SEE YOU IN TUCSON? (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_hyundaitucson_2021

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 56

Hyundai aimed high with this fourth generation NX4-series version of their Tucson, a more stylish and very sharp-suited family mid-sized SUV aimed at the top end of the Qashqai-class. It was intended to 'change the way you drive': it certainly changed this Korean brand's fortunes in this sector. Here, we look at the earlier 2020-2023-era models.

Modelsword count: 16

5dr SUV (1.6 T-GDI, 1.6 T-GDI 48V, 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid, 1.6 T-GDI PHEV) [SE Connect,Premium, Ultimate]

Historyword count: 262

For some time now, the established brands have been unable to ignore Hyundai - and back in 2020 they certainly couldn't ignore this, one of the Korean brand's most important models, the fourth generation version of its Tucson mid-sized SUV. Makes quite a statement doesn't it? The bold look of this NX-4 series model was a bit of a shock after the blandness that had previously characterised a model line that dates all the way back to 2004. The Tucson's always been an almost identically engineered but differently packaged version of its Hyundai Motor Group sister car, Kia's Sportage. It hasn't always been called 'Tucson'; the second generation design of 2009 wore 'iX35' badging, but after research showing greater customer recognition for cars designated with place names, Hyundai reverted back to the 'Tucson' nameplate for this model's direct predecessor, the MK3 'TL'-series design, launched in 2015 and updated three years later. 2018 was a time when Hyundai was just starting to introduce electrified engine technology into its cars. Well by 2020 it had come a lot further. At launch, this MK4 model offered a token conventionally powered unit at the foot of the range, but otherwise everything on offer was in some way electrified: mild hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid. Diesel was ditched and all the engines buyers could have used a 1.6 T-GDI petrol turbo unit as a starting point. The MK4 Tucson was sold in this form until late 2023, when the car received a significant mid-term update. It's the earlier 2020-2023-erra versions of this model we look at here.

What You Getword count: 679

The MK4 version of this Hyundai mid-sized SUV is all about sharp angles, dynamic proportions and rich surfacing, the kind of thing you'll notice from a front end that really is guaranteed to get the neighbours taking a second glance over the fence. When the lights are off, the nose section appears to be covered in dark, geometric patterns - Hyundai calls these 'parametric jewels'. Some of them are made up of so-called 'parametric hidden lights', the daytime running lamps that cause parts of the grille to spring into life in jewel-like shapes with clever 'half-mirror' technology and twinkling LED illumination when the ignition is fired. It's all rather effective. More artful design features at the rear, where the brand badge arches into the tailgate glass and LED tail lamps feature an angled ribbed design with more parametric hidden lights. The profile perspective, its cab forward stance and swept-back shaping with black roof rails disguising a 20mm increase in length for this 'NX4'-series model, isn't conventional either. In fact, we're not sure we've ever seen a silhouette with quite as much of a riot of chiselled edging and conflicting creases as this one. With revolution prioritised over evolution outside, it would be a big disappointment to find a return to conventionality within. Fortunately, that's not what you're served up behind the wheel, where Hyundai promised us what it called 'an advanced and fully customisable digital experience'. In this case, what that gets you is a fully digital, configurable dual cockpit screen design that features a 10.25-inch instrument cluster display paired with a centre stack AVN touchscreen of the same size. It's all a massive improvement from the drab interior of the previous generation model and is complemented by a high centre console flowing into a centre stack that for the first time on a Hyundai was fully touchscreen-orientated. There's certainly lots to adjust to here. The usual cowl over the instrument cluster's missing; and for those not wanting a stick shift, Hyundai dispensed with an auto gearstick, favouring big Fisher Price-style silver centre console buttons instead. There's a curiously styled four-spoke steering wheel with unusual lower silver detailing. And, providing you avoid entry-level trim, there's no ignition key either; just a rather hidden silver fascia start button. Whether or not you really like all of this depends on how you feel about modern technology but whatever your perspective on that, you can't deny that the Tucson has much more of a premium feel in this form, quality materials and soft-touch surfacing everywhere you look. All-round visibility is a little compromised, but the seats are comfortable and there's plenty of cabin storage. The back seat has a slightly more spacious, airier feel than before and that's backed up by a measurement suggesting that passengers back here will enjoy another 26mm of legroom, with lots of space to slide your feet beneath the front seats. There's near-class-leading headroom too, with both attributes unaffected should you opt for either a full-Hybrid or a Plug-in drivetrain. We'll finish by considering the boot, which unless you've splashed out on a top trim level you'll have to raise yourself. The space you'll get within will depend a lot on the powertrain you've chosen for your Tucson. The Plug-in Hybrid variant offers only 558-litres of space - which is the sort of thing you might expect given the need for the under-floor battery system - but it's disappointing to find that the MHEV mild hybrid model most Tucson customers are likely to choose (which has a tiny battery) is almost as compromised, with 577-litres of space. For some reason, the full-Hybrid HEV variant manages to be a lot better in this respect, offering 616-litres - nearly as much as the completely un-electrified conventionally-engined base derivative (where it's 620-litres). Handy levers positioned just inside the tailgate opening allow you to retract the rear bench completely, which folds almost flat and releases up to 1,737-litres of space in the Plug-in model; it's 1,756-litres in the mild hybrid version, 1,795-litres in the Hybrid and 1,799-litres with the conventionally-engined model.

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