2011 Hyundai Tucson Review and Prices

Styling: The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is arguably the most dramatically styled compact crossover. Hyundai calls its collection of sheet-metal licks, curves, and creases a product of its “fluidic sculpture” school of design. We call it busy, even a little pretentious. But this four-door wagon is eye-catching. More important, it’s a fine example of weight-savings in pursuit of fuel economy. Hyundai says 69 percent of the body shell is comprised of pound-shaving ultra-high-tensile strength steel. Hyundai developed its own six-speed automatic transmission that’s 26.4 pounds lighter than the five-speed it replaced. Even the suspension’s front stabilizer bar is hollow instead of solid. Indeed, the 2011 Tucson is among the lightest compact SUVs -- just over 3,200 pounds for the front-wheel-drive automatic-transmission model and 3,382 for the lightest all-wheel-drive (AWD) version. Comparable rivals are generally 100-200-pounds heavier, a small difference but notable nonetheless. Against the first-generation 2005-2009 Tucson, the new model is longer and wider, yet 61 pounds lighter. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson doesn’t sacrifice interior space on the altar of weight-cutting thanks to efficient packaging. Wheelbase, the distance between the front and rear axles, is a prime factor in how much space a vehicle can allot for the passenger compartment. Tucson’s 103.9-inch wheelbase is midpack for the class, as is overall interior volume. Yet its body length compared to key competitors is shorter by several inches, saving weight and benefiting maneuverability. Hyundai creates a three-model 2011 Hyundai Tucson lineup by adding the Blue edition to the returning base GLS and fancier Limited trim levels.

Mechanical: The 2011 Hyundai Tucson qualifies as a crossover because it has car-type unibody construction. That means the body and chassis are an integral unit, versus a truck-type design in which the body is bolted to a separate frame. Only a couple of crossovers in this competitive set offer a V-6 engine – the first-generation Tucson was one – but the 2011 Tucson is strictly a four-cylinder machine. The mainstay is a 2.4-liter with 172 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. That basically matches the power of the previous version’s V-6, but with 20 percent better fuel economy. Some of the improvement is attributable to the new model’s use of modern transmissions – a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic instead of antiquated five- and four-speed units, respectively. The six-speed automatic also offers manual-shift-type control. Exclusive to the 2011 Tucson Blue edition will be a 2.0-liter version of this four-cylinder tweaked for optimal fuel economy. Hyundai had not released power figures or mileage estimates for the Blue engine in time for this review, but says it’ll include reduced final drive ratios, low rolling resistance tires, and other economy-enhancing features. The 2011 Tucson is based on a front-wheel-drive design that concentrates the weight of the engine over the tires that also propel the vehicle. This is conventional practice in the class and serves to enhance traction on slippery pavement. Hyundai doesn’t pretend the 2011 Tucson is an off-road vehicle; in fact, it calls it an “urban cruiser.” Still, Tucson promises better rocky- and sloppy-surface traction than most compact crossovers because it’s among the few with AWD that can be locked in a 50/50 front/rear power split at the push of a dashboard button. Otherwise, the AWD system acts in the conventional manner by automatically shuffling power between the front and rear wheels to quell tire slip. The first-generation Tucson was the first vehicle in the U.S. priced under $20,000 to come standard with an antiskid system. This sideways-slide mitigating feature is standard on the 2011 Tucson, along with four-wheel disc brakes with antilock management for better control in emergency stops. Tucson also comes standard with Hyundai’s first application of uphill and downhill assist. The former prevents rolling backward on severe inclines, the latter automatically limits vehicle speed to a crawl on steep descents.        

Features: This five-passenger crossover comes with torso-protecting front-seat side airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags for both seating rows. The curtain bags are designed to deploy in side collisions and when onboard sensors detect an impending rollover. Power windows and locks, fold-away mirrors, and remote keyless entry with alarm are standard on every 2011 Tucson. Available features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, power driver seat with lumbar support, integrated turn-signal mirrors, front windshield-wiper de-icer, and dual front automatic climate control. An option exclusive to the Tucson Limited is Hyundai’s first dual-panel panoramic sunroof; its front pane can tilt open or slide back over the fixed rear panel. Hyundai hadn’t specified the Blue model’s standard audio system in time for this review. GLS and Limited models come with a six-speaker 160-watt setup that includes XM satellite radio and an iPod/flash-drive interface via both USB and auxiliary inputs. Steering-wheel audio controls also are standard. Optional is a voice-activated navigation system governed by voice activation or a 6.5-inch LCD dashboard touch-screen. The nav system includes a rearview camera and Bluetooth streaming audio capability and comes with a 360-watt premium audio system that includes an external amplifier and subwoofer. The rear seatbacks fold down, but Tucson’s relatively brief body length limits maximum cargo volume to 55.8 cubic feet – among the stingiest in the class. Hyundai compensates some with a generous array of interior storage spaces, augmenting front- and rear-console cupholders with bottle holders in each door, front seatback pockets, and a large front center armrest storage bin. Wheel size for Blue models wasn’t available in time for this review, but Tucson GLS models have 17-inch steel wheels (alloys are optional) and Limiteds come with 18-inch alloys.