Hyundai will launch the third generation of the Tucson in India on November 14. This premium compact SUV will then bridge the gap between the Creta and Santa Fe in Hyundai's Indian portfolio of SUVs.
The carmaker had showcased this iteration at this year's Auto Expo. It is the same model that was first unveiled globally in February 2015. It is based on the brand's 2.0 Fluidic design philosophy and looks more contemporary and sportier than its previous generation. The Tuscon's interior design is quite familiar with its conventional layout like other Hyundai cars. The cabin sports leather upholstery, leather wrapping for the steering wheel and even the instrument panel. The feature list includes a touchscreen infotainment system paired to eight speakers, an optional panoramic sunroof, electric tail-gate etc.
We can expect Hyundai to offer the Tucson in both petrol and diesel variants in India. Globally, the oil-burner comes powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder diesel mill that produces 136bhp and 373Nm of torque. On the petrol engine front, we can expect the carmaker to employ the 1.4-litre turbocharged mill. These engines might come mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
This is not the first time Hyundai is bringing the Tucson to India. The first-gen model was brought to our market in 2005, but Hyundai pulled the plug on this vehicle as it didn’t strike a chord with the Indian audience. This time, however, Hyundai has good expectations from this model, which will incorporate a high level of localisation. The Korean manufacturer might price it between Rs 18 lakh to Rs 23 lakh slotting it into the D-segment of cars upon launch.