By OtsileKadiege

Sometimes we get to experience cars that are hard to fault and wish we’d keep for many years. Such is the case with this new range-topping Tucson. Hyundai’s fourth-generation Tucson recently graced us with its presence for a few days. The latest iteration of the fairly popular nameplate boasts bold new looks, a longer wheelbase, a raft of new technologies and a frugal yet powerful turbocharged diesel engine.

Futuristic exterior design

The exterior design of the newcomer boasts a bold new look similar to its larger SUV siblings. Accentuating the daring design are futuristic-looking LED headlights surrounding its gunmetal grey coated patterned grille, pronounced body lines on its side profile and an LED light strip with integrated claw-like taillights. Our Sunset Red coated Hyundai Tucson Elite test SUV wasfitted withstunning two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels. Yes, the exterior design of the new Tucson is polarising but we’re quite fond of the futuristic and dramatic new look.

Premium cabin

Inside, the new range-topping Tucson Elite features a configurable 10.25-inch digital cluster, an 8-inch touchscreen with Hyundai’s intuitive infotainment system that’s Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible. The screen could use better graphics and when the panoramic sunroof is open sunlight sometimes gets in the way. It also features a wireless charging pad, a large panoramic sunroof which makes the cabin feel roomier and a decent sounding 6-speaker audio system. Comfort features include heated and cooled front faux leather seats, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone climate control to list a few. Overall the interior is very comfortable, spacious and practical.

Punchy diesel engine

Powering the Tucson Elite is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine solely available to the range-topping Elite grade. This 4-cylinder engine develops 137kW and 416Nm. It’s paired to an 8-speed auto and channels power to the front wheels. Hyundai claims that this setup will deliver a combined fuel consumption of 7.4l/100km.

The diesel motor is an absolute gem. It quickly gets the SUV up to speed and it’s perfectly paired with a buttery-smooth 8-speed auto. During our stint, we managed to average 8.6l/100km which isn’t all too bad but could be much, much better. Having driven over 600 km in a single day, I found the ride quality to be sublime and its many driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist ease the effort of driving long distances.

Pricing and warranty

Our tester is priced from R699,900 however the range pricing starts at R519,900. It comes standard with a 5 Year / 150 000 km manufacturer’s warranty, an additional 2 Year / 50 000 Km manufacturer’s powertrain warranty, a 5 Year / 160 000 km manufacturer’s warranty, a 7 year / 150 000 km roadside assistance and a 6 year / 90 000 km service plan.