Hyundai Tucson: a force to be reckoned with in SUV market

BY ALI NAQVI – The automobile market in Pakistan has been in a spot of bother since 2018. The unprecedented spike in the Dollar exchange rate and the recent COVID-19 crisis could not affect the industry more. Despite the odds, the industry has been resilient. Brands like Kia and Suzuki launched their vehicles amid the worst economic crunch in the country. Now Hyundai has joined the club by launching Hyundai Tucson.

Hyundai Tucson, by Hyundai Nishat Motors, is an SUV that will compete with Kia Sportage, Suzuki Vitara, Honda BR-V, and Honda Vezel to name a few. The vehicle, as far as its shape and size are concerned, is similar to Kia Sportage.

There are only two variants; the Ultimate AWD and the GLS Sport version FWD. With 2670mm wheelbase, 1850mm width, 4480mm length, and 1660mm height the Tucson gives the ground clearance of 172mm which is less than the competition offers. Honda BR-V gives the highest ground clearance of 201mm while Honda Vezel has a ground clearance of 185mm. On or off the road, ground clearance is the most important factor when it comes to choosing an SUV.

Power is everything for a Sports Utility Vehicle. An underpowered engine can spoil the ride. Take for example the case of Toyota Fortuner, most people complain about its being underpowered. Hyundai Tucson comes with a 16-Valve 1999cc 4-cylinder petrol engine. Equipped with 6-speed automatic transmission the vehicle at 6200 RPM produces 155hp. It remains to be seen how Tucson performs on the road and whether it is underpowered or overpowered.

Safety comes first before everything. The world over, vehicles are valued based on their safety ratings. The safety features offered by Hyundai Tucson include ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ABS brakes with front and rear discs, 2 airbags along with Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist and other features like EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) and HSA (Hill Start Assist).

A good interior can play a decisive role while choosing a car. The Tucson interior does not inspire to begin with. The overall layout has nothing new to offer. The company has used artificial leather garnish in an attempt to give the vehicle a premium feel. The Multimedia screen placed above the dashboard looks a bit odd. The leather seats are only available in the Ultimate variant while fabric seats are available in the FWD version.

The competitive pricing of Hyundai Tucson is likely to get attention from the SUV lovers. GL Sport that is FWD (Front Wheel Drive) has a price tag of Rs. 4,899,000 and the Ultimate AWD (All Wheel Drive) is available for Rs. 5,399,000.

Tucson has nothing new to offer as features like auto cruise control, Guideline Cameras, Immobilizer, Steering Controls, and Power Seats have become standard in the vehicles of such power and magnitude. Since the introduction of used and refurbished Japanese cars in Pakistan the majority of customers have experienced the latest and cutting-edge features that were once considered a luxury.