New Hyundai Tucson vs Vauxhall Grandland X vs Volvo XC40: practicality
A hybrid family SUV is a great way of combining practicality with fuel efficiency – but which type should you choose? We compare the three main options...
Space and practicality
Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
The Tucson is one of the largest Family SUVs you can buy, so it should come as no surprise that it offers more head, leg and elbow room up front than the Grandland X and XC40. However, unless you’re a professional basketball player, you’ll find that all three offer more than enough room for you to sit comfortably.
In the rear, there’s plenty of space even for six-footers in the Tucson and XC40, whereas it’s a bit tighter in the Grandland X. The Tucson has slightly less head room than the lofty XC40 but is identical in terms of leg room, plus it comes as standard with reclining seatbacks for extra comfort. There isn’t a lot of head and knee room to spare in the Grandland X.
The Tucson is the best choice for carrying three adults in the back; it’s not only quite a bit wider than the Grandland X but it also has a relatively flat floor, whereas the XC40’s middle passenger has to straddle a fairly hefty hump.
The Tucson’s rear bench is the only one here that folds in a handy 40/20/40 split. The Grandland X and XC40 have to make do with 60/40 splits, but at least they come with ski hatches, allowing you to accommodate long items while travelling four up.
The Tucson is the only one of our trio to get a height-adjustable boot floor. With this in its lowest position, its boot is quite a bit deeper than the others and can accommodate a class-leading eight carry-on suitcases below its load cover, compared with seven in the XC40 and six in the Grandland X.
All three also get small underfloor storage areas – particularly handy in the Grandland X, because it gives you a place to stow its charging cable. It’s also the only one that comes with remote releases in the boot to make dropping the rear seats easier.
Boot space
Hyundai Tucson
Boot 616-1795 litres Suitcases 8
Vauxhall Grandland X
Boot 390-1528 litres Suitcases 6
Volvo XC40
Boot 440-1336 litres Suitcases 7
