Today’s trendy lifestyle demands something more out of a car.  What was once a means of getting from point A to point B has become a sort of mirror to your own personally—something that ultimately tells the people around you who you are.  The ever increasing compact SUV segment is a testament to this as buyers are beginning to look beyond the three-box compact sedan in favor of something much more stylish and personal.  Of course, it helps having an SUV body style since it offers much more flexibility and utility—something that can’t be said with any sedan.

Almost every car maker has entered the fray, their own entry presenting itself as some much more unique than a model launched an hour ago.  The Japanese brands seem to have the advantage here, as they’ve been at it since the early 1990’s.  So what’s a newbie like Hyundai to do?    Simple: offer something that all others don’t offer, and capitalize on this segment.  Their Hyundai Tucson does just that.  Priced at a shockingly low P 1,078,000 the Tucson offers a lean burning diesel.  Imbued with common-rail direct injection technology, it’s good for 112 horsepower.  Mated to a 4-speed automatic, the Tucson CRDi scuttles well to a comfortable speed with little hassle and surprising refinement.  The engine’s not as isolated or quiet as its Accent stablemate, but the 2.0-liter unit won’t call attention to itself.  With a heavy right foot and stop-and-go traffic, the Tucson still manages an excellent 12.86 km/L.  No doubt, those who are more akin to fuel economy challenges will fair much better.

Besides the drivetrain though, the Tucson offers little difference versus its rivals.  From the outside, it looks clean and modern.  Unlike some other oddball designs out of Korea, the Tucson’s rounded pentagonal headlamps, raised fog lamps and gaping front brake ducts do a pretty good impression of a Porsche Cayenne.  The rear portion is equally distinctive too with a hexagonally cut glass (actually a two-piece tailgate), let-set tail lamps and prominent oval exhaust pipe finishers.  The absence of body cladding distinguishes this from the range-topping 4WD.  There are no off-roading pretensions with the Tucson with its relatively low ground clearance and highway-only tires (215/65 R 16).

It looks tidy and well proportioned but there's little to differentiate the Tucson versus its rivals on looks.

A split-type tailgate offers nice loading possibilities.  Some of its pricier rivals lack this sort of option.