Hyundai Tucson City is a pragmatic model that's aimed at the suburban dweller who has no intention of going off road but wants the space and macho looks of a 4WD.
That's because it's not a 4WD, but a 2WD.
The City has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by only using the front wheels to drive the car, making it lighter and simpler. Given that the City 2WD has the same ground clearance as the Tucson 4WD it could easily be used by country drivers who want to run on moderately rough fire trails, and the like.
The Hyundai Tucson features a clean, modern interior with simple controls and tight build quality. There's good luggage room and Hyundai says City can carry a mountain bike without the need to remove its front wheel.
The Hyundai Tucson continues to be offered as a conventional 4WD for those who do want to explore Australia's traditional 4WD areas of bush, beaches and forests.
Power is not the Tucson's strong suit. Its four-cylinder is too wimpy to adequately motivate the hauler, and acceleration is tepid even with the more muscular V6. Handling is carlike, however, which isn't surprising, given that the Tucson shares the same platform as the previous-generation Elantra sedan.
The only transmission on offer in the Tucson in either format is a competent four-speed automatic with Tiptronic-style manual overrides.
The 2007 Hyundai Tucson comes standard with front seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags for both front- and rear-seat occupants. Antilock disc brakes are also standard on all Tucsons, along with a traction- and stability-control system. The Hyundai SUV achieved a five-star sweep in all NHTSA crash tests, earning perfect marks for its front- and side-impact protection.
