Last year, Hyundai gave the Tucson a midlife refresh, with enough visual and technical upgrades to keep it competitive until a new generation arrives after 2020.
On the outside, the compact SUV stands out with the revised lighting units, grille and front and rear ends, while inside, it gained standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with the 7-inch infotainment system.
The biggest change, however, occurred under the hood, where the 2019 Tucson received a new 2.4-liter engine making 181 horsepower, which replaces the old 1.6-liter turbocharged unit, rated at 175 hp. It’s matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox, just like the 2.0-liter 164 hp mill that powers the base grades, although you may want to stay away from this one, as Consumer Reports said that it feels underpowered and noisy.
Also See: Hyundai Tucson N Line Wants You To Sit Up And Take Notice
Their Tucson came in SEL spec with dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and side mirrors, and adaptive cruise control, for $28,530. That’s $5,330 more than the base SE, but $4,420 less than the top-of-the-line Ultimate.
The reviewer was impressed by the large door openings that facilitate ingress and egress, easy-to-use controls and responsive handling. He noted that it has minimum body lean, but somehow doesn’t feel as sporty as a Mazda CX-5.
The Tucson has become better with time, but not everything’s perfect. CR said that there’s still room for improvement and had some things to complain about. Watch the short video to find out what these are.