Hyundai recently released the pricing and specs for the redesigned 2010 Tucson compact SUV. And it looks like a major advancement over the first-generation Tucson. The exterior and interior both look great in photos. The wheels are now 17s and 18s rather than 16s. Unlike many recently redesigned models, the curb weight is relatively low. The new four is more powerful than the old V6 (which has been dropped), while being much more fuel efficient than the old four, largely thanks to a six-speed automatic instead of a four-speed.
But how much more do these improvements cost? I rushed the pricing and stats into TrueDelta’s car price comparison tool to find out.
When both the 2009 and 2010 Tucson are equipped with automatic transmissions, and a cargo tray is added to the former because it’s standard on the 2010, the sticker price is exactly the same. Surely not a coincidence.
But this isn’t the end of the story. Hyundai has slightly decontented the 2010 to offer the above improvements without a bump in the base price. Features that appear to have been dropped (it’s possible that the features list Hyundai has released is incomplete): cruise control, separately opening liftglass, roof rails, privacy glass, manual tilt and lumbar for the driver, manual recline for the second row, and alloy wheels.
On the other hand, the 2010 adds a few things, such as iPod integration, a trip computer, and a rear spoiler.
Adjust for these differences, and the 2010 is about $400 more expensive. Not bad at all considering the improvements.
Load up the 2009 Limited V6 AWD and 2010 Limited AWD, and the 2010 is actually $125 less. Adjusting for remaining feature differences bumps this to about $250. Without the V6, the 2009 would be about $1,000 less, but also much slower than the 2010. Again, the 2010’s pricing looks good.
How about versus the segment leader, Honda’s CR-V? Comparing lightly equipped vehicles, the 2010 Tucson is bout $1,700 less after a $190 adjustment in its favor for feature differences. Load them both up, and the Tucson is about $600 less before adjusting for feature differences, and about $1,500 less afterwards.