

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: malbojah

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

So you think the Honda Element looks better??

How about the Aztek??

Hmm... good point. The Santa Fe is one of the top 3 ugliest SUVs ever put to production (is the Aztek classified an SUV?). How's that ? Yes, I think it's pretty bad. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING ? I mean, it's not like it's a cheap Echo or Prius (which by default have to be ugly).

 

[prontospyder]

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

Isn't Isuzu sales numbers going down the tubes while Hyundai/Kia are breaking company sales records?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: malbojah

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

So you think the Honda Element looks better??

How about the Aztek??

Hmm... good point. The Santa Fe is one of the top 3 ugliest SUVs ever put to production (is the Aztek classified an SUV?). How's that ? Yes, I think it's pretty bad. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING ? I mean, it's not like it's a cheap Echo or Prius (which by default have to be ugly).

Prius is neither cheap nor ugly.

 

[BigSmooth]

I wonder why Korean vehicles always seem to be heavy for their size. It hurts their gas mileage. I think their engineers need to work on optimizing the weight of some of the heavier components of their vehicles.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: prontospyder

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

Isn't Isuzu sales numbers going down the tubes while Hyundai/Kia are breaking company sales records?

Yup. On top of GM now owning a part of them, their marketing blows. Everyone on the 4x4 boards I visit agrees with that. Think about it - how often do you actually see an Isuzu commercial ? I can't remember my last one. But they make one of the best 4WD systems, and that's not just a fanboy talking.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
I am driving a Santa Fe currently and i consider that a small SUV. I can only imagine how much smaller this one this.

How is it? The wife and I were looking at getting one, but the only thing that scares me is the small engine size.

 

[prontospyder]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: prontospyder

Originally posted by: rh71
The Santa Fe is the ugliest looking SUV ever made. This thing is not far behind. They need a front end re-thinking. I swear people only bought the SF because of the warranty... which BTW, Isuzu offers also. At least they know how to make 4WDs.

Isn't Isuzu sales numbers going down the tubes while Hyundai/Kia are breaking company sales records?

Yup. On top of GM now owning a part of them, their marketing blows. Everyone on the 4x4 boards I visit agrees with that. Think about it - how often do you actually see an Isuzu commercial ? I can't remember my last one. But they make one of the best 4WD systems, and that's not just a fanboy talking.

Yeah, haven't seen a Joe Isuzu ad in ages.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Prius is neither cheap nor ugly.

Whoops don't know my econo-cars too well... I meant Focus. Prius is definitely not bad looking.

 

[3point14]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I wonder why Korean vehicles always seem to be heavy for their size. It hurts their gas mileage. I think their engineers need to work on optimizing the weight of some of the heavier components of their vehicles.

Can't be worse than my VUE or Cherokee. My VUE just got 12 mpg city/15-18 mpg highway and the Cherokee gets 14 mpg.

Sticker on my VUE said 19 city/24 highway

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Prius is neither cheap nor ugly.

Whoops don't know my econo-cars too well... I meant Focus. Prius is definitely not bad looking.

That's what Larry David drives

 

[gluck]

What about kia Sorento ? I think it pretty decent looking and for the price, safety might be ahead of others.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: gluck
What about kia Sorento ? I think it pretty decent looking and for the price, safety might be ahead of others.

That's something I wouldn't mind driving. Looked good from every angle, which is the most important thing, obviously.

 

[kroq]

As ugly as you may think the Tucson is, it looks 10x better than the Santa Fe front end.

 

[gluck]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: gluck
What about kia Sorento ? I think it pretty decent looking and for the price, safety might be ahead of others.

That's something I wouldn't mind driving. Looked good from every angle, which is the most important thing, obviously.

It definitely looks good sturdy & far better than SantaFe.
Actually I find it better looking than most of the suv's around. I have no idea about the performance.

 

[ivol07]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
I am driving a Santa Fe currently and i consider that a small SUV. I can only imagine how much smaller this one this.

How is it? The wife and I were looking at getting one, but the only thing that scares me is the small engine size.

My wife and I got a 2003 last July and it's great. We got the 2.7L V6. Definitely enough power for everyday use. If we were going to be pulling a boat or anything like that I think we would have opted for the biggest engine. We test drove that one and the wife said it was to much power. I agreed because on the test drive it was a little to quick when you hit the pedal. Or at least more than I would want my wife to drive. It's her daily driver. Overall no complaints at all. I say go test drive the different engine sizes and see which one fits you best. And the shiftronic really helps also. We both have been nothing but satisfied with her Santa Fe and my 2001 Elantra.

 

[Mermaidman]

TwinkieToes is right. The Santa Fe is a smallish SUV, so I don't know where Hyundai is going with the Tucson. Did you see that the Tucson has an optional 2.7L V6 motor? Curb wt for the V6 4WD model is ~3500 lb. Wonder what the MPG will be. Front end looks vaguely like a CR-V.