Eric's Autos: Reviewing the 2016 Hyundai Tucson
A Tucson Limited with the Ultimate package - which adds adaptive Xenon HID headlights, a panorama roof, upgraded eight-inch LCD touchscreen, heated rear seats (and coolers for the front seats) plus a suit of electronic safety aids such as automatic collision avoidance stickers for $34,050.
WHAT'S NEW
The 2016 Tucson is all-new.
WHAT'S GOOD
With optional 1.6 engine, the Tucson is 1 full second (and in some cases, two full seconds) quicker to 60 than rivals on either side of the size aisle. You don't have to buy the optional engine to get AWD. More cargo-carrying capacity than small-fry like the Honda HR-V and nearly as much cargo-capacity as larger fry like the CR-V.
Available eight-inch LCD touchscreen, heated rear seats, power passenger seat, hands-free proximity-sensing automatic-opening lifttgate and accessory operation via smartphone. SE and Eco trims are very reasonably priced.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD
Optional 1.6 Eco engine is not very economical. I averaged 22.3 MPG during a week-long test drive of an AWD-equipped Limited. If you use that turbo, you will also be using more gas than the EPA stats suggest.
Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 are only slightly smaller overall and nearly as roomy inside; they also cost less - and you can get the Honda with a six-speed manual transmission.
Limited trim is not reasonably priced - and many of the Tucson's neat new features (such as the eight-inch touchscreen, the panorama roof and the suit of safety features) are only available in the highest-trim Limited - and still cost extra.
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