Bay Harbour: January 24, 2024

22 Bay Harbour News Wednesday January 24 2024
Tucson ‘not just show with plenty of go’
ADDING PLUG-IN hybrid
technology means one of
Hyundai’s best-selling SUVs
the mid-sized Tucson, is just a
step removed from taking the
inevitable full electrification
plunge.
With its bold looks, digital capabilities,
and upgraded ride and
handling, Hyundai expects this
Tucson to add significantly to the
over 7 million sold globally since
the original model was launched
19 years ago.
For our market, the Tucson
is only sold in short-wheel base
form, while its cousin the Kia
Sportage rides on a long-wheel
base. Unlike the Tucson, the
Sportage isn’t available here in
hybrid form.
The Tucson hybrid comes in
2WD and AWD forms with the
plug-in model exclusively AWD,
and road tested here in top spec
Elite guise. The AWD system is
also found in its larger sibling,
the ever-popular Santa Fe. Power
is distributed to the front and
rear wheels depending on traction
conditions, while the terrain
mode selector maximises power,
torque and braking depending on
the conditions you’re driving in.
The Tucson plug-in hybrid isn’t
cheap compared to many of its
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
rivals with the entry-level version
retailing for $83,990, with a $5k
premium on the more lavishly
attired Elite.
A high tempo 195kW plug-in
hybrid power train is strong
and feisty with acceleration that
bristles with sporty intent. It’s
not just show with plenty of go.
A rich vein of torque and the
extra kick of the fully charged
battery pack ensures punchy
take-offs from standing starts,
and purposeful pulling power for
most driving situations. These
attributes make light work of undulating
roads and long energy
draining up hill grinds.
The plug-in has an all electric-only
range of up to 65km,
similar to several rivals, including
the Mitsubishi Eclipse and
Ford Escape. Both pack a much
lighter performance punch than
the heavy hitting Tucson PHEV’s
195kW. The claimed 65km all
electric range is fairly bullish.
However, the real world every
day driving figure is the one that
really counts and hinges on a lot
of variables.
Topping the list is whether
you’re an aggressive driver,
constantly running accessories
such as the air conditioning, or
travelling on flat or hilly terrain.
Owners should be prepared for
an all-electric range of up to
15km less than the claimed 65km
figure.
In other news from the claims
department, this time fuel economy,
the test car was disappointing.
I knocked off a 500km roadie
in it with four adults on board,
on a trip covering some sections
of hilly driving, and averaged
7.3L/100km. That number is well
north of the claimed 1.5L/100km.
This might doable in low speed
town driving when the car can
spend extended periods in EV
mode, but well out of reach on
open road romps.
Expertly managing what is
one of the more potent non-full
Ratings out of
10: Performance
8; Handling 7;
Build Quality
7; Comfort 7;
Space 7; Styling
8; Avg fuel
consumption
on road test
6.8L/100km;
Value for
money 6;
Safety – Five
Star ANCAP
crash rating.
Clean car fee
rebate, none.
Overall points
out of 10: 7.5
EVs on Hyundai New Zealand’s
books is a smart rework of the
company’s proven 7-speed automatic.
The test vehicle turned in
an almost flawless gear-changing
exhibition. One of the highlights
was the transmission’s happy
knack of knowing what gear it
needed, showcasing the undoubted
talents of this excellent power
train.
For a compact SUV front and
rear legroom is adequate rather
than generously provisioned. I
found the rear door openings too
narrow to easily navigate bulker
items through like a child car
seat. The rear cargo hatch does
the job, but isn’t helped by the
batteries being stored under the
floor, raising its elevation and
restricting load height.
SUV buyers demand top rate
connectivity in their vehicles
these days and the Tucson has
that well covered with some of
the best in class digital tech.
Hyundai’s digital key is a great
‘for instance’ turning your
smartphone, into a smart key. It’s
not a one trick pony either, allowing
you to lock and unlock the
vehicle, activate the panic alert
and start the motor from over
25m away. (Not sure why you
would want to do the latter, other
than showing off to mates in the
golf club car park.)
A full-touch display houses the
navigation system, air conditioning
and infotainment controls.
This offers split-screen functionality
that enables multi-tasking.
It was easy to master the basics
without turning you into an
instant expert.
The Tucson hybrid range is
fitted with a comprehensive suite
of safety features. On boarded are
most of the safety essentials such
as lane keeping assist, forward
collision avoidance, blind-spot
collision avoidance, and smart
cruise control.
A potential life safer when
the vehicle is stationary is safe
exit assist. It reduces the risk of
people getting out of the vehicle
and stepping into the path of an
approaching vehicle they couldn’t
see. It does this by sounding an
alarm warning you of the impending
danger.
The suspension is sportier than
many hybrids with its nimble and
playful character, and composed
in managing sudden deviations
in the road surface.
No complaints about passenger
comfort that’s largely free of the
choppy listless ride traits of some
short wheelbase SUVs.
Little in the way of suspension
noise penetrates the passenger
compartment, even under severe
provocation from sub-standard
roads. Well weighted, communicative
steering responds quickly
to the driver inputs and allows
you to accurately and effortlessly
place the vehicle where you want
it on the road. This vehicle puts
fun with a capital ‘F’ into the sub
$90k plug-in hybrid class.
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