Hyundai Tucson

Name: 2009 Hyundai Tucson
Brand: Hyundai

EPA MPG: 21 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

EPA MPG: 21 mpg

Owner Reported MPG:

RECALL ALERT: There is 1 recall on this vehicle. Learn More.

There is 1 recall on this vehicle. Learn More.

RECALL ALERT: There is 1 recall on this vehicle. Learn More.

There is 1 recall on this vehicle. Learn More.

Reliability Details

Owner Satisfaction Details

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Road Test

The Tucson is a practical and affordable vehicle, with a roomy interior, as well as very good fit and finish. The ride is comfortable, but handling is not agile. Standard electronic stability control (ESC) and curtain airbags are notable safety features. Fuel economy was an unimpressive 18 mpg overall.

2009 SUVs Reliability

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100

0 - 100

Hyundai Tucson

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Acceptable

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Acceptable

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Owner Reports

Owner Satisfaction

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Driving Experience

Comfort

Value

Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Acceptable

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Acceptable

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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Crash Tests

IIHS Front Moderate Overlap

Acceptable

IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver

IIHS Side Crash

Acceptable

NHTSA Overall Crash

NHTSA Overall Frontal-Crash

NHTSA Overall Side-Crash

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Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

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2009 Compact SUVs Ratings

2009 Hyundai Tucson

$3,475 - $5,000

EPA MPG 21 mpg

Road test

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Owner Satisfaction

2009 Chevrolet Equinox

$3,075 - $3,725

EPA MPG 21 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2009 Dodge Nitro

$2,925 - $5,250

EPA MPG 19 mpg

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2009 Ford Escape

$3,225 - $4,450

EPA MPG 20 mpg

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2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

$3,225 - $4,450

EPA MPG 28 mpg

Road test

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Owner Satisfaction

2009 Honda CR-V

$5,950 - $6,700

EPA MPG 24 mpg

Road test

Reliability

Owner Satisfaction

2009 Honda Element

$6,275 - $7,750

EPA MPG 23 mpg

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Owner Satisfaction

2009 Infiniti EX

$5,250 - $5,775

EPA MPG 19 mpg

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2009 Jeep Compass

$3,025 - $3,325

EPA MPG 24 mpg

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2009 Jeep Liberty

$3,225 - $4,125

EPA MPG 17 mpg

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2009 Jeep Patriot

$3,025 - $3,300

EPA MPG 22 mpg

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2009 Kia Sportage

$3,675 - $4,275

EPA MPG 21 mpg

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2009 Mazda Tribute

$2,875 - $4,125

EPA MPG NA

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2009 Mercury Mariner

$2,975 - $4,200

EPA MPG 28 mpg

Road test

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2009 Mitsubishi Outlander

$3,000 - $4,325

EPA MPG 22 mpg

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2009 Nissan Rogue

$2,925 - $3,250

EPA MPG 23 mpg

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2009 Nissan Xterra

$4,350 - $5,675

EPA MPG 18 mpg

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2009 Saturn Vue

$2,800 - $4,125

EPA MPG NA

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2009 Subaru Forester

$4,150 - $5,300

EPA MPG 22 mpg

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2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

$3,575 - $5,050

EPA MPG 21 mpg

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2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser

$10,900 - $12,750

EPA MPG 19 mpg

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2009 Toyota RAV4

$6,050 - $7,075

EPA MPG 23 mpg

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2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

$2,900 - $3,975

EPA MPG 20 mpg

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Features & Specs

4-door SUV

2 front, 3 rear

AWD, Front

2-liter 4 (140 hp)
2.7-liter V6 (173 hp)

5-speed manual
4-speed automatic

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In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

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Model History

2022-Present

Current Generation

The redesigned fourth-generation Tucson compact SUV is much more substantial than the mediocre model it replaces. With the standard 187-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Tucson has a polished operation but accelerates leisurely. The hybrid’s pairing of a 1.6-liter turbo engine and electric assist got 35 mpg overall in our tests. The ride is firm yet steady, handling is responsive and secure, and the nicely-trimmed cabin is relatively quiet. The back seat is roomy and the cargo area is generous for the class. Controls are easy to use. But higher trims replace physical volume and temperature knobs with touch-sensitive controls and a push-button gear selector. Standard active safety features include FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, LDW, and LKA. Adaptive cruise control became standard in 2023 and remote parking is optional.

2016-2021

2016 Redesign Year

The redesigned-for-2016 Tucson shares only its name with the previous generation. Now it's more inline with the larger Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe SUVs. The overall package is more competitive against the segment leaders. The base version has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, linked to a six-speed automatic. This version is rather slow and returned 24 mpg overall. More expensive trims get a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder that uses a seven-speed automated manual transmission. This quieter and quicker setup returned 26 mpg overall, but it suffers from a vibration at very low speed, such as in parking maneuvers. Otherwise, ride comfort is pliant and composed, handling is responsive and secure, and the cabin is quiet. Controls are easy to use, and the rear seat is roomy. The Tucson has available lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. A new 181-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic arrived in 2018. In our tests, it was faster than the 2.0-liter but returned only 22 mpg overall. The Tucson got a freshening for 2019 which included replacing the previous top-level engine choice (1.6-liter turbo mated to a clunky seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission) with a 2.4-liter and a regular automatic. A few interior touches, such as an electronic parking brake, were introduced as well.

2010-2015

2010 Redesign Year

A decided improvement over its predecessor, the Tucson's 2010 to 2015 version was practical. However it was an also-ran in the crowded small SUV space. The only engine was a 2.4-liter four cylinder, which supplied decent acceleration, but tended to be noisy and unpleasant when pushed. It got 22 mpg overall. Handling was secure and responsive, but the ride was stiff and road noise pronounced. Cabin furnishings are quite basic with hard plastics, but controls are easy to use. This generation's styling also compromised cargo space and severely hampered outward visibility. While this generation did better in crash tests than pre-2010 models, it did poorly in the IIHS narrow offset crash test.

2005-2009

2005 Redesign Year

This version of the Tucson doesn't have much going for it. Crash protection wasn't up to snuff; the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is not very zippy and is rather noisy. The optional 2.7-liter V6 delivers decent acceleration, but fuel economy is unimpressive. Handling is clumsy, but secure thanks to the standard stability control. The ride is fairly comfortable, but marred by suspension noise. Basically, skip this generation, look to the next one for a better execution all around.