Last summer I had the privilege of driving the 2016 Hyundai Tucson in Minneapolis for its media launch. Now I got to drive it for a week in my home of Southern California. How would the compact SUV hold up on the streets and freeways of Orange County? Let's find out as I took the Tucson through the historic streets in Downtown Orange!
The stylish good looks of the Hyundai Tucson will stand out here in the glitz of Southern California! The now signature large Hyundai grill and the wrap around headlights will surely catch your eye. Powering these stylish good looks is a 164-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine on the SE. All other trims have the option of a 175-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. There is more than enough power to conquer the streets and freeways of the O.C. area.
The cockpit is nicely laid out. The basic SE version that I am reviewing here comes equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen with audio display and rear view camera and several power ports. The Eco, Sport and Limited trims come with heated and cooled leather seats, a larger infotainment screen with navigation, a panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, lane departure warning, rear view camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. The Eco and SE trims however do not have 19-inch alloy wheels and go for a more efficient 17-inch alloy wheel.
