Any cheaping out on Hyundai's part would surely be revealed in the interior. That's where everyone fumbles, right? Well, let's see, you open an expensive-feeling door handle, slam the door shut with a solid thud, and wrap your hands around a leather steering wheel. Hmm, let's dig deeper: the inner door handles are hard plastic, but the controls all have those nicely-weighted motions of Japanese cars, and multi-adjustable driver's seat continues to support after a few hours. Nothing feels like it's going to break, which isn't something that can be said about certain Nissans. It's at about this point that you learn to give up the search for pinched pennies.
There's still room for improvement, of course. Even if quality isn't in question, it does look a little plain and unimaginative. The steering wheel looks naked - 100% beige monotony without a single radio or cruise control button for decoration - and the cheesy cloth seats wouldn't pass for props on That 70s Show. The climate controls deviate from the ergonomic norm a little - on/off operation is contained in the mode dial instead of the fan speed, and the bass-less stereo has an annoying tuner. (It can play MP3s, but they won't sound too good.) Also, the top two settings in the wipers' intermittent mode are exactly the same as its "low" speed - what's the point? The biggest problem: I sat with my seat all the way back. Not a good sign for the six-foot-plus crowd.
Step into the back seat - if you must - to discover where those Elantra genes didn't pay off much. Any 170-inch long vehicle will have to make a space sacrifice somewhere, and in the Tucson's case, second-row passengers were the chosen ones. Really though, the problem isn't as much legroom as it is thigh support. (What thigh support?) That cushion is way too low, and the backrest is a little upright. Also, folks with fat feet might find toeroom a tad tight under the driver's seat. (The passenger's is fine.) At least there are three head restraints and curtain airbags back there.
The Tucson finds redemption in its cavernous cargo area. Its very body style combined with folding back seats pretty much guarantees that, but there are some nice bonuses: the passenger seat folds forward too, there's a cargo net (and a power outlet), and the rear glass opens independently of the liftgate to help loading (if only the keyless remote could open either one). And all back windows are tinted.
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