The Korean automaker’s latest C-segment SUV, the new Hyundai Tucson, officially launched in Malaysia.

Fully-imported (CBU - South Korea), Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) is offering the fourth-generation build in three variants (2.0 Lite, 1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max).

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 158,888, MYR 178,888, and MYR 195,888, included is a two-year/50,000 KM standard warranty.

Optional is an extended warranty (free - first 100 units till 31 Dec, add-on - MYR 10,000), a five-year/300,000 KM coverage and a three-year/50,000 KM free service.

Five exterior colours. Amazon Grey Metallic, Silky Bronze Metallic, Phantom Black Pearl, Creamy White Pearl, and Crimson Red Pearl.

The new Tucson stands at 4,630 MM long, 1,865 MM wide, 1,665 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,755 MM.

Solid and sporty, it exudes an overall smoothly-sculpted exterior, heightened by sleek and sharp contours.

The front-end features a ‘3D Parametric Jewel’ grille in dark black chrome, paired to a stretched-out lower air-intake and a silver bumper guard. 

Other trim elements command the rest of the outlook (black-cladding - bumper, fenders, side skirts), completing a strong character.

Sleek and robust, the rear-end sees a hint of a coupe-esque roofline, with clean surfaces all-around.

Featured is a subtle roof-edge spoiler (wiper-integrated), rakish windows with DLO chrome trim side surrounds, and a silver bumper guard.

Other trim elements command the rest of the outlook (black-cladding - bumper, fenders, side skirts), completing a strong character.

Installed is a lower-bumper-mounted LED MFR (Multi Face Reflector) headlamps, featuring automatic On/Off and levelling, turn signals, and High Beam Assist (HBA).

Paired to the set are individual-block-designed and hidden-type (grille-integrated) Daytime Running Lights (DRL). LED (1.6T Max) and bulb (2.0 Lite, 1.6T Plus) types.

Full-width, the tail lamps are in a lightbar design, fang-like corner framing with centre-linking light strip. 

Fitted are LED combination units with turn signals, and accompanying the setup are LED fog lamps (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max).  

The side mirrors with DLO chrome moulding are electronically-powered (adjust, fold), with turn signals and blind spot-indicators.

Fitted are ventilated disc brakes (406 MM - front, rear). Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Variant 2.0 Lite rides on a set of 17-Inch dual-tone alloy rims, wrapped in 235/65 R17 tyres. 

Variants 1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max upgrade to a set of 19-Inch dual-tone alloy rims, wrapped in 235/55 R19 tyres.

The new Tucson gets a minimalistic dual-tiered dashboard build. Premium quality, the main highlights are the modern features installed.

Outfitted with all-black soft- and hard-touch panels, commanding the centre is the infotainment unit, linked to an elevated-style centre console.

Overall clean and strategically placed, every accessibility on the dash is ergonomically positioned for the driver.

Installed is a 4.25-Inch TFT LCD with RHEOSTAT Supervision Cluster (2.0 Lite, 1.6T) and a 10.25-Inch TFT LCD with RHEOSTAT fully-digital instrument cluster (1.6T Max).

Interior of the five-seater comes in all-black fabric (2.0 Lite) and leather (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max) upholsteries.

Variant 2.0 Lite features manual-adjustable front seats (passenger, driver), and a rear bench seat with a 60:40 split-fold configuration.

Variant 1.6T Plus sees electronic-powered (driver - 8-way, lumbar) and manual-adjustable (passenger) front seats, and a rear bench seat (60:40 split-fold).

Variant 1.6T Max upgrades to electronic-powered front seats (8-way, driver-lumbar) with memory, heating and ventilating. The rear gets a bench (60:40 split-fold).

Courtesy of the N3 platform, it underpins a long wheelbase, and has an overall dimension that’s slightly bigger than its predecessor.

Ultimately, its athletically stocky silhouette offers generous head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants get ample space. 

Uniquely designed, mounted is a four-spoke leather steering wheel, finished in black with silver trimming.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and paddle shifters (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage spaces. E.g., glove box, centre console compartments, and side door and backseat pockets.

Four cup holders, two located at the front centre console, two at the rear centre armrest. Also, there are four bottle holders, located at each side door pocket.

Equipped are three USB ports (two-front, one-rear), two 12 V sockets (front, boot), and one wireless charger (1.6T Max).

Accessing its powered-tailgate (1.6T Max - activation, remote-contactless), opens up to a load capacity of 582-Litres (seats up) and 1,903-Litres (seats down).

The new Tucson gets the Hyundai SmartSense suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). 

Variants 2.0 Lite and 1.6T Plus feature Conventional Cruise Control (CCC), Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA). 

Variant 1.6T Max adds on Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with Stop/Go, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Vehicle/Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Junction Turning (FCA-JT), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) with Motion Sensor.

Other standard systems include, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Brake Assist (BA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold.

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (reminder, pre-tensioner, anchor), ISOFIX (two-rear), parking sensors (2.0 Lite - four-rear), parking sensors (1.6T Plus - two-front, four-rear), parking sensors (1.6T Max - four-front-rear), parking cameras with dynamic parking guide (reverse - 2.0 Lite, 1.6T Plus, forward/reverse - 1.6T Max), anti-glare interior rear-view mirrors (1.6T Max - Electronic Chromic Mirror - ECM), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max), impact beams, door ajar warning, and security alarm.

Four drive modes at the driver’s disposal. Eco, Normal, Sport and Smart.

Installed is an 8.0-Inch touchscreen unit supporting MP3 playback, AUX-in, USB, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless), navigation and voice recognition. 

The sound system comes with a setup of four speakers and two tweeters. 

The new Tucson comes with two powertrain options. 

Variant 2.0 Lite harbours a Smartstream G2.0 MPI naturally-aspirated in-line four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 153 HP at 6,200 RPM and 192 NM at 4,500 RPM.

Variants 1.6T Plus and 1.6T Max nestles a Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi turbocharged in-line four-cylinder petrol engine, serving 178 HP at 5,500 RPM and 265 NM at 1,500 to 4,500 RPM.

Mated to the mill is a six-speed automatic standard transmission (2.0 Lite), and a seven-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with E-Shift (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max). 

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive system (FWD).  

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration is done in 11.4 seconds (2.0 Lite) and 8.8 seconds (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max). Top speed is 181 KM/H (2.0 Lite) and 201 KM/H (1.6T Plus, 1.6T Max).

Rear air-conditioning vents are provided.

A suitable daily-driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time, providing great power with agile handling.

Suspension fitted is a setup of Macpherson struts (front) and Multi-link (rear). Overall, inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts or at high speeds.