The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a winner by all means. The Tucson has been in the Hyundai family since 2004, and headlined the compact crossover Sports Utility Vehicle market for the Korean automaker since then. No V6 engine is being offered this year; instead, a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Theta engine comes standard. A 1.6-liter turbocharged engine will be available for Blue models. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are both available, too, making the Tucson a versatile choice.
Previous incarnations of the Hyundai Tucson were already known for their exceptional handling and adept steering control. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson doesn't shy away from the environmental scene either. Blue models of the 2011 Tucson will come standard with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that boasts even better fuel economy. The Tucson is standardly equipped with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is available.
Unlike the previous models, your only choicea for the 2011 Tucson, when it comes to engine size, are relatively small four cylinders.
Interior Features
The slick contours and pleasing aesthetics of previous versions of the Hyundai Tucson are still in abundance in the 2011 model. The backseat of the 2011 Hyundai Tucson is remarkably comfortable.
The 2011 Hyundai Tucson ranks 8 out of 23 Affordable Compact SUVs. Hyundai redesigned the Tucson in 2010, and for 2011, little has changed. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is very similar to the 2010 model. The Tucson’s price is also hard to turn down. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4 can’t beat this price. Although it offers a lot of features at an affordable price, there are areas where the 2011 Hyundai Tucson falls short. Few affordable compact SUVs beat the Tucson when it comes to fuel economy, but if you want a few more miles per gallon, the Chevrolet Equinox tops the Tucson and averages 22/32 mpg city/highway.
Details: Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson has three trims: GL, GLS and Limited. The GLS and Limited models have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and optional all-wheel drive. The upper trims receive a six-speed automatic transmission.
For 2011, the Tucson sees the addition of a new GS trim level to the lineup.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Hyundai Tucson is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV that is offered in three trim levels: GL, GLS and Limited.
The GLS adds 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leatherette vinyl door trim and seat inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and Bluetooth. All-wheel-drive GLS models also get heated front seats. The 2011 Hyundai Tucson GL comes standard with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 165 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Only front-wheel drive is available for the GL.
The front-wheel-drive GLS and Limited models are expected to get 22 city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined, while AWD models make slightly less at 21/28/23 mpg.
In a recent Edmunds test of an AWD 2011 Hyundai Tucson GLS, we found its acceleration to be just about average among other compact crossovers, with our test vehicle requiring 9.6 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Safety
Standard safety equipment for the 2011 Hyundai Tucson includes antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front headrests, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, hill holder and hill descent control.
Unlike many of the humdrum interiors found in other crossover SUVs, the 2011 Hyundai Tucson offers a contoured twin-cowl dash that's available in two-tone color schemes. The Tucson provides a comfortable driving position for drivers of almost any size.
Driving Impressions
Many compact crossovers offer uninspired driving dynamics, but the 2011 Hyundai Tucson breaks from convention with a more lively spirit.