- 2014 Hyundai Tucson - Pricing, Features & Specs ...
- Interior / Exterior »
We think that’s a good thing, as it really sets the Tucson apart from other rivals. It’s curved, crested, and looks quite upscale from nose to tail, almost like a miniature luxury crossover. It gets a little tall and thick toward the rear–some problems can’t be resolved well with arcs of chrome trim, after all–but the angular taillamps drop some of the visual weight out of the rear end.
For 2014, Hyundai hasn’t made any major changes–which is fine, as the design still looks fresh. LED taillamps and new projector headlamps with LED accents should altogether bring the look a modern edge, even without actual sheetmetal changes, but a panoramic sunroof with roof side rails on some models should cast it in a different, more upscale light. New 17- and 18-inch wheel designs also freshen the appearance.
To put it simply, the Tucson is unabashedly curvaceous. There might be an inch of straight line in its silhouette, the rest given up to surfacing that swells at the fenders and crests at the front and rear.
Inside, the 2014 Tucson hits the same high note. The interior’s just a shade less dramatic than the exterior, but it fits right in with the rest of the current Hyundai lineup. A big LCD screen sits atop the center stack, and vertical blades of metallic trim knifing into bands of tightly grained, low-gloss black plastic. You can do better in this class for fit and finish, but even after the introduction of the latest Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5, the design remains a standout.
- Performance »
The Tucson remains about the size of a smaller (albeit quite heavy) compact car, if you go by parking footprint. That said, it does just fine with either its four-cylinder engines–although the turbocharged four that highlights the Kia Sportage SX in this class is still missing from the Tucson.
And for 2014, the engines are new. Both the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engines get direct injection–which in both cases raises available torque and gives fuel economy a slight boost. The base 2.0-liter engine now makes 164 horsepower (down one from before actually) and 151 pound-feet of torque (up 5); step up to the models with the 2.4-liter, and they now make 182 hp (up 6) and 177 lb-ft (up 9).
There’s no manual gearbox in the 2014 Tucson; all models come with a six-speed automatic transmission that includes Shiftronic manual controls. And you have a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive throughout the lineup; that’s new for 2014 with the addition of a 2.0-liter GLS AWD.
Handling and ride should be quite a bit different in the new 2014 model, which we haven’t yet driven at the time of posting. In previous model years, the Tucson rode quite harshly, although it handled reasonably well. This year, the Tucson is getting new standard Sachs amplitude selective dampers that improve ride quality without dulling handling response.
We’ve found the engine-speed-sensitive electric power steering to be a weak spot in some otherwise very pleasant driving dynamics; but with a revamped suspension, we’re going to have to get back to you on that–in revised driving impressions to come.
Much of the compact crossover class remains influenced by traditional SUV design; but increasingly, models like the 2014 Hyundai Tucson have bucked the rugged pretenses.
We think that’s a good thing, as it really sets the Tucson apart from other rivals. To put it simply, the Tucson is unabashedly curvaceous. There might be an inch of straight line in its silhouette, the rest given up to surfacing that swells at the fenders and crests at the front and rear. For 2014, Hyundai hasn’t made any major changes–which is fine, as the design still looks fresh. LED taillamps and new projector headlamps with LED accents should altogether bring the look a modern edge, even without actual sheetmetal changes, but a panoramic sunroof with roof side rails on some models should cast it in a different, more upscale light. The interior’s just a shade less dramatic than the exterior, but it fits right in with the rest of the current Hyundai lineup.
The Tucson was well timed and well placed in 2010, when it emerged with a fresh look and fresh running gear; and it remains so for 2014. In fact, Hyundai has given it a pretty substantial mechanical upgrade, with new direct-injection engines as well as new Sachs dual-path dampers. The engines make just a little more torque than those of the same size (2.0-liter and 2.4-liter) last year, and fuel efficiency is up slightly, too. It’s still probably wise to stick with the 2.4-liter versions; previous versions were just adequate with the 2.0-liter. In either case, there’s no manual; a responsive six-speed automatic makes the shifts. Previous Tucsons tended to ride somewhat harshly, and the new dampers improve comfort without negatively affecting handling.
There’s a good amount of head and leg room in front. But the seats themselves have good back support, but the bottom cushion is short and tilts down a bit too much; and that can make them uncomfortable on anything more than a short drive. For 2014, Hyundai has added a standard tilt/telescopic steering wheel, as well as steering-wheel audio controls on all, including the base GLS; and cupholder illumination is now included on all models. The rear seat has just enough headroom for taller adults, and good leg room. Given the choice, we’d steer clear of the optional leather seats: the front leather buckets have short bottom cushions that tilt down at their leading edge, leaving them less comfortable than they could be.
Safety is sweet and sour. While visibility is actually quite good, and the Tucson checks all the right safety boxes, crash-test results place it squarely mid-pack among compact crossovers. With top performers like the Subaru Forester, its four-star federal scores and ‘poor’ small overlap frontal results don’t approach the top tier–but those are carryover 2013 results and we hope Hyundai can improve them.
The Hyundai Tucson made its mark many years ago for offering more features than most other vehicles in its class, for a lot less money. With the current-generation Tucson, it still crams in a lot of value for the money, but it’s no longer the feature standout it was. Fortunately Hyundai has so many other positive points now–in styling, for example.
Standard features for the base Hyundai Tucson include air conditioning, Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, keyless entry, a USB port, satellite radio, and power windows, locks, and mirrors. Automatic headlights, fog lights, and heated front seats are also included in the GLS. SE models also now add a rearview camera system and 4.3-inch touch screen. The top Tucson Limited adds leather seating, navigation (a new system with a larger seven-inch touch screen), as well as voice recognition, HD Radio, and the BlueLink suite of services.
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