2017 Hyundai Tucson Review

The award-winning Tucson lineup continues to improve its offering to consumers for the 2017 model year. The improvements span everything from interior detail and material enhancements to premium audio, infotainment and connectivity. 2017 Tucson models are arriving at dealerships now.

Tucson continues to offer a pair of fuel efficient drivetrains and a stylish, roomy interior. A host of advanced safety features are available including a Lane Departure Warning system, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Backup Warning Sensors and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB).

Modern, Appealing Design Enhanced with LEDs

Tucson employs refined aesthetics with sculpted body forms and sporty contours for an athletic, bold and striking appearance.

The front is dominated by a hexagonal-shaped grille – a key element of Hyundai’s design signature, enhanced by available high-efficiency LED twin-projector headlights, LED headlight accents and integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Even LED door handle approach lamps are available.

Tucson offers a long wheelbase for enhanced design proportions, interior flexibility and a smooth ride. 19-inch alloy wheels are offered with a dynamic spoke design, housed in forward-raking wheel arches. Roof rails are sleek and low-profile for a clean, yet functional appearance. From the rear, a Z-shaped character line above the rear wheel accentuates an aggressive, sporty side profile.

The rear angle conveys stability and a wide, sporty stance, for agility both on and off-road. The taillights also apply LED technology, creating a premium design element, while providing enhanced visibility from the rear. Finally, twin, bevel-cut chrome exhaust tips and a standard rear spoiler add even more sporty cues from the rear view.

Larger Interior with Premium Materials

On the inside, a premium, wrapped instrument panel will be offered, with extra-wide instrument panel contours to enhance occupants’ overall sense of interior roominess. A stitched, soft-touch pad is located near the driver’s right knee, for better comfort during long commutes or spirited cornering. Interior touch points offer premium, soft-touch materials.

All interior switchgear has a more refined feel during operation. The overall ambience of roominess is further enhanced by an available full-length panoramic sunroof, allowing both front and rear passengers day or night skyward visibility.

Tucson also offers a dual-level rear cargo floor further enhancing cargo-carrying versatility. The rear liftgate opening is large and offers good cargo flexibility, while the 60/40 rear seatbacks provide 37 degrees of available recline.

Powerful and Efficient New Powertrains

Tucson powertrain offerings have top efficiency levels as a primary target. Base models offer the Nu engine family, 2.0-liter, direct-injected four-cylinder with an estimated 164 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed automatic offers SHIFTRONIC™ manual shifting mode and includes an overdrive lock-up torque converter for higher fuel economy at highway speeds. EPA fuel economy for the 2.0L FWD model is rated at 23 (city), 30 (highway), 26 (combined). Furthermore, powertrain NVH has been reduced through hydraulic transmission mounting and recalibrated engine mounts.

Eco, Sport and Limited models offer the Gamma engine family, 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder with an estimated 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Peak torque delivery starts at only 1,500 rpm and holds through 4,500 rpm, for low-RPM responsiveness and performance in everyday driving conditions. The turbocharger features low-inertia turbo-spooling response characteristics and an electronic wastegate control for more precise control of manifold pressure. Internally, piston-cooling oil jets ensure cooler piston temperatures for enhanced engine life. The Gamma engine also features a water jacket insert that prioritizes cooling in the upper level of the cylinder block where more combustion heat is generated, resulting in lower cylinder head temperatures and allowing for leaner air/fuel mixtures for better fuel efficiency.

The turbo engine is coupled to a first-in-segment seven-speed EcoShift® dual-clutch transmission (DCT). This Hyundai-developed dual-clutch transmission offers outstanding efficiency with quick, seamless shifting and brisk acceleration. When compared with some competitors’ continuously-variable transmissions, this DCT is able to handle more torque with minimal power interruption throughout the powertrain operating range for a natural acceleration characteristic that consumers expect and offers greater durability. EPA fuel economy for this powertrain on Eco FWD models is 26 (city), 32 (highway), 28 (combined). Sport and Limited FWD turbo engine models are rated at 25 (city), 30 (highway), 27 (combined).

All-Wheel Drive Capability

Tucson offers an advanced AWD system developed by Hyundai in conjunction with Magna Powertrain. The system includes a driver-selectable AWD lock that allows a differentiated torque split between front and rear wheels, for off-road and extremely slippery road conditions. The system also includes Active Cornering Control, which automatically transfers torque to the wheels with the most traction. The system reduces understeer and enhances cornering performance by braking the inside rear wheel and delivering more torque to the outside rear wheel, providing a torque-vectoring effect. Finally, the system incorporates both Hillstart Assist and Downhill Brake Control to assist drivers facing sharp incline or decline conditions.

Refined, Responsive Chassis

The Tucson platform offers enhanced driving dynamics with a long wheelbase and wide track for greater ride comfort and linear stability. The Tucson also benefits from strategic use of structural adhesives at high stress points on the chassis and extensive use of hot-stamping methods for greater rigidity. The structure also uses four-point bushing mounts for improved comfort and reduced road noise.

A world’s first shock-absorber mounting structure, the Tucson employs a dual-reinforcing panel rear wheelhouse design, which optimizes panels that are prone to vibration, reduced road noise levels and ride and handling improvements.

The Tucson suspension has been enhanced for precise handling without sacrificing ride comfort. The front suspension is a MacPherson strut design, with coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers and a 24.7 mm stabilizer bar. The rear suspension is an independent, multi-link design, now with dual lower arms for both FWD and AWD, for optimal ride comfort and body control.

Both front and rear suspensions use SACHS® dampers and lightweight, hollow stabilizer bars for superior body control in all driving conditions. Rear suspension control arms minimize camber and toe changes throughout the suspension travel range. In addition, the jounce bumpers use a sophisticated, hydraulic-type design for refined responses over larger road impacts. Suspension bushings are composed of a higher-dampening synthetic rubber for smoother ride characteristics when compared with conventional rubber.

Tucson also offers Drive Mode Select, which allows the driver to customize their Tucson’s dynamic responses, such as steering feel, transmission and overall powertrain responsiveness to their preferences, and to changing road or traffic conditions.

Lower NVH, Better Aerodynamics

Tucson has a number of sound dampening and insulation measures, such as:

• Large engine mounts for reduced engine vibration
• Rear cross-members with a bushing-mount design
• Sound insulation materials for inner fenders, underbody, instrument panel, transmission tunnel and all cabin pillars
• Using 335 feet of structural adhesive to insulate against road noise
• Aerodynamics have been improved to 0.33 Cd

Tucson’s coefficient of drag was achieved through a special aerodynamic design focus on the A-pillar design, rear spoiler side trim and underbody panels, all of which reduce air vortex and resulting aerodynamic drag.

Improved Steering Feel

The Tucson’s motor-driven power steering is more efficient and quieter than traditional hydraulic systems by reducing parasitic losses from ancillary belts and their continual drag on the powertrain. Further, the steering system is tuned for precise and rapid adjustments in steering feel with changing driving conditions. The steering wheel itself offers a wider range of tilt and telescopic adjustment for greater driver comfort.

Segment Firsts

The Tucson offers several compact CUV segment firsts, including ventilated front seats and YES Essentials® stain-resistant seats, now on all fabrics. The Tucson also offers a Smart Power Liftgate with auto-open. The Smart Power Liftgate enables the Tucson owner to automatically open the rear liftgate, hands-free, by simply standing within a few feet of the liftgate for a few seconds with the key fob in a pocket or purse. This is especially convenient whenever the owner may be holding shopping bags or other items and needs hands-free access to the cargo area.

Audio, Navigation and Connectvity Technology

The Tucson offers a standard five-inch color LCD display with rearview camera and touchscreen function for intuitive operation. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also available along with Apple Siri® “Eyes Free” integration. On the navigation-equipped Tucson, popular apps such as Pandora® Internet Radio are already integrated with the multimedia system.

For audiophiles, Tucson also offers an available 315-watt, Infinity AM/FM/SiriusXM premium audio system. The latest generation of SiriusXM Travel Link® with Traffic, Sports, Weather, Stocks, Fuel Prices and Movies is also available. SiriusXM’s Tune Start® allows the replay of a song from its beginning whenever a preset is selected. Additional multi-cultural channels are also available. Tucson also offers Hyundai’s navigation system, with an advanced, eight-inch display for easy legibility. The screen also offers a split-screen display with both map and music data available simultaneously.

Comprehensive Safety Features

The Tucson received a 2016 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with AEB. Advanced safety technologies such as AEB with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Backup Warning Sensors and standard rearview camera are offered. In addition, advanced high-strength steel represents over 50 percent of the Tucson’s structure, for enhanced crash safety.

The Tucson is engineered to provide its passengers with multiple defensive safety layers. The A-pillar and mirror blind spots offer enhanced driver visibility. The steel unibody has integrated crumple zones and a high-tensile front sub-frame designed to work together to reduce the forces that typically reach the passenger compartment. The center pillars serve as the anchors of a ring structure which improves overall side structure stiffness while also creating more room for the door armrest and seat. All four doors also have internal guard beams to protect passengers in a side-impact collision.

The entire body shell is stiff and light due to extensive use of advanced high-strength steel, and the use of Tailor Welded Blanks (TWB) reinforces key structural members. TWB assemblies combine steels of different thickness and grades using a sophisticated laser welding and stamping process to achieve an optimal stiffness-to-weight ratio. TWBs reduce body weight while enhancing crash energy management.

Tucson also features a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that alerts drivers if one or more tires are under-inflated, including the tire’s location.

Color

Tucson offers eight appealing exterior colors and three interior color environments. Interior color environments include black, beige and gray in cloth, and black or beige in leather, available on Limited models.

Next-Generation Blue Link®

Tucson offers the next-generation of Hyundai Blue Link® Connected Car services with enhanced safety, service and infotainment. Blue Link brings seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Stop, Destination Search powered by Google®, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Many of these features can even be controlled via the latest Android Wear ™ and Apple Watch offerings.

In addition to these features and services, Tucson models equipped with Blue Link come standard with one year of complimentary Blue Link® Connected Care. Connected Care is a suite of safety and car care features providing Hyundai owners with free proactive services including Automatic Collision Notification, SOS Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Monthly Vehicle Health Reporting and Maintenance Alerts. Blue Link is offered in three service packages: Connected Care, Remote and Guidance.

Connected Care package (complimentary for 1-year):

• Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Assistance
• SOS Emergency Assistance
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance
• Monthly Vehicle Health Report
• Maintenance Alerts
• Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification (DTC)
• Service Link
• Blue Link App (smartphone, smartwatch)
• On-Demand Diagnostics
• Driving Information

Remote package:

• Remote Start with Climate Control
• Remote Door Lock/Unlock
• Remote Horn and Lights
• Car Finder via Mobile App
• Stolen Vehicle Recovery
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown
• Stolen Vehicle Immobilization
• Alarm Notification
• Vehicle Safeguard Alerts
• Geo-Fence
• Valet Alert
• Speed/Curfew Alert

Guidance package:

• Destination search powered by Google®
• Destination Send-to-Car by Google®

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