2005 Hyundai Tucson Review Ames IA

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Introduction

Hyundai Tucson -- 2005 Review: With dramatic gains in quality, competitive vehicle designs, and one of the industry's best power train warranties, Hyundai is finally coming into its own. Recent awards for quality and value have put Hyundai on consumers' radar in record numbers. In fact, Hyundai is now the fourth best-selling import brand in the U.S., and the addition of vehicles such as the 2005 Tucson point the way to continued success. Hyundai's new 2005 Tucson, in fact, is the first volley of a massive product offensive. On sale now, the Tucson is a small SUV designed to compete with the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV-4. Hyundai expects to sell about 40,000 Tucsons next year, and after a day of driving the new SUV on the city streets, freeways, mountain roads, and coastal routes in and near Portland, Ore., we're convinced that the company is poised to continue winning customers and critical acclaim.

Competitors

Based upon a heavily modified Elantra platform, the Tucson has a longer wheelbase, shorter length, and greater width than its key competitors. Lighter than the Escape and the CR-V, the 2005 Hyundai Tucson also features more front leg room than those two models, and exceeds both the Escape and RAV-4 in terms of rear seat leg room. Other interior dimensions stack up competitively, including cargo space, which measures 22.7 cubic feet with the rear seat raised and 65.5 cubic feet with the rear seat lowered.

Hyundai sells the Tucson in three well-equipped trim levels: GL, GLS, and LX. All Tucsons come with front side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags for the front and rear occupants, a stability control system, a traction control system, and antilock brakes. In fact, the 2005 Hyundai Tucson is the least expensive vehicle equipped with side-curtain airbags and stability control.