This powertrain first appeared in the 2018 Tucson Sport. While compact SUVs increasingly feature downsized turbocharged engines, the Tucson steps back by dropping the old version’s optional 175-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, instead giving SEL and higher trims a conventional 181-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder and six-speed automatic. The base engine for the SE and Value trims has not changed: it’s a 161-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. On the styling Richter scale, the Tucson is mid-pack, with neither the high style of a 2019 Mazda CX-5 nor the aggressiveness of a redone Toyota RAV4. It’s not like the 2015 Hyundai Sonata’s transformation from swoopy to staid, but the Tucson’s attitude quotient has been dialed back. The effect is a 2019 Tucson that’s softer and less bold than the one that debuted for 2016. Available 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels are also new the top trims get 18s rather than 19s, which are saved for the more aggressive-looking Sport and Night. The rear gets reshaped taillights and a new bumper. The headlights look less stretched and now have boomerang-shaped accent lights, replacing the distinctive long slashes. Along with the grille comes a higher hood lip and a new bumper that make the front end look bulkier. The most obvious styling change is a version of Hyundai’s signature “cascading grille,” a larger mouth that brings the Tucson more in line with the look of other new Hyundais. And the Night is new, offering a second, more upscale sporty model with blacked-out trim and bigger wheels that slots between the Limited and Utimate in features and price. Trim levels are slightly juggled, now including a base SE and a repackaged and repositioned Value, plus the SEL, Sport, Limited, Night and Ultimate. These changes make the 2019 more attractive and add value to a car that already boasts Hyundai’s long warranty. Styling tweaks give the Tucson’s look a modest update, but the more significant changes include a revised powertrain lineup, tech upgrades and additional safety and driver assistance systems available across more trim levels. For 2019, the Tucson gets a mid-cycle freshening that helps it keep pace with redesigned or revised competitors, including such sales leaders as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue. The competition among mainstream compact SUVs has only gotten hotter since the current Hyundai Tucson made its debut for 2016. Versus the competition: The Tucson compact SUV is very competitive in price and features, but with its tidier size it might appeal most to shoppers who value maneuverability and parking ease more than cargo space. Plus, it's just nice to see a package like this with an aspirational name that's more than just a collection of appearance parts.The verdict: The Hyundai Tucson’s not a star in any one area, but it’s solid all around, with improved value and a new, smoother powertrain for 2019. We've always thought that the Elantra GT Sport was not quite there when it came to going against our favorite sport compacts such as the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen Golf GTI, so if these improvements get it even closer, that's a win in our book. Plus, the aforementioned tires should be much grippier than the outgoing Sport's Hankook all-season rubber. The tuning of the shocks and steering has been improved, and the front and rear sway bars are new. The engine mounts, transmission mounts, and springs have all been made stiffer. The Elantra GT Sport's upscale interior was already impressive-especially considering the price and high feature count-so these minor changes should only improve our opinion.īut what we really care about are the new performance upgrades. On the inside, heated black leather seats with red stitching and piping are standard, as are a new shift knob, a new leather-wrapped steering wheel, a different gauge cluster, and, of course, more N Line badging.
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