What better way to spend Ramadan fasting afternoons than standing in the heat, taking such pictures as above? I love it! Call me crazy. Actually I was called just that when I decided to test drive the 2014 Hyundai Tucson 2.4L AWD. "It's Korean man, why do you want to bother with it, get an LR2 or something!" With all due respect to automotive connoisseurs, just because it's Korean and cheap is EXACTLY why I want to "bother with it". Yes, YallaMotor.com is quite different from pretentious publications that refuse to touch "economy" cars because it's considered beneath them. We not only touch them, we (OMG) test drive them, evaluate them and give a real opinion. Read on for our take on this crossover.

Style

Hyundai "Fluid Sculpture" philosophy works. It works to a point where people are buying Hyundai cars predominantly for the style. The Tucson is not an exception. The front bumper features a very distinctive hexagonal grille which, in our humble opinion out-styles the CR-V as well as the Rav4. The front fog lights add an aggressive touch to the Chinese Dragon style headlights. The body lines add a sense of muscularity but retain a swoopy, flowy style which has now become distinctive in other Hyundai models as well. The only style area where I feel some improvement could be made are the wheel arches which could have been more pronounced, say like the Rav4. The protective rubber bits on the doors are quite practical and will save you a dent or two down the road. The subtle roof rack is a welcome practical inclusion and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, unlike the roof rack of the Volvo XC60. Our "Limited Edition" top spec version came kitted with LED lights on the side windows, something you would rarely expect in a 'economy' Korean SUV.

Interior Features and Comfort

Lots of positives and some expected negatives to report. The steering wheel is thicker than usual thanks to leather covering which I prefer and comes with controls. The full options version comes equipped with keyless entry and push start button. The trip computer display and tachometer is very stylishly designed and comes with blue LED lighting to give a rather sporty flavor to the otherwise family SUV. Interior dashboard and console area expectedly has hard plastics and low quality finish.The leather seats are quite comfortable and come with active headrests. For some inexplicable reason, the seats have heating but no cooling! There is dual air conditioning in the front and the A/C vents are creatively designed. A quick look at the center console highlights some good work. The 6.5 inch has great resolution and comes with navigation, intuitive audio controls and Bluetooth. The screen is also connected to the rear view camera which is available in the top spec version. There The dashbox too has ample space and two large cupholders complete the landscape. The sound system is OK, nothing amazing, the quality of the speakers could have been better. On loud amplification I could actually hear some crackling noise. Plus I'm still searching for radio presets...so not the most intuitive settings in the market.

The best part and the redeeming grace of the Tucson is the dual pane panoramic roof which creates a fantastic ambience and a sense of spaciousness inside. It's great for the kids, especially on road trips. it opens up practially half the car from the top, leading to some great views if you're driving along highways. I would rate it as a best-in-class feature. What's not so great is the lack of rear A/C vents which will sting on summer trips. Rear leg room is quite adequate, will easily transport 5 adults on long road trips.

Boot space is not best in class but fairly adequate for regular usage. The boot has a flat deck with a spare tyre space below. The rear seats can be folded to give additional cargo space as well.

Safety

The lower spec versions will provide only dual airbags but the full options version offers dual airbags, side and curtain airbags as well. In addition, there is Hill Start Assist Control, Downhill Brake Control and Electronic Stability Program.

Drive Performance

This is a family cruiser for everyday driving and highway cruising, no high expectations here. For a 2.4L AWD, it does pretty ok when it comes to regular driving. As expected it takes it's own sweet time to accelerate and handling is no charm. Once it crosses 100 km / h speed on a highway, just set it on cruise control and relax. It struggles at high speeds so it's best cruise range is between 100 - 130 km / h. Anything beyond that and you should probably look at higher powered SUVs. The brakes, surprisingly aren't that bad and the suspension is quite family friendly too. Fuel consumption on our test drive was over 15 L / 100 km which is quite pedestrian to be honest.

The AWD version comes with traction control and hill assist, which means you can easily take this car on soft beach sand and simple gravel terrain. Don't get too adventurous though, as this SUV is not built for any kind of serious off-road driving. Stick to beach sand and minor gravel.

Verdict

This is a stylish, budget family cruiser, although not the best when it comes to interior finishing and drive quality. Buy it if you plan on upgrading to a higher level SUV after a couple of years. It will serve you well on daily drive as well as family highway road trips. Priced under 100,000 AED, it's good value for budget conscious family shoppers.

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