Feast your eyes on this. No, not Mr. Ed, here,
this. It's not a concept car, and it's certainly no test meal. This is the 2021 Hyundai Tucson,
and as you can see by its bold new look, Hyundai is not horsing around.
Hyundai Australia has peeled off the camouflage wrap and given us not only an exclusive look at
the all new fourth-generation Tucson in pre-production prototype form,
but our first drive just months after its world debut. For 2021, the South Korean car maker's
best-selling model has been given a huge makeover that extends well beyond its striking design.
The midsize SUV is safer and smarter, packed to the rafters with new technology and offered with
a range of powertrains including petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, although the latter
pair are yet to be officially confirmed down under. But enough of that. Let's take a closer
look at Hyundai's latest entry in the hugely popular mid-size SUV category. Well, it's bold,
and that's exactly what Hyundai was going for. If these sharp, angled panels down either side
don't catch your eye first, this futuristic front end will surely, and check out these integrated
vertical daytime running lights. But that's not all. The design of the rear end is just
as bewitching while the interior has had major renovations of its own and is now equipped with
a big 10.25-inch display and an open, hood-less digital instrument cluster that's the same size.
The interior is luxurious and futuristic. There's no more conventional gear shifter and most of
the controls and knobs inside the cabin have been replaced with these touch-sensitive flash
buttons. And from the pilot seat, the experience feels more driver-focused with this slick new
steering wheel and customisable digital dash. It's also fitted with a bunch of new safety features,
some of which are borrowed from the brand's new Santa Fe, including a Blind Spot View Monitor,
Safe Exit Warning, 360-degree camera, Remote Smart Park Assist and seven airbags,
including a center airbag to stop front passengers colliding in the event of an
accident. The new Hyundai Tucson is bigger in all key dimensions,
and after a quick inspection, it's clear the boot is big, the cabin is longer, and there's plenty
of stretching space for four full-sized adults. That's all well and good, but we've only been
given a short amount of time to check out South Korea's latest SUV. So let's see how it drives.
Being behind the wheel of this Tucson N-Line is a pretty big deal. It's so special, in fact, Hyundai
tells us that Aussie motoring journalists are some of the first to get behind the wheel of this
prototype. The drivetrain in this particular model is the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder turbo petrol,
which comes mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch auto with power sent to all four wheels.
It provides plenty of grunt off the line and does a decent job in the Tucson,
but feels like it could do it with a little more power, especially if you were carrying
a full load of passengers and luggage. The dual-clutch could also do with some finesse,
as it feels snappy at times, but more so in Sport drive mode. Because we can't drive this prototype
out on public roads, Hyundai has brought us to this private little track in Marulan,
and first impressions are really good. The steering is nice and light and nimble for an SUV,
and it actually feels like a small SUV, despite this Tucson being bigger than its predecessor.
And thanks to the new cabin design, visibility is great at every direction.
And while it's difficult to grasp just how the new Tucsan will perform out in the real world,
the little taste we've been given of it here at Pheasant Wood Circuit
has made a pretty good first impression.
It's still a few more months away, but if this prototype comes close to what we can expect from
the brand new Hyundai Tucson when it launches down under, well, rivals had better watch out.