Not as sporty as it looks, which is a good thing!

THE Hyundai Tucson has always been a solid and dependable player in the midsize SUV space.

- JASON WOOSEY

But despite its sportier looks, the latest generation model has failed to match the popularity of its predecessor.

That's not altogether surprising, given that in these tough times many buyers have gravitated towards more affordable vehicles, such as the locally-produced Toyota Corolla Cross, and the proliferation of new cut-price offerings from China. Hyundai SA has responded as best they can, releasing a facelifted model earlier this year, which brought a R39,000 price cut to the base version, with the 2.0 Premium petrol model now costing R559,900.

And while many rivals have ditched diesel power, Hyundai still offers its 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine in the other two Tucson models, but these are a little on the expensive side, with the 2.0D Executive selling at R709,900 and the 2.0D AWD N-Line that we tested recently, retailing at R859,900.