Don’t like sedans in the D-segment? How about a Tuscon?

Hyundai has launched the Tuscon SUV at a starting price of Rs 18.99 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The Tuscon is the second SUV to enter this space after the Honda CR-V, currently held by a long list of D-segment cars. This segment includes Hyundai’s own Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis, Skoda Octavia, Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta, neither having really set sales charts on fire, with a few hundred units at best per month by the top performers. The Tuscon hopes to appeal to buyers will to shell out between Rs 20-25 lakh with its wide variety of variants. The Tuscon also fills the large SUV gap in Hyundai’s portfolio between the Creta and the Santa Fe.

Powering the midsize SUV will be 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The petrol makes 155bhp and 192Nm and the diesel churns out a healthy 185bhp and 400Nm. Both come with six-speed manual and automatic gearbox options. There is no 4WD variant on offer, which means the SUV is restricted to on-road duties. Two trims are available in the petrol – base and GL, while the diesel gets a additional top-spec GLS variant.

As you’d expect of any Hyundai, the feature list runs long. On the outside, you get projector headlamps (LED headlamps on top trim), heated wing mirrors, front and rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera, electric tailgate and puddle lamps. Inside, the Tuscon gets a 8-inch touchscreen AVN system with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, leather seats, cruise control, 10 way adjustable driver’s seat, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, reclining rear seats, rear AC vents, six airbags, ABS and stability control. The base variants lose out on some features to achieve that attractive price.

Hyundai is also offering 3 years/ unlimited mileage warranty and 3 years/ 30000 km free maintenance (including consumables) for the new Tuscon.

All prices ex-showroom Delhi