Tucson vs Santa Fe vs Palisade

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Overview

Photos

Performance Specs

Engine and Transmission

Weight and Towing

Fuel and MPG

Fuel Economy

Emissions

CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

Fuel Tank

Dimensions and Measurement

Exterior Dimensions

Interior Space

Cargo Space

Wheels and Suspension

Steering

Wheels

Suspension

Tires

Colors and Materials

Standard Exterior Colors

Optional Exterior Colors

Standard Interior Materials

  • Black, H-Tex Leatherette Seat Trim

  • Gray/Black, H-Tex Leatherette Seat Trim

  • Beige, Stain-Resistant Cloth Seat Trim

  • Black, Stain-Resistant Cloth Seat Trim

  • Gray, Stain-Resistant Cloth Seat Trim

  • Black, Stain & Odor Resistant Cloth Seat Trim

  • Gray, Stain & Odor Resistant Cloth Seat Trim

Features and Options

Infotainment

Interior Trim

Comfort

Steering Wheel Audio Controls

Universal Garage Door Opener

Safety

Safety Features

Airbags

Warranty

Warranty Summary

Corrosion

7 Years / Unlimited Miles

7 Years / Unlimited Miles

7 Years / Unlimited Miles

Roadside Assistance

5 Years / Unlimited Miles

5 Years / Unlimited Miles

5 Years / Unlimited Miles

The Hyundai Tucson has long been one of the value players in the mid-size SUV market, often with drive-away deals done for less than thirty grand.

That’s not going to be the case this time around, with prices up across the board, and while there have been a number of additional safety items added, some of the exclusions seemingly make the inclusions and price adjustments look  a little bit questionable.

Here’s a price list to help you understand the range - it’s a little complicated. Oh, and yes, the base model is known simply as Tucson, with the mid-spec model the Elite and top-end grade being the Highlander.

  Tucson (MSRP) Elite (MSRP) Highlander (MSRP)
2.0 MPi 2WD $34,500 $39,000 $45,000
1.6 T-GDi AWD   $43,000 $50,000
2.0 CRDi AWD   $45,000 $52,000

As you can see, there’s one powertrain for the base model, and three engine options for the mid- and high-grade versions.

Standard equipment for the Tucson grade includes: halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, 8.0-inch touchscreen media system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports, tyre pressure monitoring, a 4.2-inch driver info screen, drive mode selector (Eco, Normal and Sport), cloth seat trim, manual adjust front seats, manual air-conditioning, turn key ignition, auto folding door mirrors, and 'premium door and dash trim.' 

The Tucson grade scores a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, and an array of active safety technology that helps justify the price increase - read about that in the safety section below. 

The Elite grade scores plenty of extras including 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, leather seat trim, heated front seats, power drivers seat adjust, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, rear tinted glass, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen media system with sat nav - plus a couple of added safety items. But you’re still getting halogen headlights on a car approaching $50K on the road. Yikes.

Topping the range for now is the Highlander variant, again available with a choice of three powertrains - but those prices are getting high. 

Features include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED rear lights, LED interior mood lighting, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, Bose sound system, power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree surround view camera, and something called a 'passenger walk-in device', which is a set of electric seat adjustments on the front passenger seat that the driver can control.

Diesel versions also get the 'Remote Start Parking Assist System', which means you can park the car using the key. Watch Richard Berry’s review of the Kia Sorento to see how that works. 

I think it’s really poor Hyundai is offering halogen lights (they’re not very good on dark roads, I tested them!) on a car featuring so much other new tech. And if you hate that as much as me, fear not - there is a way around it.

Buyers can option the N Line pack on all grades, and here’s a rundown of the prices with that pack:

  Tucson w/ N Line Pack (MSRP) Elite w/ N Line Pack (MSRP) Highlander w/ N Line Pack (MSRP)
2.0 MPi 2WD $38,000 $41,000 $47,000
1.6 T-GDi AWD   $45,000 $51,000
2.0 CRDi AWD   $47,000 $53,000

The model grade you apply the pack to will determine the extra equipment you get. And it actually looks like pretty good value for all grades, with the Tucson adding $3500, the Elite adding $2000 and the Highlander $1000. 

The brand reckons 50 per cent of customers will choose the pack - I’m not so sure that’ll be the case.

But what you get is worth the money. In the Tucson you add 19-inch alloy wheels, leather and suede seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, LED front and rear lights including auto high beam lighting, gloss black grille, N Line skid plate design, N Line badging and the N Line sports body kit.

For the Elite, the changes are identical. For the Highlander, you’re switching 19s for 19s, and you already have all the LED lighting, the 10.25-inch driver screen, so it’s more a cosmetic upgrade inside and out. But for $1000 it’s enticing.

In a hurry to get your new Hyundai Tucson, and after one that’s not a 2.0L petrol? There’s bad news. The Tucson 1.6T AWD won’t arrive until June, while the 2.0D AWD models will be here in the third quarter, along with any models fitted with the N Line Pack.

Colour choices for the Tucson range include: 'Shimmering Silver', 'Amazon Grey' (actually dark green), 'Silky Bronze', 'Deep Sea Blue', 'Crimson Red', 'Titan Grey', 'White Cream' and 'Phantom Black.' Only white is no cost, the rest are $595.

For the Tucson grade the interior is black cloth, while Elite has black leather interior trim. The Highlander can be had with black leather, grey leather, or brown leather trim. 

Changing from black to the other colours adds just $295 to the price. 

Which is better the Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe?

The Hyundai Santa Fe lineup offers greater horsepower capability, while the Hyundai Tucson models offer a better-estimated highway fuel economy. The Hyundai Santa Fe has more passenger area, but the Hyundai Tucson has more cargo room than the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Is a Hyundai Palisade bigger than a Santa Fe?

Comparing the Hyundai Santa Fe vs. Hyundai Palisade size, the three-row Palisade is going to be bigger. The vehicle is 196.1 inches long, compared to the 188.4 inches of the Santa Fe. The Palisade is also wider at 77.8 inches and taller at 68.9 inches.

Is the Palisade bigger than the Tucson?

With its bigger size, the Palisade provides more interior space than the Tucson. It can seat up to eight people with a total passenger volume of 155.3 cu-ft, compared to five people and a 108 cu-ft for the Tucson. Also, the Palisade offers more storage space.

Is a Tucson bigger than a Santa Fe?

While both the Tucson and the Santa Fe near Green are compact SUVs, one is a little bigger than the other. The Santa Fe's 108.9-inch wheelbase just beats out the Tucson's 105.5-inch wheelbase, and it's about 10 inches longer overall, as well as a little bit wider than the newer Tucson.