It is time for the big one, the 'Car of the year' and for this year, there was no shortage of capable new cars across various segments. 2022 has witnessed a record number of launches which pushed demand back to pre-Covid levels with pent-up demand surpassing supply. The automotive industry has faced challenges over the past two years but this year, the chip shortage posed a new kind of challenge in getting supplies and fulfilling orders. That said, it did not stop car-makers from launching many crucial cars with the common agenda being to offer more technology and features.
For the ultimate award, we looked at multiple factors going beyond the usual set of parameters that have governed the other categories including how a particular car has changed the segment upon entering along with what it brings to the table. Amongst all of the new cars launched this year, there was one car which overall impressed the judges and it was a unanimous verdict in the end. That car is the 2022 new Hyundai Tucson which has changed the goalposts of the competitive SUV space for its all-rounder appeal.
This is Hyundai's flagship product and enters into a segment that is already dominated by many new capable contenders. Yet, Tucson surpassed all due to its wide array of talents. Judged noted the styling which is a break from the usual SUV tradition while still subscribing to the ethos of a well-balanced design while the grille with the hidden LED lamps garnered praise too. The new Tucson is larger than the previous generation yet manages to hide its visual bulk with carefully embedded design details including a sloping roofline along with the chiselled lines.
The interior was also impressed with its simple yet effective dashboard design which wraps over to the entire dashboard and is in a synchronized design theme. It feels well-built and premium inside while technology is there without being overwhelming. Compared to rivals, the new Tucson has more features and the ADAS suite of technologies impressed us the most in being adapted to our conditions and roads. Further points were scored for the Tucson in terms of the rear seat space and comfort while getting heated/cooled seats along with more luxuries.
Unlike other products, there is plenty of choice in terms of powertrains with both diesel and petrol being given with automatic as standard plus there is AWD on offer which further adds in the ability to tackle off-road conditions. Hence, the new generation Tucson ticked all of the right boxes and scored high in all of the categories which pushed it ahead of the other contenders for the big award. Bigger, better and packed with technologies, the new Tucson changes the SUV segment in India with its value-for-money packaging and that elevates it to become our 'Car of the year'.
