Value, Comfort and Security
I have owned many cars including 7 BMW’s and Mercedes. I believe that this Tucson has more tech, comfort and luxury than comparable cars costing 50% more. I got the Limited loaded with everything including a tow hitch for under $40k. To get a GLC similarly equipped would be at least $60k. I cross shopped too many cars to list and settled on the Tucson. Here are the positives: 1. Cabin layout. Everything is visible, easy to reach, easy to see and comfortable from the driver’s position. Lots of cubby spaces that are useful. 2. Ride. Dampens bumps, feels like a car weighing twice as much and doesn’t have excessive body roll or lean. 3. Interior and exterior styling. The inside has lots of textures, not all one color very attractive. Looks luxury and ventilated seats feel luxury. Price that on a Mercedes. 4. Tech. It has all the stuff I love and the lane-keep is not intrusive, adaptive cruise, 360 camera and more are all winners. You pay a lot to get all that with some brands. 5. Quality. My Tucson has Michelin tires and I waxed it today and the exterior plastics, moldings and grill are absolutely solid, nice texture, good fit smartly designed. The end of the hatch is plastic covered which matches the rear bumper and prevents paint chips. Very smart. 6. Smart details. Back seats recline or go vertical for extra cargo space. Took a chair and more into to donate to ARC today. Easy to remove rear cover and fold down seats. Seats memorize your position and move back when you open door to make it easier to get out. None of my Mercedes did that, only my dad’s Lexus. Lots more little things. 7. Gas efficiency. Here are my last three outings done not with the car computer but by hand at fill ups and reading the odometer. 35.8mpg all highway (61 miles). 32.5mpg highway and mountain road tour (141 miles). 25.7mpg mostly city including stuck in traffic (236miles). 8. Quiet. It is amazingly quiet and I believe the front and side windows are acoustic but that is the hallmark of a luxury car. So easy to talk to my passengers or on the phone. Nearly silent like an EV at low speeds. Negatives: 1. Acceleration at start. I found pedal management to be key and cars.com got it right. However, it is not slow, just watch your speedometer and see. I plan to tow a teardrop camper and also a kayak trailer and I suspect I will like the gearing. I love that so many of them came with hitches as a proper SUV should and roof rails! Those are options on a Porsche. 2. The panorama roof makes for a low ceiling but at 5’10 I am fine. Honestly, I wish you could get cars without them but virtually all top models have them. I prefer solid roofs but it is beautiful when open so you may love it, especially I think if you have kids or passengers in the back a lot. Also, do not believe other reviewers including cars.com about the no-buttons console. It’s really easy because the controls are easy to see and understand. Seriously, how many buttons do you have on your ipad, phone or other electronics these days? You will not miss knobs a bit after a few drives. I have had knobs that are confusing like my Mercedes cursor and engine control knobs next to each other. They are not automatically better. Also, the gloss black is not a finger print problem any more than your phone or ipad. I can say more but I was close to getting a used Macan or new-ish GLC 300 w/hitches but when I considered premium gas, super high maintenance and repair bills (I speak from experience) and fear of something not under warranty breaking the new 5 yr bumper to bumper and ten year power train of Hyundai (plus three years maintenance!) put me over to the Tucson. Yeah, I don’t have the badge up front but driving is such a treat I find reasons to go places including just a drive in the mountains. My mom loved the mountain drive and others cannot believe how nice it is. So, if this is a size and capability you are considering for yourself do NOT miss out test driving and checking one out.
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