USED:FIVE Cool Features That Make the 2017 Hyundai Tucson a Perfect Compact Crossover

Joanne Pham |

Updated: Aug 27, 2024

2017 Hyundai Tucson Compact Crossover Featured Image

The basics, done really well.

When this crazy Asian mom from Southern California gets the chance to test drive a new car, I take it! I love to get into a car and look for features that will make my life fun and easy.

So I was REALLY excited to get my hands on the Hyundai Tucson this month. I have never been inside one and the only thing I knew about the Hyundai brand was its very newbie reputation from the 1980s when they first entered the car market!

Critical Details:

Hyundai Tucson AWD Value model compact crossover MSRP: $27,950
Estimated fuel economy: 25 MPG city/30 MPG highway
The 1.6 L 4-cylinder turbo engine gives this little car plenty of power
Seating for 5, more comfortable for 4
Towing capacity 1,000 lbs (yes, this car can tow!)
The ‘Value’ model includes a select group of features that keep the price low but comforts high

Say My Name, Say My Name (and Say it Right!)

Firstly, I don’t know about you, but I have NEVER known how to correctly pronounce the Korean car manufacturer. Is it “HyunDAY” or “HyunDYE”? Do you pronounce the Y or is it silent? So much confusion!
This was my opportunity to learn and get it right!

My first stop was to text the founder of A Girls Guide to Cars, Scotty Reiss.
She replied it’s “HUNDAY, like FUN DAY”!

OK, that made it easy to remember! I think I got it, but being that perfectionist when sharing information, I wanted to HEAR it to make sure I could SAY it correctly!

Second stop was YouTube!
I found a GREAT video that made it super clear:

Were you repeating “Hyundai” as she was saying it? I think I watched this video and repeated it ten times!

Now, Those 5 Cool Features That Made This Car Great

Now that I got that under my belt, I was ready to jump in the car and take this SUV for a spin!

I was lucky enough to test drive a Tucson in a bluer than blue color. Hyundai calls it “Caribbean Blue” and it was a beautiful color that got plenty of attention.

Meet Peter Schreyer, the man behind Hyundai’s gorgeous look.

I was impressed with how fast and peppy the Tucson was. When getting on the freeway, I had no problem gaining speed quickly on the onramp.

I also found the Tucson EASY to drive. Everything was very user-friendly — all the components were where you would expect things to be and the buttons and dials were ergonomically placed.

Here are FIVE cool features that I really liked about the Tucson.

1) Blind Spot Assist

Not seeing someone in my blind spot is always one of my concerns when changing lanes. The Tucson has this really awesome feature where if someone is in your blind spot, a light flashes in the side mirror so you can be alerted prior to changing lanes. There is also an AUDIBLE alert so you can be sure that you’re safe!

Also check out the Kia Sportage compact SUV

2) Massive Panoramic Sun/Moon Roof

I love sunlight and the Tucson makes it really easy for EVERYONE in the car to enjoy! It has a MASSIVE panoramic sunroof that opens and extends all the way to the rear of the vehicle. You would never know this feature was available unless it was open. It’s totally hidden in a very ninja headliner!

3) Intuitive SIMPLE Cruise Control

I don’t know about you, but the only time I think to use Cruise Control is when I’m on a road trip and on the highway…in other words, NOT when I’m at home in my garage, reading a manual where I can take my time and understand HOW to work it! Most of the vehicles I have ever driven have had Cruise Control that was not easy to engage on the fly (without a tutorial). With the Tucson, it was super simple. Just hit the button that says “CRUISE” and set your desired speed with the + or – button. Easy, peasy. No stress!!!

Why you should buy a new versus used car: safety features.

4) Backup Camera

Yes, rear view cameras are now standard on most cars (and mandatory on all cars built after 2018), but there is no requirement that they be good. The Hyundai Tucson has a FABULOUS backup camera with guidelines superimposed on the display that shows how your car will line up with each slight twist of the steering wheel. This makes parking and navigating in reverse a BREEZE! Love this!

5) Hands-Free Smart Rear Lift Gate

This is probably my favorite feature of the Tucson. If you have the key fob in your pocket, purse or hand and stand behind the car for 10 seconds, the rear lift gate senses the fob and automatically pops the lift gate, which opens all the way up so you can put your items in the rear cargo space.
SO helpful if you have kids/groceries/coffee/dogs or other things and can’t put things down to futz with finding your keys!

All in all, the Hyundai Tucson was a fun, little SUV to drive!
For a full narrative and tour around the car, here is a live-streamed broadcast that I did on Twitter Live/Periscope: