Hyundai Tucson 2024: Redefining the Compact SUV Experience
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 has made significant waves in the competitive compact SUV market, offering a perfect balance of style, technology, and practicality. As one of Hyundai’s best-selling models, the Tucson has consistently evolved, and the 2024 model year brings new updates in performance, safety features, and design, making it one of the most appealing choices for consumers looking for a vehicle that excels in every department.
From its bold exterior design to the cutting-edge technology inside, the 2024 Tucson has cemented itself as a standout in the crowded SUV segment. In this comprehensive review, we will explore all aspects of the Hyundai Tucson 2024, including its exterior and interior design, performance, fuel efficiency, safety features, trims, and pricing, to help you determine whether this SUV meets your needs.
Exterior Design
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 is a statement piece in terms of exterior styling. The designers at Hyundai have clearly focused on creating a vehicle that stands out from the rest of the compact SUV crowd. It is bolder, sportier, and more modern than ever before, combining futuristic elements with a sleek profile.
Front Fascia
At the front, the Tucson sports Hyundai’s signature cascading grille, but it has evolved into a more geometric and daring shape for 2024. The grille blends seamlessly into the LED daytime running lights, creating a striking and cohesive look. The headlights are positioned lower on the front bumper, a design choice that gives the Tucson a unique look compared to most SUVs on the market. The LED lighting technology used in the headlights and fog lights ensures that visibility is never compromised, whether driving in daylight or at night.
Side Profile
The side profile of the Hyundai Tucson 2024 is equally impressive, with strong character lines that run from the front to the rear, giving the vehicle a sense of motion even when standing still. The wheel arches are angular, adding a rugged, off-road-ready feel, while the available 19-inch alloy wheels enhance its overall road presence. The side mirrors are integrated with turn signals, and chrome accents around the windows give the Tucson a more premium look, especially in higher trims.
Rear Design
The rear of the Tucson is just as distinctive as the front, with LED tail lights that mimic the design of the front lights, ensuring a unified design language throughout. A full-width light bar connects the rear lights, contributing to the vehicle’s futuristic aesthetics. The rear bumper features contrasting black cladding, emphasizing its adventurous side, while the roof spoiler adds a sporty touch.
Interior Design and Comfort
Inside, the Hyundai Tucson 2024 delivers a refined and spacious cabin with cutting-edge technology and a focus on comfort. Hyundai has done an excellent job balancing high-quality materials, practicality, and modern design to create an inviting environment for both the driver and passengers.
Cabin Layout and Materials
The interior design of the Tucson is sleek and modern, with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Soft-touch materials cover most surfaces, and in higher trims, you’ll find leather upholstery, chrome accents, and ambient lighting that elevates the luxury feel. The dashboard has a minimalist design, with most controls integrated into the center touchscreen or as touch-sensitive buttons. This uncluttered look enhances the overall sense of space inside the cabin.
The two-tier dashboard layout creates a sense of depth, with the top layer housing the digital instrument cluster and the bottom featuring the central display and controls. Hyundai’s attention to detail is apparent, with high-quality finishes and soft-touch materials that give the Tucson an upscale feel.
Seating and Comfort
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 offers ample space for up to five passengers. The front seats are supportive and comfortable, with available 8-way power adjustments and lumbar support in higher trims. Heated and ventilated front seats are also available, ensuring that the driver and passenger remain comfortable regardless of the weather. The rear seats provide plenty of legroom and headroom, making it a great option for families or anyone who frequently carries adult passengers in the back.
One of the highlights of the Tucson’s interior is its panoramic sunroof, which extends over both the front and rear seats, flooding the cabin with natural light and making the space feel even larger. The rear seats also recline, allowing passengers to customize their seating position for maximum comfort on longer journeys.
Cargo Space
When it comes to cargo space, the Tucson offers one of the largest cargo areas in its class. With the rear seats up, the Tucson provides 38.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is more than enough for groceries, luggage, or sports equipment. Folding the rear seats down increases the cargo capacity to a cavernous 74.8 cubic feet. Additionally, the Tucson offers a power liftgate and a hands-free function, making loading and unloading the trunk easier when your hands are full.
Technology and Infotainment
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 is equipped with the latest technology to keep drivers and passengers connected, entertained, and safe on the road. From its large touchscreen display to its suite of advanced driver assistance systems, the Tucson impresses with its tech offerings.
Infotainment System
The centerpiece of the Tucson’s technology suite is the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, available in higher trims. The system is user-friendly and responsive, featuring crisp graphics and intuitive menus. Standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing seamless smartphone integration for music, calls, navigation, and messaging.
For tech-savvy drivers, the Tucson also offers a wireless charging pad, multiple USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity. The available premium Bose sound system enhances the audio experience, delivering clear and rich sound throughout the cabin.
Digital Instrument Cluster
Another standout feature is the fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster, which provides the driver with a customizable display of important driving information such as speed, fuel economy, navigation directions, and safety alerts. The digital display can be personalized to show different types of information based on the driver’s preferences, adding a high-tech touch to the driving experience.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
Safety is a top priority in the Hyundai Tucson 2024, and the vehicle is packed with advanced driver assistance features. Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of safety technologies is standard across all trims and includes:
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA): This system helps prevent collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists by detecting obstacles ahead and applying the brakes if necessary.
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): Gently steers the vehicle back into its lane if it detects that the driver is unintentionally drifting.
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA): Monitors blind spots and can apply corrective steering or braking to avoid a collision during lane changes.
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA): This feature helps maintain the vehicle’s speed, keeps it centered in its lane, and controls the distance to the vehicle ahead while driving on the highway.
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC): Maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop in traffic.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA): Detects oncoming traffic while reversing and can apply the brakes to avoid a collision.
The Tucson also offers an available Surround View Monitor, which provides a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the vehicle, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces easier.
Performance and Handling
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 offers a variety of powertrains to suit different driving preferences, including gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. Each engine provides a balance of power and efficiency, ensuring a smooth driving experience in various conditions.
Gasoline Engine
The standard engine in the Tucson is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and responsive shifts. The gasoline engine delivers adequate power for daily driving, whether on the highway or in the city. It offers a balanced blend of performance and fuel efficiency, making it a solid choice for drivers who prioritize reliability.
Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Options
For those looking for a more eco-friendly option, Hyundai offers both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants of the Tucson. The hybrid model combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 226 horsepower. This powertrain offers excellent fuel efficiency, with an estimated combined fuel economy of around 38 MPG. The hybrid model also comes with Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system, which enhances stability and traction in various driving conditions.
The plug-in hybrid variant takes efficiency a step further, offering an all-electric range of approximately 33 miles before switching to hybrid mode. This model is ideal for drivers who want to reduce their reliance on gasoline for shorter trips while still having the flexibility of a gasoline engine for longer drives.
Driving Experience
The Tucson’s driving dynamics are well-rounded, with a focus on comfort and ease of handling. The suspension system absorbs road imperfections smoothly, making for a comfortable ride on both city streets and highways. The electric power steering is light and responsive, making the Tucson easy to maneuver in tight spaces. For drivers who enjoy a bit of adventure, the Tucson’s available all-wheel-drive system provides additional confidence on rough or slippery terrain.
The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offer a more spirited driving experience due to the additional torque provided by the electric motor, which gives the Tucson quick acceleration from a stop. Overall, the Tucson delivers a refined and composed driving experience, making it a great option for a wide range of driving scenarios.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is one of the Hyundai Tucson 2024’s strong points, especially with its hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Here’s a breakdown of the expected fuel economy for each engine option:
• 2.5-liter gasoline engine: The standard gasoline engine offers an estimated 26 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway for front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive versions see a slight reduction, with an estimated 24 MPG city and 29 MPG highway.
• Hybrid model: The hybrid variant provides an impressive combined fuel economy of around 38 MPG, making it one of the more efficient options in the compact SUV segment.
• Plug-in hybrid model: The plug-in hybrid offers an estimated 33 miles of all-electric range, and once the battery is depleted, it operates as a hybrid with a combined fuel economy of around 35 MPG.
The availability of hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains makes the Tucson an appealing choice for eco-conscious drivers who want to minimize fuel consumption and reduce their carbon footprint.
Safety Features and Ratings
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 continues to prioritize safety, earning top marks in crash tests and offering a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features. It has received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is expected to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) thanks to its robust safety features.
In addition to the standard driver assistance systems mentioned earlier, the Tucson offers several other safety features, including:
• Driver Attention Warning (DAW): Monitors driver behavior and issues alerts if it detects signs of drowsiness or distraction.
• Safe Exit Assist (SEA): Warns passengers if it detects an approaching vehicle from the rear when exiting the vehicle, helping to prevent accidents.
• Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA): Provides alerts and can apply the brakes if it detects an obstacle while parking.
With these features, the Tucson ensures that both drivers and passengers are well-protected, whether on long road trips or short daily commutes.
Trim Levels and Pricing
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 is available in several trims, each offering a different combination of features and technology. Here’s a breakdown of the available trims and their key features:
1. SE: The base model comes with essential features such as an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Starting price: $27,000.
2. SEL: This trim adds features like a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, blind-spot monitoring, and keyless entry. Starting price: $29,000.
3. N Line: For drivers looking for a sportier appearance, the N Line trim adds unique exterior and interior design elements, along with a sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels. Starting price: $31,000.
4. Limited: The top-tier Limited trim includes all the bells and whistles, such as the panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, surround-view monitor, and Highway Driving Assist. Starting price: $36,000.
5. Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Trims: The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models come in a variety of trims that mirror the gasoline-powered variants, with pricing starting around $32,000 for the hybrid and $38,500 for the plug-in hybrid.
Conclusion
The Hyundai Tucson 2024 is a well-rounded compact SUV that excels in several key areas, including design, technology, safety, and performance. Its bold styling, spacious interior, and impressive array of standard and available features make it an excellent choice for a wide range of drivers. Whether you’re looking for a reliable family vehicle, an eco-friendly hybrid, or a tech-savvy SUV with the latest features, the Tucson delivers on all fronts.
With its competitive pricing, extensive safety features, and multiple powertrain options, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson is a compelling option in the compact SUV market. Whether you’re focused on fuel efficiency, comfort, or cutting-edge technology, the Tucson has something to offer, making it a top contender for anyone shopping in this segment.
