The new generation of the Tuscon was recently revelaed and is bound for its launch on August 4. Though the official prices are yet to be disclosed, the expected range is in the mid-20 lakhs. In light of this, the main competitors of the newly designed car are the Jeep Compass, Tata Safari, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Citroen C5 Aircross. This is not a new territory for Hyundai but if you consider that the previous
Hyundai’s premium compact SUV, The Tuscon was launched with complete design makeover in 2021, and has been set for launch in India next month. The new design is distinct from its predecessor mainly by the refreshing and futuristic look of its head and taillights. The new SUV also gets premium features like ADAS and plenty new safety features.
In its competition stands its previous rivals the Jeep Compass and the Tiguan. The new Tata Safari and Citroen C5 Aircross have also joined the party. These models are separated by very thin lines, mainly in the price segment. The complete overview of the comparison is given below.
Looks: Dimensions, Interiors and Exterior
| Hyundai Tuscon | Jeep Compass | Volkswagen Tiguan | Tata Safari | Citroen C5 Aircross | |
| Length | 4630 | 4405 | 4509 | 4661 | 4500 |
| Width | 1865 | 1818 | 1839 | 1894 | 2099 |
| Height | 1665 | 1640 | 1665 | 1786 | 1710 |
| Wheelbase | 2755 | 2636 | 2679 | 2741 | 2730 |
| Boot capacity | 539 L | 438 L | 520 L (expandable to 615 L) | 73 L (expandable to 910 L) | 580 L |
| Ground Clearance | 181mm | 178mm | 200mm | 200mm | 230mm |
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Apart from the taxation constraints, the lengths of all the cars are nearly the same, belonging in the sub 5-meter segment, with similar wheelbase arrangements as well. In terms of height and width, the dimensions are close to each other as well. The Tuscon stands in the middle spot for ground clearance, and also similar for boot space. The Tiguan and Safari, offering collapsible seats increase the capacity by a large margin though.
If you’re looking for a family hauler, the Safari obviously takes the cake with comfortable 6 or 7 seat options being the longest in the segment. But, Hyundai have made the Tucson only 16mm shorter in length than the Safari and has a longer wheelbase meaning you will definitely have an enjoyable experience in the second row of the Tucson. Plus, with no 3rd row, the Tucson offers more bootspace which is a hassle in the Safari cause you have to fold down the rear seats. Even then the boot isn’t all that great.
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Aesthetics being an individualistic attribute, differ from person to person obviously. We however, like the design elements of the Tuscon more, in comparison to the other vehicles. This is as far as exteriors are concerned, where we feel that it gives a more futuristic feel. All of the vehicles sport large 18″ tyres, except the Compass, which gets 17″ tyres as standard.
As far as interiors are concerned, The center console and instrument panels of the Compass and the C5 Aircross feel less cluttered as compared to the rest. The highlight of the Tuscon though, is the massive 10.25″ infotainment display and the airy dual tone colors.
Specifications: Engine and Powertrain
| Hyundai Tuscon | Volkswagen Tiguan | Jeep Compass | Tata Safari | Citroen C5 Aircross | |||
| Fuel Type | Petrol | Diesel | Petrol | Petrol | Diesel | Diesel | Diesel |
| Engine Type | 4 cyl NA | 4 cyl NA | 4 cyl TSI | 4 cyl NA | 4 cyl NA | 4 cyl Turbo | 4 cyl Turbo |
| Displacement | 1999 | 1997 | 1984 | 1368 | 1956 | 1956 | 1997 |
| Power (HP) | 153 @ 6200 rpm | 183 @ 4000 rpm | 187 @ 4200-6000 rpm | 163 @ 5500 rpm | 170 @ 3750 | 167 @ 3750 rpm | 174 @ 3750 rpm |
| Torque (Nm) | 192 @ 4500 rpm | 416 @ 2000-2750 rpm | 320 @ 1500-4100 rpm | 250 @ 2500-4000 rpm | 350 @ 1750-2500 rpm | 350 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm | 400 Nm @ 2000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed AT | 8-speed AT | 7-speed DSG AT | 6-speed MT/ 7-speed AT | 6-speed MT/ 9-speed AT | 6-speed MT/6-speed AT | 8-speed AT |
| Mileage (Kmpl) | (na) | (na) | 12.65 | 14.1 | 17.07 | 16.14 (MT)/14.08 (AT) | 18.6 |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD/4WD | FWD/AWD | FWD/4WD | FWD/4WD | FWD | FWD |
Out of all the listed vehicles, the Tiguan gives the highest power output as well as the smoothest transmission, thanks to its TSI motor linked to the DSG. The Tuscon Diesel variant just follows next in line of power, but also promises a good mileage as well. The ARAI fuel efficiency for the Tuscon has not yet been revealed, but it is expected at about 17-18 Kmpl. In comparison, the Safari and the C5 Aircross fall out because of the lack of 4WD options at the given price range.
Specifications: Driver assistance and Safety features
All of the vehicles, come with Traction Control Systems with ESP as standard. Hill-hold/Hill-start systems are also included. Other common features include electronic parking brake, ISOFIX for child seats, roll-over mitigation and ABS with EBD. The Tuscon holds a massive edge over the rest of its competitors as introduces the best-in-class level 2 ADAS, complete with collision warnings, lane departure warnings and blind spot detection monitors.
Features
The Tuscon features Hyundai’s well known BlueLink technology for ease of usage of the connected car. The Safari and the Tiguan also sport their own integrated infotainment systems, which can also be accessed through their respective apps. The C5 Aircross, Safari and the Compass even offer air purifiers in their higher variants. The Tuscon having the longest wheelbase, resultantly also offers the best legroom and seating comfort in this category, but the Safari is capable of carrying more passengers. The C5 Aircross and the Tuscon offer their customers a wide range of customizations on the basis of color choice, interior material and dual tone or monotone color choice as well. Another interesting fact which may be noted is that only the Tuscon, C5 Aircross and the Compass rear AC vents.
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Pricing (ex-showroom)
The Tata Safari stands cheapest among the lot, with the top variant costing about 23.5 Lakh. It is followed by the Compass who’s base variant pricing starts at 18.39 lakh and goes upto 31.32 Lakh for the new Trailhawk option. The Tiguan and the C5 Aircross have been priced at about the same bracket, at 32.79 and 32.78 lakh respectively. The official price for the Tuscon is yet to be revealed but it is expected to be in the high-mid 20s.
Verdict
While the Tuscon provides a great many modern features, and a powerful engine option, it stands currently as the best choice, given that the price be reasonable when declared. Although, someone looking for an all round off road and on road experience has no other option than the Jeep Compass. Compass is big on features, smart looking, great off roading capabilities and a really good ride.
These two are then followed by the Tiguan, Safari and finally the Citroen C5 Aircross, in terms of powertrain, features and safety features. While the Safari is the safest and best bet for a family of over 5 people, the lack of features and the recently hiked pricing makes it hard to recommend. The Safari also does not feature 4×4 and even the 2WD variant is not RWD unlike Tata’s previous 7 seater – the Tata Hexa. We didn’t feature the XUV700 here because firstly it is very hard to get one right now and secondly, that is too good of an SUV for this comparo.
