Car Review: 2014 Hyundai Tucscon

If you're a young couple or young family seeking a new vehicle and don't want the bulk of a large SUV or minivan, but need something slightly larger than a compact car, the 2014 Hyundai Tucson might be for you.

The Hyundai Tucson is a Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV) with a sophisticated exterior and interior. It is definitely smaller than the average SUV, but gives you slightly more space than a compact car or small family sedan.

I had the opportunity to test drive the 2014 Hyundai Tucson for a week, and found it to be a solid vehicle that wouldn't fit my particular family's needs, but would be a good option for couples without kids, or those with younger children.

Price

The 2014 Hyundai Tucson has an MSRP starting at $21,450.

Mileage

23 City / 29 Highway

Space & Storage

This CUV is ideal for a family with babies, toddlers, or preschool-age children. The driver and passenger seats have adequate legroom and are quite comfortable. However, the backseat is very tight. My seven and 10-year-old kids are small compared to average American children, and even they didn't have enough legroom in the back. Older children and grown adults might find the backseat uncomfortable, and there is also no room for backpacks, books, etc. in the backseat that older children typically have with them.

The trunk is adequate for general daily commuting for work or for shuttling young kids around. Parents who have a few older kids involved with sports and other activities might find the trunk space to be quite tight.

Style: Interior

The Hyundai Tucson received a refresh in its interior design in 2014, and looks very nice inside. The 2014 model is wonderfully equipped to meet our modern technology needs, and comes with a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, a USB port with an iPod cable and an auxiliary input. 

The driver side console is well designed, and I absolutely applaud Hyundai for designing a main console that doesn't have 650 buttons and sliders, as most newer vehicles seem to have. This one contains just what you need to drive, with no unnecessary buttons to confuse or distract you while you're driving.

Style: Exterior

The 2014 Hyundai Tucson is a great looking vehicle. It has a slightly sloped roof, and well balanced exterior design.

Small exterior design touches like the lined lighting of the sideview mirrors give it a sleek, sophisticated look.

The Drive

The 2014 Hyundai Tucson drives smoothly, and although other consumers have reported that the engine is noisy when accelerating, I didn't find that to be the case. It maneuvered well on our neighborhood windy roads and steep hills.  It was an excellent vehicle to take up to Mt. Hood for the Wild About Game event (see two pictures above); it handled all of the curves up and down the mountain quite well. Where this vehicle really shined, however, was in the city; I found it to be zippy and super responsive to fast stops, quick turns, and it was incredibly easy to parallel park into tight spaces.

Final Thoughts

I liked the 2014 Hyundai Tucson, but didn't love it, mainly because it doesn't meet my busy family of four's daily needs in a vehicle. If you're looking to test drive it against similar vehicles, the Tucson has been compared to the Honda CR-V, the Subaru Forrester, and the Toyota Rav4. We used to have a Rav4 many years ago that was actually more spacious than the Hyundai Tucson, but I did find the Tucson to drive well and have quality interior and exterior details. At this price range, I think it's a solid vehicle that young couples and young families should at least check out.

What details do you look for when selecting a vehicle for you/your family?

I was given the 2014 Hyundai Tucson pictured in this article to test drive for one week. All opinions and photos are, as always, my own.