2005 Hyundai Tuscon New Vehicle Road Test

Tucson is located in southern Arizona, a ninety minute drive from Phoenix, along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. It is uniquely situated in a high desert valley between four different mountain ranges: the Santa Catalinas to the north, the Rincons to the east, the Santa Ritas to the south and the Tucsons to the west. It also happens to be the gateway for Saguaro National Park.

The city of Tucson is modest in size, with a population of just over 500,000 people. It also boasts a climate that makes it one of the sunniest cities in North America, with an average of 3,800 hours of sunshine per year.

It's hard to say whether or not the designers of the new 2005 Hyundai Tucson took all of this into consideration when they built the vehicle. But I have a strong feeling they may have.

The new Tucson SUV is uniquely positioned in the highly competitive compact SUV market. It offers first-class quality, size and comfort, along with one of the best warranties in the industry. In fact, you might even say this newest Hyundai is a vehicle whose design should continue to bear fruit for many years to come.

Styling cues for the Hyundai Tucson are taken from its big brother, Santa Fe. Rounded corners accentuate the front fenders and hood, while crisp belt-lines lead the eye down the side, towards the back of the vehicle and its extremely short overhang. The effect is that of a mid-sized SUV housed inside a compact body, a style that has worked well for Hyundai in the past.

Depending on which model you choose the 2005 Hyundai Tucson offers two engine packages.

The base model GL features a 2.0L DOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine that produces 140 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 136 lb-ft. of torque @ 4,500 rpm. Equipped with CVVT, (Continuous Variable Valve Timing) and electronic fuel injection, it offers reasonable acceleration and excellent fuel economy.

The GLS and LX models come standard with a 2.7L DOHC, 24-valve V6 that delivers a strong 173 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 178 lb-ft. of torque @ 4,000 rpm. This is the same engine found in the GLS model Hyundai Santa Fe, though horsepower is increased slightly in the Tucson while torque is marginally decreased.

A 5-speed manual transmission is part of the GL package, required on the GL AWD. The GLS and LX offer a 4-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. It is also available as an option on the base GL 2WD.

Stopping the Hyundai Tucson is easy, as it features 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS and EBD, (Electronic Brake Force Distribution). Driving the Hyundai Tucson is a fun experience in all but the most extreme off-road conditions.

The suspension is fully independent ;it boasts MacPherson struts in the front while the rear features a multi-link setup with stabilizer bar. Wheels are 16", 5-spoke alloys with P215/65R16 tires on the GL model, and 16", 6-spoke alloys with P235/60R16 tires on the GLS and LX.

Safety is enhanced with the inclusion of equipment normally reserved for vehicles that cost much more. This means the Hyundai Tucson benefits from front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and roof-mounted, side-curtain airbags, to go along with the mandatory dual front airbags.

Inside the Hyundai Tucson is once again ahead of the competition, with creature comforts and added features included at no extra cost. Power windows, heated power mirrors, remote keyless entry with power door locks and cruise control are all standard equipment.

Seats are nicely sculpted to accept occupants of all sizes, but do border on the firm side of the comfort scale. The quality of materials is reasonable given the price range, with hard plasticaccents and unexciting cloth the accepted norm in this segment. A unique feature on the Tuscon allows the front passenger seat to fold flat for placing longer items inside the Tucson. A leather steering wheel is included on the GLS, while leather seating surfaces get added to the LX.

Storage space is excellent in the Hyundai Tucson, with a center armrest and overhead sunglass compartment as well as dual-cupholders, a rear cargo tray and a handy underfloor rear storage bin. The rear seats fold-down in a 60/40 split adding to an already roomy interior.

The base stereo is an AM/FM unit with CD player and 6 speakers. It produces 80 watts of powerful music. The GLS upgrades this to include an MP3 player and 140 watts of power, while the LX adds even more punch with an in-dash 6-disc CD changer and 200 watts of ear numbing muscle.

The 2005 Hyundai Tucson is versatile, fun and well equipped. With a starting price of $ 17,499, it is also very affordable. Whether you're high altitude driving in the Sonoran desert, or cruising the streets of your favorite city in Arizona, or any other state for that matter, this Tucson looks ripe for the picking.

JUST THE FACTS

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