[BlackAdam]

Meet Mr. Buzz Lightyear

Pros:

• This is one hell of a looker. I have had people meeting me in the Condo and Mall parking, at the traffic lights to speak, ogle and click pictures of the car. A full-on mini-celebrity moment for the car, albeit not for me. With its futuristic looks, it surely is an attention grabber.
• Is a well-rounded fun-to-drive city dweller with sorted driving dynamics, easy steering, and quick reflexes. This is one SUV that feels like a sedan to drive.
• The 2.0 Diesel engine has oodles of power-on-tap. It can go from a sedate sedan to a jet-packed supercar in seconds. Slot the gear in Sports, and see the steering gather weight and catapult you/occupants back in the seats as it rockets across roads
• ADAS Level 2 is a God-send. None of the ADAS features feel gimmicky and have come together to offer a convenient, safe drive whenever I am on the road. (more on this later in the post)
• Feature-rich gadget haven offers a big-bang experience. Although, quite a few features feel like straight lifts from the poor cousins (Creta, Alcazar), the all-around experience is quite plush. Albeit, the price-to-feature ratio isn't much to write home on

Cons:

• Doesn’t have a 37 lakh feel. My cousin’s MG Hector at Rs. 22lakh on-road had a better in-car feel and experience
• Not a proper SUV in dimensions. It doesn’t have the tall-boy stance nor the intimidating profile that mean boys might look for. It's more of a suave, executive quasi-SUV with decent ground clearance. Don’t expect this one to deliver road intimidation
• Missing features galore. Rear Sunblinds, Heated ORVM’s, Paddle Shifters, Cooled Glove box, Zero Type-C Charging, Wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay, etc. are absolute blasphemy. When I am spending Big-30, I expect some, if not all these in my car.

INTRODUCTION

As some of you might have read my conundrum post (Switch to Electric (Commit to Electric, or bet safe on Diesel | Monthly run of >1000 km)), I have been in the market to upgrade my ride from the previously owned Hyundai i20 Asta 2016. This time I had a few want to be chalked out.

- A fun-to-drive car that can gobble uneven roads, has a planted stance, and can deliver a comfortable ride
- Has to be the absolute top-of-the-line
- Budget to be around Rs. 35 lakh OTR Gurugram
- Should be an SUV or a quasi-SUV


Cars Considered:

1) Jeep Compass 'S' Diesel 9-Speed Auto
2) MG ZS EV
3) Hyundai Tucson Signature Diesel AWD

FINAL CONSIDERATION

1. Jeep Compass 'S' Diesel 9-Speed Auto - While I had booked the Jeep Compass from both Landmark Dealerships in Gurugram and New Delhi to ensure delivery on the promised date, the more I researched on the car, the dicier I was on the decision. From rattling issues on new cars, the hit-and-miss service experience, the nonchalant dealership relationships, and unsavory ownerships had me rethinking my decision every living moment. The final nail in the coffin was a friend from Assam who sold off his JC within 3 months due to the constant niggles and bad dealership support.
   
2. MG ZS EV - India is still not ready for all-out Electrics. There it is, I said it. From abnormal waiting periods (my booking was supposed to fructify only in June 23) to archaic electricity wattage support in my condo and lackadaisical RWA support, I had seen apathy at the macro level, that I couldn’t come round with. And hence, the ZS EV went out of consideration as soon as it came in.

BUYING EXPERIENCE

PRICING

The Hyundai Tucson Signature 2.0 Diesel cost me Rs. 37,43,604, ex. Showroom Gurugram. The price breakup is as follows:

Ex. Showroom - 32,87,000
Registration - 3,32,480
Insurance - 89,754
Hypo - 1,500
TCS - 32,870

No discounts are offered. The only negotiation possible was on the Insurance, where the original quotation was of Rs. 1,46,000/-, which was brought down to Rs. 89,754/-, thanks to a similar quotation from Policybazaar.

EXTERIOR

DESIGN AND STYLE

As I mentioned, this one is a looker. Take away the Hyundai logo and add some visual elements, and you have a future-ready car at your disposal. This one attracts attention. Based on the Vision T Concept, the Hyundai Tucson has so many firsts added to its kitty. Right from the hidden LEDs in the parametric grille to the eagle claws' reverse lights, the lighting is on point and is a literal eye-catcher.



- The Eagle Claws

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- The Hidden Jewels

Add to these the futuristic cuts, the chunky 235/60 R18 wheels, and the coupe-ish design language, and you get a road-worthy, and 192 mm high-ground clearance certified sportscar. The long wheelbase version is a boon to Indian families with ample amounts of room in the interior that brings in a lot of comfort to the second-row seats. My family, especially my septuagenarian mother and a young son love the back seat coming from the i20, and nothing else could make me happier.



With a good build quality, the car oozes confidence and has reassuring thuds all around. Albeit, the Jeep Compass feels stronger, the Tucson is no miser either. While we all know of the Latin-NCAP test outcomes, but out on the road, this car will inspire trust and safety. This car boasts a host of safety features on offer such as 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC (electronic stability control), VSM (vehicle stability management), hill start assist, downhill brake control, TPMS, and 360-degree camera, alongside the Hyundai SmartSense - the ADAS Level 2 features (only on the Signature variant), allowing for greater peace of mind to the family. Some of the ADAS level 2 features including forward collision avoidance assist, Blind spot collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, and high beam assist has been helping me in my drives every day. I have come to realize that these are much more than just fancy names, and have greater usability on our roads as well. The first-hand experience of a young couple on a silent, electric bike driving recklessly had my forward collision avoidance assistant working overtime to ensure they don’t get hit while ensuring to brake as required to ensure nothing happens to the beloved car. That in itself was all my money worth. Thanks, ADAS for keeping us safe!

Assuring greater peace of mind is the 3-year - unlimited km warranty that can be extended to 5 years at a paltry sum. I have been quoted Rs. 28,785/- as additional charges for the 4th and 5th year extended warranty, that for an Rs. 38 lakh car is a convenient amount. I highly recommend taking this one. Assures much much for a CKD unit. Additionally, as a first, Hyundai is offering three years of complimentary maintenance, which essentially halves the service cost for the car, making it a great value-add.

INTERIOR

Cabin Design

The beige (light grey and black) color combination is my biggest gripe. Why on earth did Hyundai think this will be the right combination for a hot, humid, pollution-laden country like India? My car already has chips masala on the backseat, bits of sweat marks on the center handrest, and dusty fingerprints on the dashboard, amongst others. Guess, an additional Rs. 2,000 is to be added as an interior deep-cleaning cost every month.



On the other hand, the interior layout, especially the fronts is futuristic and straightforward. With no MID bump or Centre AVN obscuring your dashboard view, you have an uncluttered commanding view of the bonnet and the road ahead allowing for a better-placed drive. Trust me, you will appreciate this clever engineering of keeping the MID and the AVN below the dashboard levels when you drive out on the roads, as a butter plain dashboard allows for expansive views of the roads and traffic ahead. A big plus for India.



Now in terms of fit and finish, while the fit gets a 9 on 10, the finish may warrant a 7.5 only. The only reason that the soft-touch elements, the leather pads are not that soft enough and can only pass off marginally as soft-touch. In comparison, the Jeep Compass has a more premium soft-touch appeal that elevates the luxe quotient. In this parameter, Hyundai needed to add more premium elements to its top-of-the-pyramid product in India. Also, I might point out that the fabric inserts between the door pads and the dashboard are of premium quality and offer a unique touch experience.

Interior Spaces

Set in a comfortable position, it is very easy to get in and out of the car. Right from my aged mother, to my young son, all have been quite comfortable accessing the car. Add to that multiple recline angles of the backseat make both of them very comfortable in the car. As mentioned earlier, there are acres of space in the car, and hence everyone is very comfortable traveling within. The cushioning is on point, and it is easy to just sink into the seats. Adding to the comfort is the supple suspension that is tuned very nicely for soaking up road undulations making this a very practical, yet comforting ride. In Delhi-NCR, where the car has mostly traveled, multiple roads with varying degrees of construction have been easily gobbled up by the soft set suspension that has not let any inconvenience to the family or me.



(The varied levels of recline available on the back seat. Three to be exact. You can pick your desired comfort level, as required.)

Driving Seating and Front Ambience

With 2 memory seat functions plus 10-way adjustable power seats, it takes a minute to find a comfortable seat position that offers commanding views of the roads ahead, yet a planted seating position. The same goes for the co-passenger seat with its 8-way adjustable seating enabling my wife to choose her most comfortable seating.



I will like to mention the smaller diameter and lightness of the steering wheel that makes driving a pleasure. The easy-to-set rake and reach-adjusted steering offer great feedback and have a sedan-like feel. However, slot the gear into the Sports mode, and the wheel picks up weight offering a great driving experience. Do note that the car starts in the Comfort mode, and one needs to toggle the drive selector every time to move into the other three modes - Eco, Sports, or Smart. Steering feedback differentiates in all drive modes and offers great feedback and a diverse drive experience.



One thing that pulls you towards the car is the fabulous 360-degree view camera system that has a high-definition output. I will even go ahead to claim that the camera output is at par, or at times even better than much expensive luxury cars. The nighttime visibility is excellent, as are the side mirror cameras that show you micro-details to ensure a hassle-free drive experience.

In terms of cabin storage, the door pads can hold 1-liter bottles with 500ml glass holders in between the front seats. The glovebox, while illuminated with a decent storage area, still lacks the cooling function that the outgoing car had.

I love the new diffuse feature in the air-conditioning that lets out whiffs of cool air from micro pores across the dashboard allowing for uniform cooling in the cabin. Gone are the days when air-conditioning was a ‘blow of air in your face' experience. I am sure a lot of competition is making notes, and you will see the Diffuse function under varied names making its way into future cars. Since buying the vehicle, I have only used the diffuse function, and the traditional Auto Air mode looks so archaic now.

The greater creature comforts have been covered in detail in Omkar’s excellent review that I will refer you to all prospective buyers to read in detail. It was this review that allowed me to finalize my purchase decision and ensured I had the best car-owning experience.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE

Reading Omkar’s review helped me clear my mind on buying the Diesel 2.0 over the Petrol 2.0. And glad that I did. The Diesel is punchy and eager to be driven. With an output of 183 BHP and 416 Nm torque, this beast is a driver’s delight. The power band is sweet, revs short, and offers a brilliant drive experience.

What makes this engine leaps and bounds better than the competition is its refinement. Fire it up, and all you hear is a dim hum. Accelerating in a linear motion, you never feel at a loss of power. Overtaking is easier with the gear ratio slotting in the right gear as required while allowing for an easy ambling drive for those relaxed mornings. I have never felt any jerks while shifting from P to R, N to D, thus allowing a smile every time the car is unchained. However, if the diesel grunt is music to your ears, slot the car in the Sports mode and throttle the engine to feel the raw grunt of the diesel mill taking over. Trust me, it is an exhilarating drive thereon.

Hyundai’s reliability mated to a premium product offering with all creature and safety features is what makes this product an all-out winner in my mind. Albeit, seemingly higher priced than the competition, I would say, that premiumness does come at a cost. And trust me, if you decide to invest in this machine, you are sure to be rewarded with a satiating smile every time you switch off the car post an engaging drive. After all, as they say, the heart knows best.

Happy motoring, family.



(A parting shot to drool over)

[Phantom 510]

Congratulations!! It's a wonderful product by Hyundai that looks the part, kitted with features, has a diesel auto combo and lastly the strong after sales service of Hyundai.

[noufal.ps]

Congrats on the new car mate. Looks stunning and of course Hyundai has kept lines on this clean.

How's the suspension on bad roads? I heard at par with hector on comfort

[pms]

Congrats, car looks super!! Wish you miles of safe and happy motoring.
Just a question on ambient lighting which I missed to check in my test drive and not clearly explained in any of the offline & online reviews - is it a thin LED strip encompassing the whole cabin or something else?

[Sebzgeo89]

Congrats, looks absolutely smashing in white!
The one thing that immediately looked odd to me is the dealership name and phone number on the number plate. Hope you have already removed it.

[neel911]

Congratulations on the car. Wishing you many miles of happy driving. Thanks for starting ownership thread

One question I have with respect to back support for middle rear passenger. I found it on firm side(this is part of arm rest) and though there is oodles of space, I'm not sure how comfortable or relaxed the middle passenger would feel. I found the padding on my Honda city better. Any inputs on this as I did not get to spend lot of time.

[rohanraarora]

Congratulation, It's definitely buzzing.
What was the waiting period on this one?

[BlackAdam]

Originally Posted by noufal.ps

Congrats on the new car mate. Looks stunning and of course Hyundai has kept lines on this clean.

How's the suspension on bad roads? I heard at par with hector on comfort

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The Tucson has a well-planted stance and offers a soft suspension. It has a cushy feel and not much undulations enter the cabin. In all, a very comfortable ride, at par with Hector, if not better.

[Brishti]

Can you tell compared to compass how big is the internal space with respect to 1st, 2nd and luggage space?

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by Brishti

Can you tell compared to compass how big is the internal space with respect to 1st, 2nd and luggage space?

Apologize for jumping in. I recently sold my Compass and also took a test drive of the Tucson a couple of days ago.

There is no comparison between the two. The Tucson is almost a full size bigger in all respects. The interior cabin space is much more than the Compass especially the rear seats and the boot area is almost double the size of Compass.

Refinement levels are stupendous and it's a very refined and has a very well matched engine gearbox combo as compared the the Compass.

Compass is was quite vocal and has the typical Diesel clatter and resonating boom inside the cabin as well as outside. The gearbox on the Compass is a very lethargic in comparison to Tucson as well.

[BlackAdam]

Originally Posted by rohanraarora

Congratulation, It's definitely buzzing.
What was the waiting period on this one?

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Hi Rohan,

I guess my stars had aligned for the Tucson. I booked on September 10th, and got the delivery on September 17th. Albeit, the official waiting periods are close to 5 months now, but while another customer was iffy on the colour and delivery date choice, I grabbed the deal immediately.

[vijaykr]

Originally Posted by BlackAdam

I booked on September 10th, and got the delivery on September 17th.

That is fantastic on the super quick delivery and many congratulations on your new car. Wishing you thousands of kms of safe and enjoyable drives Looking forward to more posts with your experiences as you travel more.

[itwasntme]

Congrats! Looks amazing and wish you many years and miles of motoring.

One request: can you put up a bunch of pictures taken during evening/night? Wanted to see the indicators, DRLs (with and without headlights), and the rear talon lights too.

Also, if possible the headlight throw in pitch darkness.

[Abhinav6683]

Originally Posted by BlackAdam

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The Tucson has a well-planted stance and offers a soft suspension. It has a cushy feel and not much undulations enter the cabin. In all, a very comfortable ride, at par with Hector, if not better.

An excellent Choice.

Can we get an update as to how the car has been performing and the service schedules or any niggles or issues faced. I am also considering the Tuscon so wanted any update if you can give.

TIA