BHPian TorqueLord recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Hi all, I am considering an upgrade from my Slavia 1.0 AT and test drove the Tucson petrol today on the same stretch where I have driven the Q3, Kodiaq, and the Tucson diesel. As far as requirements from my new car go – a) should have adequate power and b) good ride quality. The realization has come from driving on the broken roads of Mumbai and surrounding areas where there is little scope for maxing out power, but good ride quality is the key differentiating factor in terms of feeling refreshed after a drive. I had TDed the Tucson diesel a few weeks back and even though I enjoyed the power, I found the steering to be hard and the ride quality to be stiff. More importantly, my running is low at maximum 5,000-6,000kms/year largely in the city, and I don’t want to be saddled with potential DPF issues. Hence I asked for a TD of the Tucson petrol. And I loved it. What I liked? 1. The soft suspension and good ride quality. I went through some broken patches and gravel type roads, and the Tucson was rather composed. While the ride quality was not Q3 level good, it was much better than the Kodiaq on its Hankook EV tyres. For me, I would put this at about 80% of the Q3 which is very good in my books, and Tucson would make an ideal long distance companion. 2. The long list of features that work well – for instance the ADAS seems to be well calibrated for Indian conditions and didn’t intrude while driving. I don’t care much about features – but I like the fact that it has memory seats (Q3 doesn’t), and an actual TPMS (both Kodiaq and Q3 don’t which I find bewildering). But the Q3 has auto dimming side mirrors, which I think is a nifty feature for night drives. But in the features department Tucson stands ahead of the Q3, X1 and Kodiaq. 4. The rear space is miles ahead of both the Q3 and the Kodiaq. I can’t put a finger on it, but the Kodiaq seemed a bit too “contained” and didn’t appear roomy while the Tucson does so. The hump at the rear is also very small and therefore three people (atleast in my family) can sit comfortably. The rear hump was a drawback in all the German cars I have test driven so far and they are by and large 4 seaters. 5. The SA who came along said that there is a 3 year maintenance package, and after that the annual service cost is Rs 10-15k per annum, which seems competitive. 6. The commanding driving position – I have a sedan and I didn’t realize what I was missing till I drove these SUVs. 7. Comes with a full size alloy spare in the petrol models, the diesel ones apparently have a smaller, non-alloy spare. The presence of full size spare is a sharp contrast to the Q3 which apparently doesn’t have a spare, and the Kodiaq and the X1 comes with donuts. 8. The panoramic sunroof comes with thicker cover compared to the ones in Kodiaq which felt quite flimsy. What’s not so great? 1. The engine is quite ho-hum and there is a lack of in-your-face power when you press down the A-pedal. I was in the sports mode and the organ A-pedal was fully pressed down and the engine started groaning, and speed was climbing quite linearly. The diesel Tucson in the same stretch set my pants on fire. 2. The lack of AWD compared to Kodiaq/Q3 showed up and the handing was not as nifty. Not nearly as fun to drive as the Q3/Kodiaq. 3. The brakes are a bit mushy and lacked the sharpness I felt in the Kodiaq, Q3 and I feel in my own Slavia. 3. The SA said the mileage is 6-8kmpl in the city and 10-12kmpl in the highway, which seems low for an NA engine? What’s the verdict? All things considered, I think as a package the Tucson petrol is fantastic especially for sedate driver like myself with barely 10-15% outstation highway drives. In congested cities like Mumbai where I have never even maxed out on my Slavia 1.0 AT as there is always a pedestrian, two-wheeler or a rick waiting to spring out from the middle of nowhere which forces you to be super careful. Hence for these conditions combined with occasional highway usage I find the Tucson petrol to be a very competent. Therefore for a family of 5 whose requirements are similar to mine (largely city and occasional highway usage, petrol, sedate driving) and want a premium SUV, the Tucson fits to the T. The pricing further tilts the balance in favor of the Tucson petrol given that the top end version is < 35 lacs post the GST cuts, when the Kodiaq is in the low 50s and the Q3 PP is available for high 40s. While I can still justify the Q3 for the badge, I am not sure whether the Kodiaq worth as much given the price tag. Will the Tucson make its way into my garage? After eliminating the Kodiaq, x1-18i, and the Tucson diesel, it comes down to the Q3 and the Tucson petrol. I might still end up with the Q3, because there is a part of me that wants to scratch my "German itch", but the Tucson does present a compelling proposition for my requirements. I don't know whether my heart (Q3) or my head (Tucson petrol) will win - maybe it will become clearer with time. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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