THE SUV FAMILY FAVOURITE THAT GIVES MORE FOR LESS

No-nonsense, roomy Mk3 Tucsons are plentiful, practical and affordable

- ALEX WOLSTENHOLME

Launched in 2015, the third-generation Hyundai Tucson quickly became a family favourite SUV in a fiercely competitive segment - and the firm's best-seller in Europe. Which is good news for today's used buyer, because it means there are plenty of them on offer in the classifieds.

Sift through them diligently - there can be reliability issues with some, as we will explain - and you can bag yourself a practical, well-equipped, cavernous bargain.

The Mk3 Tucson lineup is relatively straightforward to decipher, with a range of pure petrols and diesels, plus a 48V mild hybrid. All engines are ULEZ-compliant, but there are no full-hybrid or zero-emission variants. At launch, there was a choice of two 'Gamma' 1.6-litre petrols: a naturally aspirated unit with 133bhp and a turbocharged version with 174bhp. On the diesel front, buyers could pick a 113bhp 1.7-litre or a 2.0-litre with 134bhp or 181bhp.