Hyundai Tucson 2012

Hyundai Tucson 2012 – Another 2012 of Hyundai after 2012 Genesis, the 2012  Hyundai Tucson is a stylish five-passenger compact crossover SUV designed to compete against models such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-7, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4.  The 2012 Hyundai Tucson can get a bit busy at times with a stiffer-than-usual suspension and somewhat numb (but nimble) steering, and its cargo capacity of 58 cubic feet with its rear seat folded is not impressive compared to its competition.

The 2012 Hyundai Tucsons equipped with the 2.4-liter engine now get 32 mpg on the highway, up from 31. This is achieved by remapping engine and transmission response, putting on low-rolling resistance tires and making improvements in climate control. Lest you chortle at what you consider to be a paltry improvement, consider that the fuel tank size has increased from 14.5 gallons to 15.3 gallons.

The 2012 Hyundai Tucson comes in three flavors: GL, GLS and Limited. The base GL is comprehensively equipped with air conditioning, power windows, power locks with remote keyless entry, power mirrors, cloth upholstery, a manual driver’s seat height adjuster, a trip computer, and an audio system with satellite radio, an auxiliary input jack, and an iPod cable.

The Tucson GL rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, but the standard transmission is a manual gearbox. An automatic transmission and a handful of dealer-installed options are the only choices you need to make, aside from color combination.

The Limited will add 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery with heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlights, HomeLink, and a retractable cargo cover. To this, you can add the Premium Package, which further enlivens the cabin with a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system with real-time traffic information, a rear-view camera, the ability to stream tunes from your smartphone via Bluetooth, along with an upgraded sound system to enjoy them.

The popular Tucson GLS ups the ante with a bigger 2.4-liter engine and a standard automatic transmission, along with alloy wheels, Bluetooth hands-free calling, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, leatherette seat trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and soft-touch interior paint.

A 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 165 horsepower is standard on the Tucson GL. You get your choice between a five-speed manual gearbox that provides 20 mpg in the city or 27 mpg on the highway, or a six-speed automatic transmission which improves fuel economy numbers to 23-city/31-highway.

The 2012 Hyundai Tucson has a robust list of standard safety equipment. Six airbags protect you in case of an accident, and features like antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist help you avoid one.

Traction and stability control are also included on every model, along with Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), which keeps the vehicle from rolling backward when you’re getting started on an incline, and Downhill Brake Control (DBC), which helps regulate vehicle speed on steep descents.