When I started working in the automotive industry almost a decade ago, I remember the first Hyundai I drove.  It was the second generation,

An all-new look for the new all-new 2010 Tucson, it leaves the outgoing model far behind. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

three-door Accent.  While I didn’t think it was the greatest car I’d ever driven, it was pretty good.  Then the third generation Accent came along and blew me out of the water.  Not only were both of its body styles affordable, but they were well made, well equipped, and looked pretty good. 

This is a common trend I’ve found with all Hyundais I have driven over the years.  They just kept getting better and better.  With some of the industry’s highest accolades when it comes to safety and reliability, Hyundai keeps producing great cars.  With the introduction of the all-new, completely redesigned and remodeled 2010 Tucson, the trend continues. 

From the outside, the European-designed Tucson has greater road presence than the first generation.  With an aggressive front end, nice curves on the hood and a sleek back end, it’s no wonder people

The new Tucson pulls cues from the much larger Veracruz. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

find themselves attracted to it.  I just happened to catch other motorists looking at it when stopped at red lights.  Plus, the Garnet Red exterior paint was a fantastic shade and could be spotted a mile away.  The only exterior drawback I could think of on the base GL model was the set of P225/60R17 tires with 17” steel wheels and covers.  Then again, even with the steel wheels, this compact SUV looked pretty darn good.  To get the standard 17” aluminum alloy wheels, upgrading to the GLS trim is required. 

Going from the outside in, the Tucson’s cabin also receives an extreme makeover.  The end result is an ergonomic and very easy-to-operate

Upgraded interior is stylish and functional. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

centre stack combined with a very cool looking instrument cluster.  My favourite feature, however, was the 4-spoke steering wheel.  It felt very pleasant to the touch and I quite enjoyed its integrated audio, cruise and Bluetooth controls, all of which are standard on all models.  Furthermore, pairing the handsfree system with my phone was very easy and didn’t require me to look in the owner’s manual.  It’s simple and takes very little time, just make sure you’re idle before trying to pair the phone otherwise the function will not work. 

Unlike the last generation model, the 2010 Tucson only comes with one available engine.  But this is no ordinary engine.  It’s entirely new and actually has more output than the V6 engine it replaces.  The 2.4L, 16-valve, DOHC, 4-cylinder has an output of 176 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque. 

Great side bolstering for compact crossover seats. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

The engine can then be outfitted with either the standard 6-speed manual transmission (only offered on base GL trim) or the optional 6-speed automatic transmission.  This particular GL came with the optional auto tranny, which served me very well.  It has punch to it, and made city driving extremely convenient. 

And whether I was driving around town or cruising along the highway, I found the Tucson’s front MacPherson struts and rear multilink suspension to be rather ideal.  It’s not necessarily a vehicle that I would throw into turns at higher speeds, but it did seem to handle itself quite well in corners.  When yet another windstorm hit the West Coast, I had no qualms with its stability at highway speeds and enjoyed its comfortable

Roomy rear seat splits 60/40 for longer cargo. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

feel when traveling from point A to B.  I did, however, feel visibility was restricted out the rear window.  It’s shallow and makes it a bit difficult to back up or parallel park. 

If I were to be driving off the beaten path or found myself in an area with steep grades, the new Tucson features Hyundai's first use of hill descent control and hill start assist, which are standard on all models.  The latter is a particularly handy feature for those who are still trying to get comfortable when going uphill in a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission equipped vehicle, while the latter is a great tool to maintain vehicle control and speed while descending steep hills.  Now, combine this feature

Great power for the compact crossover class. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

with the standard 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), a handful of airbags, and you’ve got yourself one very safe vehicle, hill or no hill. 

Even with the addition of the AWD system and the optional automatic transmission, fuel economy wasn’t too bad.  It uses an average of 9.8L/100km in the city and 7.1L/100km on the highway.  The FWD automatic transmission gets slightly better economy with 9.0L/100km in the city and 6.3L/100km on the highway.  On the flip side, the 6-speed manual transmission doesn’t perform as well as the automatic

A new profile on the scene, make sure you add it to your shopping list. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

FWD counterpart as it uses an estimated 9.6L/100km in the city and 6.7L/100km on the highway. 

Overall, I remain impressed with the vehicles that Hyundai keeps bringing to the automotive table.  The 2010 Hyundai Tucson GL AWD is generously endowed with a host of standard and safety features and has a very affordable MSRP of $26,699.  Take away the automatic transmission and AWD and the base GL has an MSRP of $22,999.  I believe Hyundai has another winner on its hands and on its dealers’ lots.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint