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Hyundai Tucson (1st Gen)

05-09 · Hyundai Tucson

78out of 100

The 1st gen Tucson is an affordable compact SUV, nothing special, nothing terrible. The Beta II engine is chain-driven and durable. ESC is absent and the safety ratings are pre-modern.

Score breakdown

80/ 100Reliability×2.574/ 100True Annual Cost×2.080/ 100Safety×2.565/ 100Practicality×2.0100/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

What it really is

Hyundai's first Tucson with the Beta II 2.0L 4-cylinder. Chain-driven, no major known failures. No ESC. IIHS Acceptable. Under $6k for clean examples. For a buyer who needs basic AWD/4WD utility at a very low price, the 1st gen Tucson serves.

Why it's on this list

Under $6k with standard AWD and a durable 4-cylinder. Hyundai parts are widely available. For a budget buyer who needs SUV utility, it's a functional option.

The honest trade-offs

No ESC. IIHS Acceptable. Small cargo space. Long-term reliability below Japanese competition. The 2.7L V6 option has more issues. 4-cylinder only.

What to buy and what to avoid

07-09 GLS with 2.0L 4-cylinder. Avoid the 2.7L V6. Basic maintenance history check. No ESC, accept this limitation.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,705 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$513 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$180 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$1,860 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,420 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$3,038 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$2,598 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
24[5]
MPG city / hwy
21 / 27[5]
Engine
2.0L 4-cyl (Beta II)
Horsepower
140 hp
Torque
136 lb-ft
Seats
5
Cargo max
58.3 cu ft
Stock tires
215/65R16
Body
SUV
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
4/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
24%[2]
IIHS rating
Acceptable[4]
ESC standard
No

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Low
Frame rust risk
Low

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$513 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
4/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.4[1]
Severe issue probability
11%[1]
250k-mile survival
45%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Halogen
DIY replacement cost
$22 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
10/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Hyundai Tucson?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

View options

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