Mid-size SUVs with big diesel engines can be a bit of a tough sell these days. The smaller engines are often perfectly adequate and the range topper usually 'benefits' from features like all-wheel drive and big alloy wheels. Those things are nice to have, but they are not essential and they can bump cars into an unfavourable BIK band.

So when the time came to facelift the Tucson, Hyundai introduced a 48V mild hybrid system to the diesel models to reduce fuel consumption, while the 2.0 CRDi engine also gained a brand new eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Smooth but thirsty powertrain

The facelifted Tucson 2.0-litre diesel has an official fuel consumption of 40.9mpg, which translates into 147g/km of CO2 (NEDC-correlated) and puts it into the 37% BIK band when registered before April 2020. In practice, that economy figure seems rather optimistic, since in the week we had it,
mid-30s was more realistic for a mix of motorway and urban miles.

As a result, the smaller 1.6-litre diesel engine, which we tested last summer, might be a smarter choice, even if the 2.0-litre proved to be a thoroughly pleasant powertrain. With 185hp there is plenty of shove, and thanks to a smooth and responsive automatic gearbox you are never denied that power. It is quiet on the motorway and doesn't become intrusive when worked hard, either.

So what of that mild hybrid system? In truth, you would need to drive the old and new car back-to-back to notice the difference in power. The 2.0-litre Tucson is certainly never short on low-down grunt, but what you notice most of all is the additional functionality of the start-stop system that the mild hybrid
system allows.

Thanks to the electric assistance, the engine can shut down while the car is still moving. Although it is a neat feature, it can be a bit hit and miss, and the engine firing back into life is sometimes accompanied by a slight lurch, so it is not the most refined system on the market.

More upmarket cabin

As well as the hybrid treatment, the facelifted Tucson benefits from some styling tweaks inside and out. The interior design is a bit swoopier than before and the dashboard now has some soft-touch imitation leather inserts. Some scratchy plastics remain, but the cabin does have a more premium feel to it than before.

The upgraded 8in touchscreen infotainment system comes as standard on the 2.0 CRDi, as this engine is only available with the more expensive Premium and Premium SE equipment grades. The system features navigation, DAB, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It is easy enough to understand, the touch screen responds well and it is certainly not short on features, although some rivals do go a step further with digital dashboards and multi-touch displays.