This month we bid farewell to Tucson and we had no regrets. In fact, it was an unexpectedly difficult vehicle to replace.
After nearly 3 years with the Tucson, we were conflicted about how we’d fill the void. The trusty Tucson’s 1.6L turbocharged engine (1.6T) and 7-speed DCT made for lightning quick shifts and engaging acceleration with 0-60 times under 7 seconds with proper traction. It also averaged 32 MPG in our 2k mile trip to New Mexico and back, a stunning figure, especially considering the EPA rating for highway mileage is only 28 MPG. Aside from a cracked windshield during the trip, the Tucson gave us zero issues after nearly 24k miles of driving.
Our favorite features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, super-bright and bendy Xenon headlights, ventilated seats, dual zone climate controls, pano moon roof, and we used the AWD a few times (including during Texas’ legendary freeze). But how would we replace it?
As we parted with the Tucson, we hope it brings the same joy to its next owner. “I never missed a car I traded until this one,” said Christopher Martin. Before the Tucson, Chris was driving a 2015 Mini Cooper with turbo.
Replacing a vehicle seemed especially challening, especially as many dealerships have run low on stock and dramatically increased the cost of their vehicles beyond MSRP. But unlike many other brands, our local Hyundai dealership appeared less affected by the chip shortage and had many 2020 models still on the lot. The 2021 Santa Fe 2.5T happened to be on the lot and it caught our eye. We enjoyed the hybrid, but it was missing some of the features we wanted.
The dual LCD displays are optimized to deliver more information at a glance, reducing the need to touch buttons or the display. It’s futuristic and thoughtful.
Hyundai’s new Santa Fe is a marvel of engineering and design in both hardware and software. It’s powered by the 2.5L turbocharged engine connected to the new new 8-speed wet clutch DCT, the same powertrain we’ve seen in the Sonata N Line. It’s incredibly powerful, quiet, and refined. It also runs fine on regular. Here are some of the special abilities we’ve discovered so far:
Hardware:
- Engine reaches operating temps in 15-30 seconds.
- 8th gear handles 70 MPH (112 kph) @ 1750 RPM.
- Adaptive LED headlights and switchback signal lights.
- NFC-based smartphone key access (no fob needed).
Software:
- Paddle shifters and perfect rev-matching.
- Advanced lane follow and adaptive cruise.
- Background or pre-scheduled nav system updates.
- 360° camera with trajectory display and auto-brake.
Hyundai / Kia / Genesis have managed to do something few other brands have accomplished, their engineers have managed to craft modern safety features into vehicles that remain fun to drive and easy to use. It’s a powerful combination that has kept us coming back to Hyundai again and again.