Considering a 2010 Tucson as a second (winter) vehicle

[Advocate225]

I've read on more than one occasion (i'm sure your aware of this jwater), that the Tuscon's handling is very taut. Some said that there is hardly any body roll going into turns. How is that physically possible with a higher up center of gravity? Either the reviewers were smoking something or Hyundai did a fine job with that new multi link suspension.


I'm beginning to think that Hyundai is putting more emphasis on the "fun-to-drive" and the "emotional" aspect of their cars. Design, power and handling is what they seem to be focusing on right now. I'm continually being impressed by this company.

Yesterday I went and bought a new Tucson as my B-Day present to myself. It's the Chai Brown with Black/Saddle interior like the photos on the first page of this thread.

For the first day I owned it we did get an inch of snow and I had to go and load up the car at the market, where my brother and I drove to buy for our households. Plenty of room.

Yes, the car is very taut. Both my brother and I absolutely love this CUV. BTW, my primary car is an 09 Genesis 3.8 Premium and his is an 09 Azera. Three years ago I'd hav sued you for slander if you said I'd wind up being a Hyundai owner -- now in the space of 6 months I've purchased two.

 

[Goose]

Did you buy a two-wheel drive version or four-wheel drive? I ask because the four-wheel drive (Limited) version was very stiff/bouncy to me. I've read that the two-wheel drive (Limited) is sprung a bit more softly.

I really like the way the Tucson looks versus competition like the Honda CR-V. I couldn't bring myself to buy the Honda, but its ride quality (at least the four-wheel drive version) was much better than the 4WD Tucson.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

 

[ctrcbob]

Well, if you like CUV's (or SUV's), I guess its ok. I am a CAR guy, not a Truck, CUV, SUV or MiniVan Guy.

Interesting story. While visiting my closest Hyunday Dealer (not my selling dealer) a couple weeks ago, my friend who is a salesman was very excited to show me the "Beautiful Tuscon" that was all new. I'm sorry, but to me, THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME. What is beautiful to one person may not be "not beautiful" (read; ugly) to another.

Another interesting story. I travel to France and/or Italy every few years. Back around 2001 or 2002, I used to tell people that the cars in Europe were ugly. Very few cars that looked good. (Most Mercedes', BMW's, Peugeot 607, Jaguars, etc.). The last time I went, in 2006, I mentioned to friends that the cars in Europe are no longer ugly. I.E. they are better looking than they were a few years before. Then I got to thinking. Its not that the cars in Europe are getting better looking, Its that our cars in the US are getting to look like the cars in Europe, and that I was getting used to that "CUV" "Hatchback" five door look. I guess its all what you get used to. I may go back either this summer or in 2011, and I will lease my Renault Laguna again. Not the best looking, not the worse looking, but very reliable, and the Laguna's (and the 21's before that) have never given me problems since I started leasing them back in 1989.
BTW, I LEASE, not rent, from www.renaultusa.com and never a problem.

 

[Goose]

I agree with you, Bob. My assessment of how the Tucson looks should be followed by "... for an SUV".

 

[Advocate225]

I bought an AWD Limited model. Never before have had anything but a luxury coupe or sedan so this is a whole new world for me. My Genesis, the "Black Beauty" is drop dead gorgeous and I'm in love with it. Trying to compare a CUV or SUV with a full size luxury sedan is apples and oranges. They aren't going to be attractive in the same way or ride in the same way. I never expected to have the supple luxury ride of my Genesis when driving the Tuscon. What I will say is that it felt very composed on the slippery roads when we were getting snows with air temperatures in the mid-teens yesterday. I found the two tone leather interior and amenities to be quite nice in the car. As far as looks, the Tuscon does not look like the square box, or scaled down trucks like most SUVs. I found the lines to be quite attractive.

This is the "Genesis Forum" and not the "Tuscon" or "SUV" forum so it stands to reason that every one of us is a car guy and most of us either own a Genesis or have an interest in owning a Genesis. But many of us also have a second or even third vehicle and for a lot of us a wagon/cross-over/SUV is an ideal practical car to have in our fleet.

Having spent most of my life in Cadillacs (with a couple of Lincolns like my fabulous Mark VII) I'm just amazed at how great these vehicles from Hyundai are after all the years of being the butt of jokes.

 

[gopack504]

I stopped at a Hyundai dealership yesterday to checkout the new Tucson. They had a loaded Limited version on the floor. I loved it!

I hated the old Tucson. I love how Hyundai is redoing each car and taking them from blah to awesome. The dealership had a Genesis coup, Genesis, new Sonata, and the new Tucson lined up next to each other on the floor and it was an impressive line up.

I didn't take a Tucson for a test drive but I did take a Veracruz for a drive. The sales guy said the new Tucson will not have the same "soft and floaty" ride as the Veracruz but said it would be close. I wonder if I could buy the Tucson and take it to auto shop and have the same kind of struts and absorbers that you find in a Lexus installed?

The Tucson would be perfect for me as a 2nd family car and my go to work car. I'll most likely wait for the 2011 Tucson Blue that will get 25 mpg.