Sexy Beast
This all-new Tuscon is just drop dead gorgeous! I think it’s perfectly chiseled all around and looks fantastic from any angle. No part too big nor too small, no corner too round nor too boxy. And amongst the colors available (Vanilla White, Sleek Silver, Phantom Black, and Gray Titanium), my vote goes to Silky Bronze, as it just brings out the best from this vehicle.
The test unit I got hold of was no ordinary Tucson, but the R-eVGT 2.0L GLS 4WD Premium. In other words, top of the line, baby! With its panorama sunroof, and the full moon out, all you gotta do is invite a couple of friends into the roomy cabin, pop open a few cans of soda, hook up your iPod to the head unit for music of your choice, and voila, an instant star-gazing party! I digress.
Going back to the topic of views, the Tucson has a backup camera which allows clear inspection of what’s behind the vehicle. The video is automatically displayed on one third of the rear view mirror the moment you shift to reverse. Though a bit disorienting, it’s very helpful in making sure you don’t miss anything that’s blocking your way like a low post, a cat, or (gasp!) a toddler.
Making it Mine
A lot of things are easier with the Tucson, that you’ll almost feel pampered. The steering wheel is installed with remote controls for audio (and cruise) so no need to stretch and grapple with buttons in case a really bad song suddenly plays. Likewise, the automatic headlight switch option is a gift for forgetful people like me. At that setting, the lights turn on and off as needed, so no more leaving the lights unnecessarily on after driving out of a dark tunnel or a basement parking area. And with the 8-way power adjustment seats, finding a comfortable position is never a problem. In terms of fuelling up, there is no need to play guessing games because the gauge tells you approximately how many kilometers you can travel before the tank goes empty. Even getting the Tucson going is a cinch, as long as you have the smart key nearby (no need to fish it out of your purse), all you have to do is push the start/stop button and you’re off!
Effortless to manoeuvre and very nimble, the Tucson made me verrrrry comfortable in the driver’s seat. I have a bit of an issue with the aircon vents, though. On a scorching hot weekend, I needed to have the vents directed towards me. But given the vents’ location on the dashboard, the air hits my hands, leaving them freezing which bothered me a bit. However, the ride quality more than makes up for it, with the Tucson gliding smoothly over road bumps and small potholes. I was warned (happily, at that) that the vehicle was quite powerful, and I discovered that with a light tap on the accelerator. All that power made it a struggle sticking to the 60 km/h speed limit along Commonwealth Avenue. Then again, that’s not the car’s fault.
The brochure reads “all performance, all beauty, all yours.” First two items get a check mark! No doubt, the Tucson exhibits excellent performance and beauty. Still racking my brain on how I can raise P1,698,000 so I can tick on the third item, too, and make the Tucson all mine.
