(What's New)
• Updated front grille and new front and rear bumpers
• Panoramic curved display comprising of two 12.3-inch screens
• Redesigned centre console
• Now available as a N Line variant
Family SUVs are expected to meet a wide spread of needs. They have to offer good space for passengers and cargo, return a decent fuel economy, transport all in comfort, and of course, being decked in some rugged-looking exterior sheet metal never hurts either.
But if that last point is especially pertinent to you, this updated Hyundai Tucson Hybrid might be the car for you.
Pick the N Line variant of this updated Hyundai Tucson and you'll get plenty of extras including N Line badges and a twin-tip exhaust system
Rugged looks
That's because this Tucson that you see in the photos is the 'N Line' variant. Marking the first time that such a variant is being offered here in Singapore, the upgrade sees the SUV festooned in a host of visual upgrades including 19-inch wheels complete with their own N wheel caps, a twin-tip exhaust system, added black exterior trim pieces, and a host of N Line badges throughout.
All these come alongside updates that are present even with the regular variant of the Tucson, which includes a redesigned front grille alongside new front and rear bumpers.
And the changes are certainly welcome, adding to the muscularity of the Tucson while staying true to the futuristic design of its predecessor with its eclectic mix of shapes and curves.
This Hyundai Tucson now comes with two 12.3-inch screens in its cabin and also now comes with Hyundai's steering column-mounted gear selector
Added practicality
But the upgrades with this new Tucson don't end with just visual changes. For the more practically minded, the cabin of the car also now gets a new steering column-mounted gear selector, freeing up space on the centre console for a new inductive smartphone charger.
Also new here is the implementation of a panoramic curved display, which houses both a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment display.
Equipped with tri-zone air-conditioning and ventilated front seats, the Tucson should be able to keep all passengers cool even in our tropical weather
Like the system now found in the Hyundai Santa Fe, interacting with this infotainment system proves intuitive, save for the fact that you'll need to dig quite deep into it to set up the driver assistance features as you like them or to change the colour of the ambient lighting system.
Still, the space within is generally a well-thought out one. Families will find plenty of practical features here including a tri-zone air-conditioning system on top of ventilated front seats, a 40:20:40 split folding rear bench, as well as a host of USB ports to keep all other smartphones charged up.
The N Line-exclusive suede seats are also a delight to rest on, although those with higher BMI figures might find them restrictive on their thighs.
Competent drive
Push that engine start button and the Tuscon continues to delight.
Powering this updated Tucson is still a 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain, although total power output for the car now stands at 212bhp while peak torque is quoted as 367Nm (the figures for this car's predecessor are 227bhp and 265Nm respectively). It's a muted unit, if a little coarse when pushed, and delivered a fuel economy of 14.1km/L over the course of the three days when we had the car, which is respectable for an SUV of its size (if a little short on its 15.2km/L official economy figure).
This engine also now comes paired to an all-wheel drive system, which should instil in drivers a little more confidence when piloting through the horribly wet weather we have had recently (interestingly, this updated Tucson also gets a larger rear wiper blade than before).
And all this comes paired with a suspension setup that not only manages roll and vertical movement well for an SUV but also shields all from the sharpest edges on the road. Those demanding high road comfort will also note that the cabin of the Tucson always proves quiet, with only road noise becoming just enough to bother once you're at highway speeds.
Shopping for a family SUV with stunning good looks? This Tucson should suit you well
Still a great family SUV
Could this be the next SUV that meets all your family's needs? At $254,999, this Hyundai Tucson goes right up against the $253,999 five-seater Honda CR-V (read our review of the seven-seater here), although customers might also add into their list of alternatives the $224,888 Mazda CX-5, which swings in with less power but comes with a lower price tag to match.
These alternatives don't come with a hybrid drivetrain, however, and both come with more sedate exterior styling than what this Tucson offers. But if you want a better deal still, there's also the 'Standard' variant of the Tucson (that does without features such as a panoramic sunroof, a Krell speaker system, and that inductive phone charger and N Line seats amongst others), which is available from $242,999 (all prices as of 28 January 2025).
Either way, you'll not only be securing yourself one stunning looking SUV, but one that also is quite the enticing value proposition that is sure to please the entire family.
Read the full article here: https://www.sgcarmart.com/articles/car-reviews/hyundai-tucson-hybrid-n-line-facelift-review-36525
Test drive the Tucson AWD here: https://hyundai.com.sg/test-drive/
