Hyundai Tucson NX4 2.0L Petrol Highlander (2021-2024)

The Highlander trim is worth the upgrade, but it could come with a better engine option – The Tucson’s Highlander trim gets plenty of upgrades over the base model car. It has leather, screens and a panoramic sunroof. Don’t worry, these plush upgrades over the cheaper trims isn’t just some cover up for cheaper quality. What I noticed is that the build quality is of a higher standard than the previous generation. There are less scratchy plastics used on the inside, external trim pieces are all put together with greater accuracy and on the road, and there are few rattles and squeaks.

Some panel gaps on the bonnet are a little large for my liking, and the lightweight feeling of the doors isn’t a compliment to what the Tucson is trying to achieve.

This particular Tucson Highlander is priced from $46,000 before on-road costs. That’s a killer deal for the most part.

I thought the optional feature-packed Highlander trim was a must for this next generation Tucson. It takes advantage of all the additional space, and compliments the striking exterior design.

The front-passenger electric seat controls, rear heated seats, front heated/cooled seats, radar cruise control, panoramic sunroof, parking cameras, automatic tailgate, larger alloy wheels and of course, the heated steering wheel - all do their part to make the Tucson an ideal daily driver.

It’s easy to drive, it’s safe, it’s very spacious for all passengers,and it lets plenty of light into the cabin. There’s a lot to love when you splash a little more cash on the Highlander trim.

This is the Highlander trim for the more price conscious, as its weakest link is the 2.0L naturally-aspirated petrol four cylinder motor. Only receiving power through the front wheels, it’s the cost-saving powertrain options if all you care about are creature comfort features.

It’s still a great value-for-money proposition, but I’d spend a little more to make the most of the Tucson and all it has to offer by opting for an AWD version with a turbo-diesel or turbo petrol engine.

The Highlander trim Tucson gets an audio upgrade too, in the form of a BOSE audio system.

The speakers and the sound they produce aren’t comparable with a pair of BOSE speakers you’d buy for your home. They’re simply an upgrade to the normal audio system, adding more bass, power and clarity at higher volumes.

The worst part about this listening experience is the lack of sound deadening of the outside world. The interior gets more than its fair share of road noise and external sound that bleeds a little more than I’d like. So much so, that speed-sensitive volume adjustment is enabled, which raises the volume of your audio as more noise enters the cabin.

Coarse roads and loud external environments are more noticeable in this cabin, but the noise level settles once you’re away from these distractions.

Producing 115kW at 6,200rpm and 192Nm at 4,500rpm, which translates to 75.3kW per tonne, this isn’t a powerhouse of an engine.

What felt surreal was how brisk the Tucson could move up to the speed limit, without an overwhelming sense of speed. It sort of floated through to the posted speed limit without too much fuss or whine.

The 6-speed automatic torque convertor transmission is the perfect pairing for what the Tucson is out to achieve.

It’s meant to be comfortable and relaxing - a space to unwind and travel without too much involvement in the driving experience.

Another major win for the Tucson was just how comfortable and capable it felt on the daily commute.

Even with those larger wheels, the car glides across the tarmac in a manner that allows you to avoid being disrupted by a busy-feeling ride.

Through corners, this SUV manages to combat a lot of body roll. This happens up until you throw the steering wheel hard and fast -that’s when you’ll make the softer suspension set-up more apparent.

It’s a thirsty motor, that’s for sure. A larger SUV being powered by a non-turbo petrol four cylinder is a recipe for higher fuel consumption.

I saw my average consumption figure around the 12L per 100km range. This isn’t great, seeing as a motor like this needs to rev higher than its turbocharged counterparts to deliver all it has to offer.

Hyundai has completely redesigned the Tucson’s interior, from drab to what feels like a post-modern living area.

The cabin is airy, with plenty of light flooding in from the roof, massive windshield and side windows.

The key to achieving a feeling of more space is to push the dashboard back towards the firewall as far as you can, and, removing the instrument binnacle cover. As back-lit dials are being replaced with screens, the Tucson doesn’t require a cover to provide contrast. Instead, the 10.25-inch drivers display is easily viewed in direct sunlight.

The steering wheel design is unique and compliments the ‘quirky’ exterior design well. It’s not just the front seats which have improved space. The rear seats also benefit from an overhauled seating position, providing a sense of space throughout the cabin, rather than just for the front occupants.

Packing 539L of boot space with all seats in the upright position, the Tucson makes the most of its updated interior.

There’s plenty of usable space, thanks to the vertical roof design and flat load floor. I would, however, recommend using the included cargo net to secure small and loose items. That hard plastic cladding in the boot makes quite the racket when struck with items such as a water bottle. Fold the seats in a 60:40 split via the pull-tabs from the boot, and you reveal a total usable space of 1860L.

It’s the main reason I’d want a more powerful motor, as I’d want to take advantage of loading up the Tucson without having to worry about the impact on my engine’s performance.

Rear seat occupants win the comfort war here. Front passengers are treated to the view out the larger windshield.

However, the rear occupants can make use of the folding bench design and sliding bench that allows for supreme levels of comfort in a mid-size SUV.

The rear left passenger even has controls for the front left seat, to push it forward and create excess levels of legroom for themselves. Thanks to a relatively flat transmission/exhaust tunnel, this is a rare win for the middle seat passenger to not just have ample posterior comfort, but also have a place to put their shoes too!

Out of the mundane but must-have mid-size SUV segment, the Tucson sure is a breath of fresh air.

It’s obvious that it lacks power with this base motor, and my only upgrade/recommendation would be to splash the extra cash on that turbocharged and AWD unit. It would make for a potent family car only after that.

However, say if you make do with this base motor, you’ll quickly become infatuated with just how comfortable and stylish the new Tucson is.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.