We drove a $34,000 Hyundai Tucson that will take on Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. Here are its coolest features.

• The Hyundai Tucson has been updated for 2019 with refreshed styling, an updated interior, new tech, and a revised lineup of engines. 

• Business Insider had the chance to check out a new 2019 Hyundai Tucson Ultimate AWD in the roads in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

• In the marketplace, Tucson's rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
• The base 2019 Tucson SE front-wheel-drive starts at $23,200 while the top-of-the-line Ultimate trim with front-wheel drive starts at $31,550. With options and fees, our Tucson Ultimate AWD came to an as-tested price of $34,120.

The compact SUV is without a doubt the most highly sought vehicle type in today's market. Compact crossovers and SUV accounted for 18.2% of all auto sales in the US during 2018 and grew at an impressive 11.9% according to data compiled by Kelley Blue Book.

One compact SUV growing in prominence is the Hyundai Tucson. The Korean compact SUV saw US sales jump 24% last year to more than 142,000 units.

The current third-generation Tucson debuted in 2015 for the 2016 model year. This year, Hyundai gave the crossover a mid-life update that included a revised engine lineup, a brand new interior, new technology, and refreshed styling.

In the marketplace, Tucson's rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX- 5, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Recently, Business Insider had the chance to check out a new 2019 Hyundai Tucson Ultimate AWD in the roads in and around Atlanta, Georgia.

Read more: We drove a $34,000 Hyundai Tucson to see if it's a legitimate rival for Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. Here's the verdict.

In our review, we praised the Tucson for its eye-pleasing looks, solid driving dynamics, strong tech package, and expertly designed cabin. However, we were less than impressed by its engine performance.

"The 2019 Hyundai Tucson looks fantastic, handles well, delivers a comfortable ride, boasts a really well-designed cabin, and is packed with tech," we said. "However, its lackluster fuel economy and underwhelming powertrain hold it back from becoming one of the segment's elite offerings."

"Overall, it's a very good compact crossover SUV," we added. "Unfortunately, it competes in a segment packed with a slew of other very good crossovers and even one or two that are near perfect."

The base 2019 Tucson SE front-wheel-drive starts at $23,200 while the top-of-the-line Ultimate trim with front-wheel drive starts at $31,550. All-wheel-drive is a $1,400 option. With options and fees, our Tucson came to an as-tested price of $34,120.

Here's a closer look at its coolest features.

SEE ALSO: 25 hot cars at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

1. Snazzy styling: The Tucson received updated styling for the 2019 model year. And frankly speaking, we like it. It's stylish and modern while maintaining an understated elegance you want it a compact crossover.

2. Quality interior: Overall, we were impressed by the Tucson's interior. Material quality is, for the most part, solid. Although a few of the plastic trim pieces felt a bit too cheap for a $34,000 car.

3. Cabin ergonomics: Hyundai nailed it in terms of cabin ergonomics. All the buttons are clearly labeled while all of the important features are intuitively place and within arm's reach for the driver.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

from Tech Insider https://ift.tt/2FL1p9M
via IFTTT