Hyundai NZ General Manager Andy Sinclair explained that the latest Tucson is almost unchanged from the concept car, and when we first saw this model in the flesh we understood exactly what he meant.

The design team moved away from traditional methods such as drawing and sketching to concoct the futuristic design. Instead, they used geometric algorithms produced by cutting-edge digital technology. This process, known as ‘parametric dynamics’, utilises lines, faces, angles and shapes created through digital data that results in a very unique looking car.

AA Motoring Advisor, Ian Green, with the 2021 Hyundai Tucson

We attended the launch exactly 17 years to the day that the first Tucson landed in New Zealand, and it’s fair to say that it’s been a major player in the SUV market since then, with sales of more than 24,600 units. For Hyundai, like with many manufacturers, SUVs make up the lion’s share of sales - a whopping 64.5 per cent in this case, to be exact.

The Hyundai Tucson starts from $49,990 (+ORC) for the 2.0 MPI Petrol 2WD, and goes up $72,990 (+ORC) for the 1.6D AWD Limited.

Future-forward exterior

The first thing that you’ll notice when the new Tucson approaches you is the gorgeous parametric jewels integrated into the front grill. These daytime running lights (DRLs) disappear when the vehicle is off thanks to state-of-the-art half-mirror lighting technology. This leaves the front of the vehicle covered in dark parametric patterning, and the body work continues this styling cue with several touches throughout.

Hyundai Tucson 2021

Chiseled surfaces help to emphasise the bold exterior, with triangular accents sculpted into the panels and wheel arches, creating sharp and purposeful lines. You can see a lot of time and effort has gone in to the design to ensure that it doesn’t look too busy.

The Tucson’s rear bumper also integrates parametric pattern details with a three-dimensional effect coupled and a sporty garnish. It’s a smart way to finish off the design of the car, however, one small criticism was the position of the indicators – they are placed quite low in the rear bumper, and could potentially become damaged in the event of a bump.

This is the first Hyundai model to incorporate a hidden rear wiper. The wiper sits neatly under the spoiler, and is accessible in a special service mode. This helps give the car a highly polished look, especially, with the flush mounted Hyundai logo, which is a welcome change to traditional automotive manufacture emblems.

Sleek interior

The interior is a sleek, sophisticated space and is what Hyundai refer to as ‘INTERSPACE’, which is essentially their idea of a neat and tidy room.

Some variants feature a clever new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen which dominates the dashboard of the Tucson. In a new move, Hyundai has turned its back on physical knobs and buttons, so all multimedia and climate controls are operated via touch, making it the first Hyundai model to feature a full touch-operated console.

The interior of the 2021 Hyundai Tucson

The finishing of the interior is to a high standard, with plenty of soft-touch materials scattered throughout the cabin, which helps to elevate the look and feel to a new level. There’s also a new ingenious vent system with new indirect air vents that run across almost the full width of the dashboard, from the doors all the way up to the center console.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard across all models, allowing occupants to mirror the functionality of their iOS and Android smartphones in a simplified and convenient manner. Intriguingly, wireless Apple CarPlay is only available in the more affordable eight-inch display models.

Hyundai safety features

The all-new Tucson comes equipped with the latest Hyundai SmartSense active safety and driving assistance features for even more assurance. New features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Junction Turning, Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA).

The Hyundai Tucson did not have an ANCAP safety rating at time of writing.

Driving the Tucson on the unforgiving Forgotten World Highway

It was a strange experience driving from New Plymouth to the sleepy township of Whangamomona and then onto Taumarunui.

The scenery surrounding the roads were absolutely stunning, however, the roads were far from perfect with slips, rocks and the occasional wild goat wandering precariously close to the roadside.

Stopping off in the Hyundai Tucson 2021 N-Line

We sampled all of the models and, unsurprisingly, the N Line seemed to be the model of choice amongst the journalists on the launch due to its welcomed sporty touches and upgraded suspension. All models were incredibly well balanced and supple considering the adverse road conditions.

Hyundai’s signature HTRAC four-wheel drive technology offers improved handling with new damper valves to improve the ride, as well as better torque application over the 2WD variants. In these driving conditions it was a welcome companion for the journey.

All models of the Hyundai Tucson have a fuel efficiency rating of between 5.2L/100km and 8.6L/100km, and a CO2 efficiency rating of between 135g/km and 195g/km.

Verdict

The fourth-gen Tucson range is comprehensive, with a bit of something for everyone. The design is modern and contemporary, and will undoubtedly grab the attention of prospective buyers with its striking, unique looks.

An AWD Tucson hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) will become available in 2022, which shows that the platform is indeed a flexible one.

In terms of competition, the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V are both worthy competitors, and let’s not forget about another Korean SUV soon to enter the mix, the new Kia Sportage. The standout futuristic exterior, looks and cohesive modern interior really help to set the new Tucson apart.

Let’s face it, there’s no shortage of new SUVs in the country – they currently make up an impressive 52.1 per cent of all new passenger cars sold in NZ. Despite this, we were excited by the new Tucson and found very little to quibble about with this enticing package.

Safety systems

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
• Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)
• Surround View Monitor
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW)

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a new car:

• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews
• AA Running Cost Reports - aa.co.nz/runningcosts

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