Hyundai takes on the Freelander - Buying and owning

Like the rest of Hyundai’s range, the Tucson comes with plenty of standard equipment and a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. Predicted list prices and the promise of healthy discounts look tempting, although resale values are unlikely to be as strong as some rivals’ such as the Land Rover Freelander’s.

Some of the plastics used in the Tucson’s airy cabin feel slightly low-rent and the squishy seats don’t provide enough support. However, according to JD Power’s survey of customer satisfaction, Hyundai owners are impressed by the reliability of their cars so we expect the Tucson to be equally trouble-free.

Anti-lock brakes and six airbags are standard, and four-wheel drive and stability control are fitted to help cope with slippery conditions. Our security test team have yet to get their hands on the Tucson but hopefully it will perform better than its Santa Fe stablemate, which failed to keep our testers out as well as we’d expect.