Hyundai is bringing back the Sport edition of the Tucson SUV to its lineup. The new Tucson Sport will get an exclusive, more muscular engine to help set it apart from the other models in the range. This variant will take direct aim at rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.
The new engine is a 2.4L 4-cylinder offering 181 hp and maximum torque of 175 lb-ft. These numbers don't put it into high-performance territory, but it does place the new Sport at the head of the family in terms of power. The Tucson comes with a 2.0L 4-cylinder base engine (164 hp, 151 lb-ft of torque), and an available 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of maximum torque.
On paper, the differences bewteen these and the Sport's engine are minimal, but we're hoping that the new motor has more firs in its belly. A commonplace criticism of the Tucson since it was renewed in 2016 is that its engines do not serve it adequately. Maybe this new mechanical setup will be the right one...
The Sport's new engine will work with a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual mode, The model will come in two-wheel and all-wheel drive versions in the United States, but we'll have to wait and see if all-wheel drive will be the only powertrain offered to customers north of the border.
Standard equipment also includes 19-inch wheels, which is sure to translate into a more pleasant driving experience, although you'll want to watch ouit for those potholes. Also offered in the Tucson Sport are blind spot monitoring, keyless entry with push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob and dual-zone climate control.
In terms of pricing, the Tucson Sport will sit in the middle of the model lineup. For the moment, only American pricing information is known. Canadian consumers should know what prices they'll be paying for the Tucson Sport before long.