New 2019 Hyundai Tucson facelift to be released soon

KUALA LUMPUR: Showcased earlier this year at the 2018 New York Auto Show, the facelifted Hyundai Tucson 2019 features a smoother design and plenty of upgrades. And guess what, the car is now open for pre-order. Hyundai Sime Darby Motors - the official importer and distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia, has confirmed that the car will be introduced at the end of this month.

Tucson 2019 exterior has flowing surfaces and sharp lines. Yet, the most notable transformation is the new front bumper with its large and sharp ‘cascading’ grille – Hyundai signature design. It is flanked by redesigned headlights with DRL LED that are more angular now. The cat's eye reflector on the back is now positioned higher to accompany the new LED brake light, which sports new graphics. The rear features a new bumper line and a double square-shaped exhaust that displaces the old single one. The car also gets a new 17-inch rim design, available depending on the trim a buyer selects.

On the inside, the dashboard mirrors the design of the fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. It features the dual-curved architecture and a centre top 7-inch display for the infotainment system. Nonetheless, the placement of physical shortcut buttons next to the touchscreen requires a wide bezel. Below it is placed the redesigned horizontal air-con vents. In the previous generation, these vents were in line with the centre console. Additional features include Smart Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go traffic assist, High Beam Assist, and Qi wireless charging among others. More specs and information will only be known closer to the launch.

Tucson facelift is available in two mill options- the 1.6-litre Turbo and the 2.0-litre Elegance. The 1.6-litre T-GDI produces a maximum power of 177 PS and a peak torque of 265 Nm. It comes coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While the NU Natural Intake Engine 2.0-litre produces 155 PS of top power at 6,200 rpm and a maximum torque of 192 Nm and is likely to be paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The prices are expected to start from RM 123,888 on-road excluding insurance. With a five-year/300,000 km warranty and three-year/50,000 km free service, the car will surely be worth its value! Once in the Malaysian market, the redesigned Tucson will take on the competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V.