"My fiance and I worked with Doug Johnson who went above and beyond to help us get into the car we wanted at a price that was affordable for us. We had negative equity in the vehicle we traded in and he was able to get us into a 2011 sonata for roughly the same price we were paying for our 2008 tiburon." 4/1/11

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2011 Hyundai Tucson

Check out our New Hyundai Tucson Inventory

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a excellent choice among compact SUVs. The Tucson offers a lavishly equipped package, with all the engineering, comfort, and over-the-road advantages demanded of a contemporary crossover utility. Far from being just Korean, this vehicle is nothing less than world class, at a price slightly below world class.

New Design for 2011

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is dramatic in its styling.  The six-speed automatic transmission is about 26 pounds lighter than the five-speed it replaced. 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. Tucson's 103.9-inch wheelbase is mid-pack 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. In addition to the GLS and Limited trim levels Hyundai introduces the Blue edition for this model year. 

New Hyundai Tucson Power

The 2011 Hyundai Tucson qualifies as a crossover because it has car-type uni-body construction. 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 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. 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.

2011 Tucson Cabin

Inside, the cabin of the Tucson is straightforward and simple. It's excellent ergonomically, meaning everything is easy to reach and operate. The materials are nice. The seats are supportive and comfortable. There's plenty of room in both the front and rear seats, with comfortable seating for four, capability for five. The dashboard's black pebble-grain covering is handsome and anything but econo class. The dashboard instruments are straightforward and dignified, with a water temperature and fuel gauge delivered in electronic readouts. To the left of the steering column are controls for hill assist, a stability-control off switch and the differential locker control. Cruise control and audio switches are provided on the steering wheel, with phone controls partially hidden inside the wheel rim.

Hyundai Tucson Lineup for '11

The 2011 Tucson GL comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, AM/FM/satellite radio/CD/MP3 audio with six speakers, iPod/USB input jacks, iPod cable, roof antenna, power windows, mirrors and locks, remote keyless entry, trip computer, tilt steering, front and cargo area power outlets, bottle holders in all four doors, rear armrest with cupholders, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, bodycolor rear spoiler, rear wiper and washer, and 17-inch steel wheels.

Tucson GLS 2WD upgrades with leatherette upholstery with cloth inserts, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, Bluetooth hands-free phone, illuminated vanity mirrors and glovebox, cruise control, steering wheel audio and cruise controls, faux leather inner door trim, soft-touch interior paint, black garnish moldings, and silver roof rails, 17-inch alloy wheels, bodycolor door handles, heated fold-away outside mirrors, privacy glass, roof cross rails, and an engine cover. The GLS comes standard with the 6-speed automatic.

Tucson Limited and Limited AWD upgrade to leather seating, heated front seats, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, power lumbar support for driver and front passenger, dual-zone automatic temperature control, solar glass, cargo cover, chrome grille and door handles, automatic headlights, front foglights, front wiper de-icer, side repeater exterior mirrors, and 18-inch alloy wheels. New for 2011 are an auto-dimming inside mirror with HomeLink, and high-tech shock absorbers called Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) from German supplier Sachs. 

Conclusions

Safety features on all Tucson models include electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, downhill brake control, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, EBD, brake assist, six airbags with rollover sensor, active front adjustable head restraints, lane-change assist turn signals. All-wheel drive is optional. For 2011, the Hyundai Tucson lineup includes a new value-priced Tucson GL with a smaller, more fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine and front-wheel drive. The 2011 Tucson GL rates an EPA-estimated 23/31 City/Highway mpg when equipped with its optional 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 165 horsepower. For more on this model, visit the official Hyundai Tucson website.


Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com