The Hyundai Tucson (; ) is a compact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. It is named after the city of Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
The second-generation model was marketed as the Hyundai ix35 in several markets, including Europe, Australia and China, before reverting to Tucson for the third-generation. Since its first-generation, the Tucson has been developed alongside the Kia Sportage, sharing platforms and engines.
The Tucson is the best-selling Hyundai model, with more than 7 million units sold globally since it launched in 2004. Of these, 1.4 million units have been sold in Europe.
First generation (JM; 2004)
The first-generation Tucson was launched in 2004, after its name was announced in November 2003. Positioned as a smaller alternative to the Santa Fe, it shared its Hyundai Elantra-based platform with the second-generation Kia Sportage.
Markets North America
In the U.S., the Tucson was offered in base GLS, mid-line SE, and top-tier Limited (formerly LX) trim levels for 2007 models. Earlier 2005 and 2006 models were offered as GL/GLS/LX (Limited). Standard equipment included air conditioning, six airbags, electronic stability control, a CD player, alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, and premium cloth seats. The SE added to the roster with contrasting grey body cladding, a different alloy design, an AM/FM/Cassette/CD as well as fog lights and a front windshield wiper de-icing grid. The Limited added leather seating surfaces, a 6-disc in dash CD changer, body-coloured cladding, automatic climate control, and heated seats. The GLS and Limited were only available with the 2.7 L V6. The GL came only with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder.
The Tucson offers modest cargo space but its easy-to-fold seats can expand this volume so they lie flat. Even the front passenger seat folds flat for extra-long cargo.
Safety There are dual-stage frontal impact airbags, torso side-impact airbags built into the front seats, and curtain airbags for side-impact protection for front and rear passengers.
The 2009 Hyundai Tucson was rated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):2009 Hyundai Tucson NHTSA Star Rating CarsDirect.com Frontal Rating (Driver): Frontal Rating (Passenger): Side Rating (Driver): Side Rating (Passenger):
Model year changes
In 2006, the LX became the Limited and got colour-coded cladding, automatic climate control, and a high-performance sound system. The GLS retained the gray cladding but 'HYUNDAI' is no longer branded into the cladding on the front doors. The GLS also got improved cloth seats with the option of a heating element. Both GLS and Limited got redesigned alloy wheels. The base GL remained unchanged.
In 2007, the GL and GLS trims were respectively renamed to GLS and SE to match the standard for all new Hyundai vehicles. The SE comes with a sport utility rack, has 4-wheel drive, and is a 6-cylinder engine.
2009 Tucsons saw restyling and trim changes.
Tucson FCEV
The Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is a test fuel cell vehicle for Hyundai's second-generation hydrogen fuel cell. The vehicle includes an 80 kW electric motor by Enova Systems of Torrance, California, UTC Fuel Cells by South Windsor, Connecticut, 152V battery co-developed by Hyundai Motor Co. and LG Chem in Seoul, Korea, hydrogen storage tanks developed by Dynetek Industries of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The vehicle has range of and top speed of .
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show, and completed a journey as part of the Hydrogen Road Tour in 2008.
Other markets
In Japan, the Hyundai Tucson was sold as the Hyundai JM until November 2009.
In Brazil, the Hyundai Tucson was produced from October 2009 until the second half of 2018, initially in GL and GLS trim levels - the former available only with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a choice between a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the latter offering a 2.7-litre V6 engine in addition to the 2.0-litre four-cylinder, both mated exclusively to the 4-speed auto.
A facelifted version of the first-generation exclusive to China was produced by Beijing Hyundai. The second-generation Tucson was renamed to ix35 in China and Brazil, and later became an independent model while the Tucson name returned with the introduction of the third-generation.
Powertrain +SpecsModelYearsTransmissionPowerTorque0–100 km/h(0–62 mph)(official)Top speedPetrolBeta II 2.02004–20095-speed manual @ 6,000 rpm @ 4,500 rpm10.4s (FWD)11.3s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)4-speed automatic (FWD)Delta 2.74-speed automatic @ 6,000 rpm @ 4,000 rpm10.5sDieselD 2.0 CRDi2004–20095-speed manual @ 4,000 rpm @ 1,800–2,500 rpm13.1s (FWD)13.8s (AWD)4-speed automatic15.1s (FWD)16.1s (AWD)2006–20096-speed manual @ 4,000 rpm @ 4,000 rpm @ 1,800–2,500 rpm11.1s (FWD)12.0s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)4-speed automatic12.8s (FWD) (FWD)
Reception The Hyundai Tucson received accolades from Canadian Car of the Year Best New Crossover award for 2005. It was named as one of the most reliable vehicles from the 2009 Consumer Reports reliability survey.Consumer Reports' 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey October 27, 2009. Reuters
Safety The first-generation Tucson in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars for adult occupants, 3 stars for toddlers, and 1 star for pedestrians from Euro NCAP in 2006.
Second generation (LM; 2009)
In most markets outside South Korea and North America, the Hyundai Tucson name (also known as the "Hyundai Tucson ix" in Korea) was changed to Hyundai ix35. Vehicles sold in the North America and several other regions continued to be called Tucson.Edmunds Used Car Guide, (retrieved 28 July 2015). The ix35 was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The power output, fuel-efficiency, comfort and safety features were claimed to have been all upgraded. Known by the project name LM, it took 36 months and 280 billion won (approx. US$225 million) to develop.
The ix35's styling was reported to be based on Hyundai ix-onic concept. The ix35 was penned by Hyundai designer Cha Il-Hoei in 2007, under the guidance of former BMW designer Thomas Bürkle at Hyundai's Rüsselsheim design studio in Germany and continues the company's styling language, marketed as "fluidic sculpture".New Hyundai ix35 Car September 08, 2009. CarTradeIndia.comMade in Germany | Hyundai's success - Designed in Germany 2009, DW-TV (Deutsche Welle) The compact crossover vehicle has sweeping coupe-like lines, a premium vehicle feel and comes with features unavailable on its predecessor.
Facelift The facelifted Tucson was released in South Korea on 2 May 2013, based on the European market ix35 styling with new grille, projector headlights, tail lights, rounded fog lights and front bumper. This facelift was also released in China in August 2013 under the ix35 nameplate, and was not applied in most markets outside South Korea and China, especially in Europe, where only headlights and tail lights were changed, and in North America and Australia, where it retained the pre-facelift styling with only headlights were changed. While in Indonesia, the Tucson received its own facelift in April 2014 based on the global model styling with new grille (similar to the South Korean and Chinese markets), projector headlights, tail lights and fog lights.
Markets
Australia In Australia, the ix35 is available in Active, Elite and Highlander trim levels. The 2.0-litre Theta II petrol engine in front-wheel drive is available on Active and Elite trims, while the 2.4-litre Theta II petrol engine and the 2.0-litre R-series diesel engine are available on Elite and Highlander trims.
China
In China, the first-generation Tucson was sold alongside the ix35, which adopted the European market styling, and was replaced by the third-generation Tucson directly while the ix35 spawned its own successor, the Hyundai ix35 (NU). The ix35 NU was revealed on the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show in China and was available to the Chinese car market in the third quarter of 2017.
Europe The European market ix35 has a restyled grille, front bumper, rounded fog lights and projector headlights, to differentiate it with global models. This styling was also sold in Malaysia from November 2012 as the Tucson.
In the United Kingdom, the ix35 was initially available in Style and Premium trim levels. It received an update in September 2013 with new headlights and tail lights, and is available in S, SE and Premium trim levels.
North America
The Tucson sold in the United States came in three trims: GL, GLS and Limited, with all-wheel drive available for GLS and Limited trims. The GL comes with a standard manual transmission, but a 6-speed automatic transmission is available and is standard on GLS and Limited. The North American version uses a different gauge cluster design than the Korean version.
The 2011 Tucson offered in the U.S. a new GL trim which replaces the 2010 GLS model as Tucson's base trim. The GL is powered by a new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or an available six-speed automatic transmission in order to obtain better fuel economy than the 2.4-litre engine.
For the 2014 model year, the Tucson was upgraded with GDI direct injected Theta II engines that obtain more power and better emissions, LED tail/head lights, more stylish alloy rim designs, and a few minor improvements to the interior/audio system.
Powertrain
The Tucson/ix35 is available with several engines: an all-new 2.0-litre diesel R engine, one of two Theta-II petrol engine variants (2.0-litre or 2.4-litre), 1.7-litre UII diesel and 1.6-litre Gamma GDI petrol. The later two only in Europe. The automatic transmission is Hyundai's all-new six-speed design. The manual transmissions available in Europe is a 6-speed for 1.7-litre and 2.0-litre diesels and 1.6 Gamma and a 5-speed for 2.0 Theta. The 2.0-litre diesel engine, available outside of North America, meets the Euro-5 emissions standards and achieves fuel economy with maximum power output of . The 2.0-litre petrol engine has a fuel economy of with . In South Korea, the diesel engine is offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, while the 2.0-litre petrol engine is available only in front-wheel drive.
The North American versions are powered by either the 2.0-litre producing or a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing mated to the six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.4-litre engine makes almost the same power as the previous generation V6 engine while managing 20% better fuel economy than the previous generation four-cylinder.
+SpecsModelYearsTransmissionPowerTorque0–100 km/h(0–62 mph)(official)Top speedPetrolGamma II 1.6 GDi2009–20156-speed manual @ 6,300 rpm @ 4,850 rpm11.1sTheta II 2.0 MPi5-speed manual @ 6,200 rpm @ 4,600 rpm10.4s (FWD)10.7s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)6-speed automatic10.6s (FWD)11.2s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)Nu 2.0 GDi2013–20156-speed manual @ 6,200 rpm @ 4,000 rpm10.4s (FWD)10.7s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)6-speed automatic10.4s (FWD)11.0s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD)Theta II 2.4 MPi2009–20156-speed automatic @ 6,000 rpm @ 4,000 rpm10.0sDieselU II 1.7 CRDi2009–20156-speed manual @ 4,000 rpm @ 1,250–2,750 rpm12.4sR II 2.0 CRDi 6-speed manual @ 4,000 rpm @ 1,800–2,500 rpm10.8s (FWD)11.3s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD) 6-speed automatic 9.8s (AWD) (AWD) 6-speed manual @ 4,000 rpm @ 1,800–2,500 rpm9.4s (FWD)10.0s (AWD) (FWD) (AWD) 6-speed automatic @ 1,800–2,500 rpm9.8s (AWD) (AWD)
Safety
The second-generation Tucson earned 'Top Safety Pick' award in 2010 from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S.
+IIHS scoresSmall overlap frontal offsetPoorModerate overlap frontal offsetGoodSide (original test)GoodRoof strengthGoodHead restraints and seatsGood
Third generation (TL; 2015)