I can't stop driving it!
I absolutely love my Tucson Limited. Mine was gifted to me for my 18th birthday by my grandmother who recently passed away back in November of 2017, and it was ordered without the Ultimate Package, but it has a literal ton of features and technology, and even some features I will probably never use!
It comes with the excellent 1.6L T-GDI turbo 4-cylinder paired with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. It does suffer from occasional rough shifts, and a large delay (1-2 seconds) in the throttle input, and the rare hesitation to downshift, but overall when you drive it smoothly and learn the characteristics of the transmission, you will enjoy it really well that you will keep looking at the steering wheel and second-guessing that you are in some kind of luxury vehicle. Put your foot down, and the AWD grips like hell and you get *softly* planted in the back of the seat, and stay in that feeling until third gear. Fuel mileage is also pretty great considering the power that it puts out; my Limited tends to get slightly above its 24 city, 28 highway EPA fuel economy estimate.
I love the interior of the Limited. Although it is pretty dark and dingy if you opt for the black leather seats, you can easily brighten it up with some trim work for not much. Soft touch is nearly everywhere you'd expect it, and the interior is clean, sharp, and is really well built. Seats are comfy, but I have to say that the seat front should extend out more for taller drivers (like myself) to prevent discomfort in your thighs. At least the Limited comes standard with heated seats, which is nice on long trips or when it is nail-bitingly cold out. There is occasional rattles about the cabin, but they are small and usually barely audible. I would strongly suggest going for the Infinity audio system. It kicks HARD and sounds incredible. There is plenty of room for everybody, and even sitting behind myself (I'm 6-foot 3), I fit perfectly behind the driver seat, with an inch or two of leg room left. It has up to 62 cu. ft. of cargo space, which is behind many competitors, but I don't have anything to say about the lack of cargo space.
Safety is plentiful, but I wish that AEB would've been more widespread across the Tucson lineup. I am well aware it is now standard on 2019 Tucsons, but I would've loved to have it after paying around $32,000 for my Tucson. At least the Limited comes with a backup camera, blind spot, and it comes with rear-cross traffic alert which has actually saved me quite a few times.
The embedded infotainment system is excellent, but it has quite a few hiccups in the navigation, as it can tend to "connect" roads and use private roads even when you turn the setting off in the navigation settings. It will get you where you want to go, but it does have a few hiccups.
The AWD is really great. It is *nearly* UNSTOPPABLE in the snow. It grips well, and you have the choice to lock the center coupling for an even 50/50 torque split up to 20 to 25 mph, where the automatic 4WD system takes over.
The Tucson's main thing to brag about is it has a dual-personality when driving. Sporty drivers will like the power the 1.6T puts out, Miata-like handling, the grippy AWD system, light and precise steering (you can firm the steering up in Sport mode), and little body roll around corners. For those that prefer a nice drive, you will love how soft and cushy the Tucson is. Big bumps? No problem. Steering is light, and it is very easy to drive leisurely.
This is a long review, but the Tucson overall is a really great buy, due to it being a great all-rounder with excellent value, spirited driving dynamics, almost luxurious appointments, and high levels of technology. In the past 12 months I have had my Tucson, I have NOT had a single issue with it. There was only one minor issue that came up which was the backup camera failing to show up (happened twice). The 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is a huge eye-opener, and it is a really great buy compared to the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V. I'm keeping my "Turbo" Tucson until she bites the dust, then I'm going to buy another one!
Recommended
Verified Owner
