The Hyundai Tucson’s launch – which was supposed to happen on October 24, ahead of Diwali – has been deferred. Now, the much-anticipated SUV’s release date is believed to have been shifted to sometime before the end of this year. However, the bookings for the Tucson have already commenced at select dealerships, though unofficially.
The South Korean automaker didn’t reveal any specific reason for the delay. However, we feel that the real reason might be the recently launched Elantra, since a few of the variants of the Tucson might clash with those of the Elantra’s, leading to cannibalism. Also, the Elantra is doing well and perhaps Hyundai wants to cash in on the spurt in customer enthusiasm for the sedan during the ongoing festive season.
Let us give you a quick refresh of what the Tucson will offer in India. The third-generation SUV will come with both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol will be borrowed from the Elantra – 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated, Atkinson cycle motor (152PS/ 192Nm). The SUV will also come with a 2.0-litre diesel (185PS/ 400Nm). Both the engines are likely to come with an option of six-speed manual or automatic. The Tucson will share its features – such as ventilated seats, eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto, smart boot release, among others – with the Elantra.
As was the case with the new Elantra, we expect Hyundai to price the SUV aggressively. It will sit between the popular Creta and Hyundai’s flagship product – the Santa FE – and will compete with crossovers/SUVs such as the Honda CR-V and the Skoda Yeti.
