2013 Hyundai Tucson Review
2013 Hyundai Tucson Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Sharp styling inside and out
- simple controls
- good fuel economy
- sporty handling
- strong value.
Cons
- Below-average backseat and cargo space
- firm ride
- pokey acceleration with base engine.
What’s new
For 2013, the Hyundai Tucson gets a couple of added standard features, including foglights and automatic headlights for the GLS, heated front seats for the front-wheel-drive GLS (already standard on the AWD GLS) and keyless ignition/entry for the Limited.
Edmunds says
The 2013 Hyundai Tucson might not be as roomy as its main rivals, but it makes amends with a handsome design, an ample list of features, sporty handling and a low price. It's a solid pick for a small crossover.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2013 Hyundai Tucson GL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.56 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$196/mo for Tucson GL
Tucson GL
vs
$188/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Vehicle overview
Over the past decade, Hyundai has forged a reputation for building solid cars stocked with a generous helping of standard features. More recent years have seen daring styling and a fun-to-drive demeanor added to the mix. Combine all of those qualities and you've got the 2013 Hyundai Tucson, a tempting choice for a small crossover SUV.
Unlike most vehicles in this segment, the Tucson puts more emphasis on the "sport" part of the SUV acronym than it does the "utility." A sport-tuned suspension and relatively quick, well-weighted steering give the Tucson an entertaining personality when you're behind the wheel. The Tucson also looks pretty stylish, with flowing lines that recall the same themes found in the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata sedans.
As far as utility goes, however, the Tucson falls short, since its interior is not as spacious as those of rivals such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson's cargo capacity is considerably less, while its rear seat -- which neither slides nor reclines -- lacks the comfort of the others. Furthermore, some may find the Tucson's ride quality to be too firm, especially when fitted with the available 18-inch wheels.
As such, the aforementioned larger crossovers would be better choices for families. However, those with less vital size requirements who'd like a small crossover with a sporty personality should find the 2013 Hyundai Tucson (as well as its similar cousin, the Kia Sportage) a keen choice.
Performance & mpg
The 2013 Hyundai Tucson offers two different engine choices. Entry-level front-wheel-drive GL models come with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that produces 165 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a six-speed automatic is optional. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined with the automatic, and 20/26/22 with the manual.
Stepping up to the GLS and Limited models gets you a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 176 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. In California-emissions states, this engine receives partial zero-emissions vehicle (PZEV) status and produces 170 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission offered, but buyers have a choice of front- and all-wheel drive. Fuel mileage numbers stand at 21/30/25 with front-wheel drive and 20/27/23 with all-wheel drive..In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive Tuscon GLS went from zero to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, which is on par with other entries in the class.
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Hyundai Tucson include antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, hill holder and hill descent control.
In Edmunds brake tests, the Tucson came to a stop from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is an average distance for crossover SUVs.
In government crash testing, the Tucson received four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for overall frontal impact protection and five stars for overall side impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this Hyundai its top rating of "Good" in the frontal offset, side-impact and roof strength tests.
Driving
Unlike the utilitarian driving experience common to many compact crossovers, time spent behind the wheel of the 2013 Hyundai Tucson can actually be enjoyable. Credit for the Tucson's responsive handling goes to its Euro-tuned suspension and nicely weighted steering. The downside is a ride quality that's a bit on the firm side.
The GL's 2.0-liter four-cylinder is somewhat lacking in muscle, and there's really no advantage to this engine (besides its lower price) considering the 2.4-liter returns stronger acceleration and roughly the same fuel economy. The bigger engine does sound a touch unrefined compared to rival four-cylinders, however.
Interior
The 2013 Hyundai Tucson has an attractive and functional cabin. The five-passenger interior is more stylish than several of its competitors, and gauges and controls are well-placed and easy to operate.
Up front, the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel on GLS and Limited models makes it possible for a wide range of different size drivers to get comfortable. The rear seat is a little smaller than those of its rivals and it also lacks the ability to both slide and recline.
The Tucson also gives up ground to its rivals in terms of cargo space. There are just 25.7 cubic feet behind the 60/40-split rear seats and 55.8 cubic feet with those seatbacks folded down. That latter number falls short of the CR-V and Subaru Forester by around 15 cubic feet, or about the entire trunk volume of some popular midsize sedans.
2013 Hyundai Tucson models
The 2013 Hyundai Tucson is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV that is offered in three trim levels: GL, GLS and Limited.
The GL base model comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, privacy glass, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-only steering wheel, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, a trip computer and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB interface.
The GLS adds 17-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded suspension, roof rails, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, foglights, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cloth/premium vinyl upholstery, heated front seats and Bluetooth phone connectivity.
The Limited trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a front wiper de-icer, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustments, leather upholstery, a cargo cover and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. An optional Premium package available only on the Limited adds a panoramic sunroof, a touchscreen navigation system, a rearview camera and a seven-speaker upgraded sound system.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2013 Hyundai Tucson.
5 star(49%)
4 star(11%)
3 star(22%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(13%)
45 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Good SUV
tfarina, 01/04/2012
2012 Hyundai Tucson GLS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
Hyundai continues to surprise. This is fine, reliable SUV. Packed with safety features and excellent build quality. Over 5 thousand miles and no problems. Gas mileage is good too. Between 25 and 30 mpg if you stay within speed limit. If Hyundai addresses road noise, ( loud on course pavement )
this vehicle will move to the top of the class.
4.75 out of 5 stars
skeptical customer..
ozone88, 05/03/2013
2013 Hyundai Tucson Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
As the professional reviews stated, the limited version engine may not be as smooth a ride.. or sound as
quiet as its competition. Yet, I'm in love with my car. U can't best this price.. and they hold their value.. the look is stunning, the options are fabulous. People tell me it looks like I'm driving a Lexus.. and I definitely feel like I am! (minus the road noise, I blame it on the 18 … inch tires) I have a 2001 Hyundai sonata with almost 200000 miles, I wanted to try something different and the last brand I looked at was a Hyundai, and look what I ended up with! Almost bought a subaru.. so glad I didnt!
I Will update in 3 years!
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Entry Level Crossover Type SUV
Shane, 03/29/2016
2013 Hyundai Tucson GLS PZEV 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
For the 2013 Model Year this vehicle offered an impressive package of goodies. All of which made the purchase of this vehicle very simple when it came to comparing to the other vehicles being offered in competition in its class, (IE: Honda CRV, Toyota RAV-4, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX Series, Ford Escape, and a few others). For the sticker price of what came included this vehicle was … nearly loaded with all of the features you could really hope would be included. So Huyndai did it again when it came to bang for the buck and backed by their warranty.
Lets do start with some adjustments I made to my vehicle upon purchase. The first being the stock headlights. They are good, but could be better. I equipped mine with the Sylvania Silver Star Ultras, it made a 80% difference in the night driving experience; better forward vision and better side of road vision with the light spread.
The vehicle is equipped with the Active Eco system which controls how the transmission shifts and the A/C System functions. Over the time I have owned this vehicle this system is best used on long road trips where you will indeed see the benefit. Having this system turned on while you are driving in town is more of an irritation than a benefit as the computer in the car is placed in "economy" mode for nearly all of your driving needs. The in-town benefit is minimal, and the fuel savings is negligible at best, and the shift points are skewed to make the engine rather gutless.
The acceleration on the vehicle is smooth and fairly quick. By no means will it push you into your seat, but it does indeed get out of its tracks in a hurry. The steering is solid and the response is fairly nimble, and is by far more responsive than the Honda counterpart.
The over-all feeling of this vehicle is very good.
5 out of 5 stars
Solid Built All Around Good Low Priced SUV
Arizona Bill, 11/30/2017
2012 Hyundai Tucson GLS PZEV 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
It’s tough to find negatives with this 2012 model vehicle. Purchased new 09/11, and still reliable as our Honda. Great gas mileage on open road - have seen 29mpg - but only around 21mpg city traffic driving due to low power motor w/6 speed automatic. Ours is a PZEV (partial zero emission vehicle), which sorta makes up for it’s lack of scootability. Over 45k Miles & still original tires … and brakes. Quieter than our CRV Honda and smoother ride. Black paint finish still sparkles like new.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Hyundai Tucson, so we've included reviews for other years of the Tucson since its last redesign.
2013 Tucson Highlights
GL
Base MSRP | $19,595 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $196/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 25.7 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
4 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover18%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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