Hyundai Tucson (2004 – 2009) Review

March 2004

5-door SUV smaller than Santa Fe and without the organic looks. Size is 4,325mm long x 1,795 - 1,830mm wide x 1,730 high.

Choice of three petrol and diesel engines, two wheel drive or four wheel drive and fice speed manual or four speed H-matic semi-automatic. Monocoque construction like Freelander, CRV, etc. 4x4 is torque on demand so runs two wheel drive until slippage is detected. Four wheel drive can also be slected manually. Standard kit includes driver and passenger airbags, ANBS with EBD, traction control, 4x34 locking button to lock four wheel drive at low speeds, front foglights, engine immobiliser, electric tilt/slide sunroof, roof bars, electric windows, electric mirrors, PAS, 60/40 split fold rear seats, rear wash/wipe, twin exhausts on diesel and V6, seatbelt pretensiuoners and load limiters, RDS stereo radio/CD player. Options include Smartnav satnav, privacy glass and leather upholstery.

Engines were: 134bhp, 184Nm torque 1,975cc petrol with 5-speed manual box, does 108mph, 0-60 in 11 seconds, 34.4mpg combined, emits 194g/km CO2. 110bhp, 245Nm torque 1,991cc diesel with 5-speed manual box, does 104mph, 0-60 in 13.5 seconds, 39.7mpg combined, emits 187g/km CO2. 173bhp, 241NM torque 2,656cc V6 petrol with 4-speed autobox, does 112mph, 0-60 in 10.2 seconds, 28.2mpg combined, emits 237g/km CO2.

Seven Tucson models from £14,995 for the 2.0 16v GSI rising to £18,695 for the 2.7 V6 CDX. Two wheel drive 2.0GSi from £13,995, does 0-60 in 10 seconds, 112mph and 35.3mpg combined. Has alloy wheels, ABS, six airbags, electric sunroof, CD player and aircon.

April 2006

Hyundai Tucson Limited launched, based on CRTD CDX. Has climate control, leather seats, front fog lights and CD player, plus body coloured bumpers, body coloured side mouldings, privacy glass and a new black interior. Warm Silver or Ebony Black. Torque on demand system, allowing the car to switch automatically between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive when necessary. New high-powered Euro IV diesel engine with 138bhp and 225 lb ft of torque. £18,370 on the road, just £200 more than the standard CRTD CDX model, on which it is based.

January 2009

Revised line up for 2009 announced, with fuel efficient two-wheel drive offered on all Tucson modelsmaking them more compewtitive to the Nissan Qashqai. Starting at £14,695 the entry-level 2.0 Comfort model comes with air conditioning, auxiliary and USB audio connections, privacy glass, body-coloured bumpers and trim, electric windows all-round, front fog lights, roof rails, dual front and side airbags and smart 16-inch alloy wheels.

Powered by a 139bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, it offers an affordable combined fuel economy figure of 35.3mpg. Coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox, it accelerates from 0-60mph in 10.4 seconds, with a top speed of 112mph.

The two-wheel drive layout is also available with a 148bhp CRDi engine, with a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmissions. Combined fuel economy is 40.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 184g/km. The manual model is also offered in ‘Style’ trim at £16,695, and adds more standard equipment, including climate control, a trip computer, leather steering wheel and gearknob, cruise control, heated seats and door mirrors, reverse parking sensors, a self-dimming rear view mirror and metal grain dashboard trim.

The automatic model is available in range-topping ‘Premium’ trim at £18,695, and adds full leather trim, ESP and traction control, automatic headlights, a sunroof and electric folding door mirrors, along with a unique alloy wheel design. 2009 model year Tucsons can distinguished by some distinctive visual changes, such as a new-look radiator grille, a new rear number plate surround and modified instrument cluster on all models.

Four-wheel drive Tucsons also remain available, priced at £17,695 for the Style model and £18,695 for the Premium, both with six-speed manual gearboxes.

July 2014

Warranty Direct claims records show the 2004 - 2009 Hyundai Tucson to be the 3rd most reliable used SUV/'Crossover' out of manufacturer warranty.

December 2014

Hyundai Tucson 2004-2009 shown to be the 10th most reliable SUV in Warranty Direct's claims records.