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2008 Hyundai Tucson Limited 4WD V6 Road Test

I remember being thoroughly impressed with the Tucson three and a half years ago when

Since it was introduced, quite a few competitors have come along, but the Tuscon has held its own. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

it was introduced as a 2005 model, although since this time a lot of competitive compact crossovers have either been significantly updated or arrived on the scene altogether new. Ford's bestselling Escape has been totally reworked, as has Honda's CR-V and Toyota's RAV4, while Saturn's Vue has gone from banal to brilliant, Nissan's new Rogue is hardly roguish as one of the segment's most refined, and the list goes on and on. So, how does the 2008 Tucson measure up in this hotly contested arena?

It's fared pretty well, actually. Kudos should go to the Hyundai designers and engineers who dreamed this vehicle up earlier this decade, not to mention the bean counters that opened up the purse strings in order to give the little ute a quality interior way ahead of the segment curve. Yes, when the Tucson first debuted there were only a few compact SUVs that could measure up from the perspective of fit and finish. It was odd, really, a Hyundai with less button slop than its Japanese rivals, less jiggle and wiggle from its knobs and switches, and higher quality interior plastics than the segment leaders too. I also remember being stunned at the little CUV's near perfect panel gaps, and not only on the inside but also outside where each piece of sheetmetal butted up tightly against its neighbor with absolute precession, again besting the Japanese at their own game. Even the paint finish

The Tucson's interior has aged well. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

was flawless. Nothing has changed with the 2008 model, thank goodness, other than the reality that some of its competitors (but not all) have caught up.

Where the Vue and Rogue offer premium-like interiors (for a more premium price) the Tucson's plastics are harder, although the grain is nice and matte finish visually appealing. The very comfortable perforated leather seats on my tester made it feel more upscale than the standard cloth interior, as did the leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and the optional perforated aluminum trim surrounding the center stack added a little tasteful glitz. The high-tech look of the metal surfaces only made the double-din audio system appear so last decade, however, more aftermarket than OEM, at least when compared to the fully integrated interfaces of most competitors. This is a bonus, I suppose, for those who'd rather upgrade their stereo with something a little more capable than most stock units. Then again, I bet you'll find this system will do just fine. It features four-speakers in base trim and six in upper models, an AM/FM radio and a CD player, plus the requisite auxiliary plug for an external mp3 player, but no satellite radio; XM is now available throughout much of the Hyundai range. Let me plug in my iPod and I can live without XMU, Fred, Ethel and Lucy.

Choose between standard radio, CDs and your own MP3 player - Hyundai's headunit plays them all except XM. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Another bonus is the way Hyundai's smallest CUV drives. OK, some of its rivals offer more power from their four- and six-cylinder engines, whereas the Tucson remains faithful to its 2.0-liter four that merely musters 140-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, and its 2.7-liter V6 shows up a little shy with 173-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 178 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Keep in mind though, that most of its more powerful rivals have now grown in size and weight, especially Toyota's RAV4 which is more of a midsize competitor for Hyundai's Santa Fe now, and others, such as the CR-V and Rogue don't offer V6 power at all. Truth be told, despite the less than robust numbers the Tucson gets up and goes without much fuss, even in four-cylinder, four-speed auto guise. The standard five-speed manual allows for a little more zoot, for sure, and then the V6 provides smooth, relaxed power delivery that won't have you or the car breaking a sweat on highway onramps.

Hyundai only offers the Tucson V6 with an automatic transmission, but it's a clever little unit with console shifting manual mode, dubbed Shiftronic in Hyundai-speak.

Stability control is standard across the board - a very good thing. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Sure it labors with four forward speeds at a time when many competitors are offering CVTs or conventional autoboxes with five and even six speeds, but it makes up for this with smooth shifts and more importantly, stalwart reliability. I didn't find much need for manual mode around town, although when putting the 4WD system in “LOCK” mode, designed for light-duty off-road use, selecting 1st forced the transmission to remain in gear until hitting the engine redline. It's actually not a bad little 4x4, capable of rougher stuff than you'd initially expect, although it doesn't include a low range of gears so don't expect it to forage through axle deep mud or snow.

What it does do well is absorb bumps, and this is oftentimes more important in the city than out on country roads. I had forgotten just how good the Tucson's suspension is, really. Its fully independent setup, with MacPherson struts up front and multi-link setup in the rear, allows the little crossover to feel a great deal more substantial than its dimensions initially infer, with a bias leaning towards comfort rather than speed. This makes sense in a class of vehicle that probably spends more time commuting than charging up winding back roads, although I have to admit that it handles corners well enough if you don't mind a little body lean, thanks to a stiff body structure, power assisted rack and pinion steering and standard sixteen-inch alloy wheels. What's more, power assisted four-wheel

Heated seats only have one setting - two or more would be nice. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

discs with standard ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) plus standard traction and stability control make this one safe ride.

Another oddity I couldn't help notice was how quiet it is inside. Truly, for such a small SUV it's surprisingly soundproof, with the V6 almost entirely out of earshot and road noise kept to a minimum. This probably has a great deal to do with sound deadening materials, and the premium-grade woven roofliner material certainly doesn't hurt.

My tester came with a glass sunroof, creating an airy feel, and its one-touch opening feature is helpful when on the go. Why it forces you to hold your hand up on the button while it's closing is anyone's guess. The standard power windows also offered a one-touch down feature for the driver, but once again a finger was needed on the button for the duration of closing. Another halfway measure was the heated seat controls, which don't vary for temperature. They're either on or off.

But here I am grumbling about a few niggling character flaws on a vehicle that

Limited is nice and dressy. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

starts at a price where most of its competitors are trying to talk you into an economy car. After all, there aren't many crossovers available in the sub-$20K range, let alone ones that are as well equipped in base trim. Here's a list of standard features not already mentioned: power windows, power door locks, power-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a four-way adjustable passenger's seat that folds flat for carrying longer items, tinted privacy glass, variable intermittent wipers, a rear wiper/washer, a tachometer, plus dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, front side-impact bags and the roof-mounted side-curtain airbags for all window passengers.

Stepping up to the Limited model includes active head restraints, proven to reduce whiplash injuries, as well as leather, a sunroof, metal console trip computer, and other items already mentioned. Some of these features are also available on the SE, which is kind of like a four-cylinder Limited model. But rather than go through all of the features available with each trim package, which can easily be found by scrolling through Hyundai's website,

Carpeted tray helps to keep valuables out of sight. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

I'd like to mention a few more things that come standard. the Tucson's flexible seating system, for instance, is a real bonus. First of all there's plenty of leg, shoulder and headroom in the comfortable back seats, and if five's a crowd the seatbacks can be folded forward 60/40 to accommodate longer cargo, complemented by the aforementioned folding front passenger seatback. Tumbling either seatback forward is as easy a process as anything I've tried, requiring almost no effort at all. For those in the rear, simply lift the handle on the seat-top and give it a little tug. It immediately falls into place, providing a completely flat loading floor that's surfaced in hard, easy to clean plastic. The seatbacks feature three 7-pound grocery bag hangers too, so your apples and oranges won't be squeezed into punch by the time you get home. And that cargo area can be accessed via a large liftgate that doubles as a shelter in a storm, or through the rear window that pops up if the rightmost button is pressed. Once open a webbed pocket on the right side of the cargo area is handy for stowing smaller items that might otherwise become projectiles if the need to stop quickly arises, and for items best kept hidden a latch at the rear of the cargo floor opens up to a shallow cargo tray that sits above the full-size spare tire. There's a power outlet in back too, in case you were wondering

LATCH and tethers are included on all Tucson models. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

where to plug in your portable fridge while camping, as well as one on the back of the center console for rear seat passengers, and one up front on the dash.

Speaking of accommodating features, each door gets a large bottle holder next to a map pocket, the rear seat armrest has an integrated cupholder when folded down (one of the half-round/half square variety), and the glovebox is mega sized. Other thoughtful touches include two driver's seat knobs that lift or lower the front and/or back of the lower cushion, providing a better driving position than would otherwise be possible. The steering wheel column tilts too. Additionally, the center armrest, leather covered in my test car, is another impressive piece of handiwork in that it can be raised a few inches and brought forward a touch for smaller drivers, and there's still a large storage bin underneath, of course.

Those with small children will appreciate how easily the Tucson fits child safety seats of all shapes and sizes. There's a great deal of room for rear-facing seats, and front-facing seats can be locked in place via LATCH hooks on both window seats. If you're using an older car seat without the clasps needed for the LATCH system, Hyundai has included three rear tether hooks conveniently placed on the cargo floor under small hinged lids. Also good are removable rear headrests that accommodate taller safety seatbacks. Some vehicles come with

It may not be the newest, but it's a solid value. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

fixed headrests that can't be raised or removed, making it so the child seat can't be pushed up against the seatback. This results in a wiggly perch. Kudos to Hyundai for making the Tucson so family-friendly.

And how about fuel-friendly? Of course, the four-cylinder/manual combination is the thriftiest, with 20 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway achievable, according to a somewhat optimistic EPA rating, while the V6 auto I tested has a rating of 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. In four-cylinder guise its fuel consumption is almost identical to the CR-V and RAV4, but with the V6 it's a touch thirstier than the either the RAV4 V6 or Vue V6. Then again you can pay for a lot of fuel with the Tucson's thrifty price point.

Yes, there's a lot to the Tucson that at first glance might not be seen. It's a crossover that offers nice thoughtful touches atop a solid, dependable structure, and while it might not be the freshest in the segment it delivers solid value that's hard to match. Hyundai's five-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty sweetens the deal further. Throw the Korean brand's stellar reliability rating into the mix and the Tucson makes a whole lot of sense.

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