Bang for Your Buck, and Then Some More...
Finally got some drive time under my belt and to tell you the truth, I’m excited to share with fellow Hyundai enthusiasts about my 2026 Hyundai Tucson SEL FWD vehicle, both the good and bad (or Pro, Con).
First, if you want to enjoy driving with good range, easy on the tank and wallet, dependable, comfortable, low road noise and you’re looking for a facsimile computer on wheels, well this vehicle has all the technology you need while driving that is fun, responsive and eye pleasing.
Safety is the game too; Hyundai is rated 5-stars and when you see the interior it shows they mean business when it comes to bring both worlds of safety and technology in a seamless synergized package.
Let’s dive dep into the Cons first; the responsiveness is well, not as responsive as you would like, especially if you’re attempting to pass or merge on a highway. While it goes, it someone’s just takes longer, so consider this when you’re driving. But I must be up front, I have a tow hitch installed for my two 80-pound e-Bikes and the Tucson moves like a trooper and takes us where we want to go even with this extra weight, both highway or around town. The second Con is the Auto-Start/Stop button that requires you to depress to keep the engine running when you come to a stop (light, stop sign, etc.), it’s annoying and unnecessary. The fact is this was a government requirement by previous administration and the gas saved was nearly negligible at best. Hyundai should upgrade software to permit the own to only push this button if you want to use it and set the default to keep the engine running as intended. Next Con is the passenger seat should be electric and not manual (good selling point) and the last Con is repositioning the front cup holders from 9 to 3 positions, so you can easily reach and distinguish which cup was yours as you drive.
Now for the fun part, the Pros! Honestly, there are too many, so here are my favs. First, love the 5-Star crash ratings, especially for a small SUV. Safety should be everyone’s priority, and it seems it is Hyundai’s too! Second Pro, now this is a technology package that not only is well designed and thought out, its aesthetic, responsive and you simply can’t keep your hands off it. Cherry on the cake is, this system is all about you, it can program your picture, your priority features and settings. Auto-updates, all the bells and whistles you could ever want in a seamless easy to reach and use place. This infotainment system is so good, even a discerning high-tech Sheldon like me will want to unlock its mysteries as if it were a high-tech gaming system and you needed to find everything to slay the dragon! Lastly, its roomy for front and back seat passengers (and I am 6 foot 1 and 220 pounds) as well as extra cargo to spare (no pun intended). Oh, did I mention, some models get extra goodies, like a cargo net, a cool portable organizer and first aid kit – are you kidding me?
Overall, the 2026 Tucson SEL is again your “bang for the buck” small SUV that provides more than just a comfortable ride, but a quieter one too with a well thought out exterior as well as interior design. You will love the large display and all the technological goodies pack into it and how about the tinted windows and comfortable layout? I would like to say, I like the vehicle so much I bought the company, but I didn’t have too, I simply got the car and haven’t regretted one mile of doing so and you won’t either. Have fun, give a test drive, I’ll bet you’ll want one too!
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Verified Owner
