Rogers Auto Group

The 2005 Hyundai Tucson was unveiled at the 96th annual Chicago Auto Show, and was Hyundai's first entry into the small SUV segment.  Continuing with Hyundai's Southwestern naming theme for its SUVs, the new Tucson was slightly smaller than the already popular Hyundai Santa Fe and was targeted to compete with such models as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

The first Tucson had a rugged athletic appearance and was designed to be versatile in both comfort and utility while delivering the best marketplace value for equipment, style, and image.  Build choices for the initial Tucson included a 2.0-liter or 2.7-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine, FWD or AWD, and GLS, SE and Limited trim levels.  It offered a slew of standard and optional features while keeping the price tag very affordable. 

While undergoing a few minor styling changes over its first few years on the market, the Tucson didn't see any major restylings until the 2010 model year, when the second generation Tucson was launched.  The second generation Tucson features a sleek design with sweeping coupe-like lines that is congruent with Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" theme.  New engine choices offer better fuel economy and increased horsepower over the previous generation, and trim levels were renamed to GL, GLS, and Limited.  The new Tucson also offers an array of standard technology extras and advanced safety features, which earned it the "Top Pick" safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2010.

Even though it has only been a member of the Hyundai lineup for a short time, the Tucson has quickly staked its claim on the small SUV segment as a dependable, stylish, and affordable vehicle.