Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited 1.6T AWD

[EV Dan]

This category is becoming increasingly boring IMO. Fun and performance are sacrificed in the name of average fleet FE numbers. Only Chrysler still offers a V6 but even that is dumbed down with a ridiculous and under-baked 9spd slushbox. The reason this Tucson has two teeny weeny engines to choose from is the brand's luxury V8 Sedans which bring cash. As a result it excels in no area in particular apart from maybe standard equipment and the looks. CX-5 is reportedly fun to drive and fuel efficient, Subaru has the best AWD, Toyota is famous for its reliability and resale values, which will soon be combined with class leading fuel efficiency of the upcoming hybrid Rav4. This Hyundai's forte is the price. Oh, wait, the gun just went off in their trousers. Or perhaps we should just wait for the end of model year lease deals. 

[conwelpic]

it passed the IIHS small overlap test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=57&v=RE_EUa3VC48

[dirtyjeffer]

Over the past decade they offered lots of standard equipment the competition didn't, with a lower price.  Now the competition has caught up, Hyundai's offer very similar equipment, and the price isn't much different.  More people care about resale value, the reliability factor, then they do about a longer warranty.  Time will tell.   How is the AWD in the Tucson better than the RAV4?  And the Hyundai's new turbo is less fuel efficient than the NA engines from competitors!

the competition has caught up, so even if you don't purchase a Hyundai/Kia product, as a consumer, you still win.

and you still get much more in this higher trim Tuscon than you do in the top trim RAV4...look up the included feature list online for the Limited AWD 1.6T and then compare it to the Limited AWD RAV4 (don't forget to add the Tech Pkg)...you still get a LOT more with the Hyundai.

sure, some won't care about the features, but saying the Hyundai no longer offers more equipment for less money simply isn't true...in fact, a closer trim to the RAV4 Limited AWD with Tech Package is the Tuscon Premium AWD 1.6T (the base 1.6T AWD trim)...that trim doesn't have leather (which the RAV4 doesn't have), but still has heated rear seats (which the RAV4 doesn't have), it still has the blind spot, lane assist and rear cross traffic alert (which you get in the Tech Pkg in the RAV4), and that trim is $31,299 to the RAV4's $35,845.

the Limited and Ultimate trims in Hyundai's line up offer FAR more features than Toyota offers...you would likely have to move up to the Lexus NX200T to get comparable features (no, i am not comparing the Tuscon to a Lexus, before you go there).

[SKYMTL]

it passed the IIHS small overlap test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=57&v=RE_EUa3VC48

Is this noteworthy?  I can't find a single 2016 model in this category that doesn't pass it. 

[Danno001]

the Limited and Ultimate trims in Hyundai's line up offer FAR more features than Toyota offers...you would likely have to move up to the Lexus NX200T to get comparable features (no, i am not comparing the Tuscon to a Lexus, before you go there).

Limited RAV4 offers power lift gate and memory seats - must haves for me. Can't find memory seats anywhere in Tucson options and need to go north of Tucson Limited for power lift gate.

[Solstice2006]

Over the past decade they offered lots of standard equipment the competition didn't, with a lower price.  Now the competition has caught up, Hyundai's offer very similar equipment, and the price isn't much different.  More people care about resale value, the reliability factor, then they do about a longer warranty.  Time will tell.   How is the AWD in the Tucson better than the RAV4?  And the Hyundai's new turbo is less fuel efficient than the NA engines from competitors!

the competition has caught up, so even if you don't purchase a Hyundai/Kia product, as a consumer, you still win.

and you still get much more in this higher trim Tuscon than you do in the top trim RAV4...look up the included feature list online for the Limited AWD 1.6T and then compare it to the Limited AWD RAV4 (don't forget to add the Tech Pkg)...you still get a LOT more with the Hyundai.

sure, some won't care about the features, but saying the Hyundai no longer offers more equipment for less money simply isn't true...in fact, a closer trim to the RAV4 Limited AWD with Tech Package is the Tuscon Premium AWD 1.6T (the base 1.6T AWD trim)...that trim doesn't have leather (which the RAV4 doesn't have), but still has heated rear seats (which the RAV4 doesn't have), it still has the blind spot, lane assist and rear cross traffic alert (which you get in the Tech Pkg in the RAV4), and that trim is $31,299 to the RAV4's $35,845.

the Limited and Ultimate trims in Hyundai's line up offer FAR more features than Toyota offers...you would likely have to move up to the Lexus NX200T to get comparable features (no, i am not comparing the Tuscon to a Lexus, before you go there).

Sure that may be true, that the Hyundai Limited and Ultimate offer more than what Toyota offers.  When looking at a more basic trim like the 1.6 Premium AWD.  I compared it to the CX-5 GS ($2000 more).  I see the Tucson gets 19" rims (a plus for some), rear heated seats, and leather wrapped steering wheel.  The CX-5 gets a Sunroof, a more powerful engine, a more fuel efficient engine, more cargo capacity, a faster vehicle (0-60mph in 7.6 sec vs 0-60mph in 8.2 sec).  But thats not why people buy these vehicles anyway.  Also nice to see that the Mazda has the option for leather seating in the GS trim.  With the Tucson, you have to move up a trim to get that.  But you do have the option of a heated steering wheel...

Different strokes for different folks.  If you don't need all nannies, and don't want the tech package, then the competition is pretty tight. 

[dkaz]

Saw one of these Limiteds a couple of weeks ago. Looks slick.

[Noto]

it passed the IIHS small overlap test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=57&v=RE_EUa3VC48

Shame about the "A" blemish for child seat ... Impossible to please the iihs

[jaari]

A nice effort from Hyundai , but no never again..
Those wheel wells, why are they shaped so weird , like a oblong .

[EV-Light]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

[dirtyjeffer]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

don't we do that with every brand's top trim car??

why not look at lower trims, if that's more in tune with what you like...their low $30s trim (Premium 1.6T, which is the base 1.6T trim) is very well equipped (as i've posted upthread).

[dirtyjeffer]

the Limited and Ultimate trims in Hyundai's line up offer FAR more features than Toyota offers...you would likely have to move up to the Lexus NX200T to get comparable features (no, i am not comparing the Tuscon to a Lexus, before you go there).

Limited RAV4 offers power lift gate and memory seats - must haves for me. Can't find memory seats anywhere in Tucson options and need to go north of Tucson Limited for power lift gate.

that's fine...the 1.6T Limited (and Ultimate, of course) trim offers the smart power lift gate, which is comparable in price to the top trim RAV4...they don't offer memory seats, but instead offer plenty of features not available in the RAV4, so it's more of a "what do you prefer"...i've had memory seats before...can't recall ever actually using it, since i am the one who drives my car...and in the rare times my wife drives my car, the only thing she adjusts is the rearview mirror...she doesn't touch the seats at all...so to us, memory seats are not important...i set the seat position 3.5 years ago when i bought the car, and haven't moved them since.

my point was simply that they still offer plenty of features for a competitive price...the Premium trim is actually very close in content to the highest trim RAV4, and is $4546 less expensive...yes, you get the power lift gate, and a couple of other features in the Toyota, but with taxes, that's $5k more expensive...to many, i'm not sure if the power lift gate and memory seats are worth $5k.

[conwelpic]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

ticked all the boxes on 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - $46,475 with freight and a/c tax.

[dirtyjeffer]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

ticked all the boxes on 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - $46,475 with freight and a/c tax.

yup, it doesn't matter what the brand is...if you pick the top trim and check all the boxes, it'll get up there.

[EV-Light]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

ticked all the boxes on 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - $46,475 with freight and a/c tax.

so you are saying that an underpowered Hyundai can cost as much as a Jeep Cherokee with a 271hp engine? 

[AAAAAAA]

right now the bigger and better in many ways Santa fe is actually less expensive, significantly so with interest and all.

[dirtyjeffer]

$42k?

LMAO....Hyundai lost their mind. 

ticked all the boxes on 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - $46,475 with freight and a/c tax.

so you are saying that an underpowered Hyundai can cost as much as a Jeep Cherokee with a 271hp engine? 

so you are saying $42k is the same as $46k and change??...you need to go back to school and freshen up on your math skills.