Skip to main content

2009 Hyundai Tucson

Change year or car
$18,070

starting MSRP

Key specs

Base trim shown

SUV

Body style

22

Combined MPG

5

Seating capacity

170.3” x 68.1”

Dimensions

Front-wheel drive

Drivetrain

Overview

(23 reviews)

The good:

  • Easy to drive
  • Plenty of standard features
  • Abundant safety features
  • Excellent warranty

The bad:

  • Ride comfort on rougher surfaces
  • Occasional tire and engine noise
  • Serious noise at highway speeds
  • No power seat option
  • Vanity mirrors not illuminated
  • Rear backrest adjustment hard to reach

3 trims

Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price

Wondering which trim is right for you?

Our 2009 Hyundai Tucson trim comparison will help you decide.

See also: Find the best SUVs for 2024

Notable features

  • Six standard airbags
  • Standard electronic stability system
  • Standard ABS
  • AWD optional
  • Four- or six-cylinder engine
  • Improved fuel economy

2009 Hyundai Tucson review: Our expert's take

Vehicle Overview
The Tucson is Hyundai’s smallest SUV, intended to compete with the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V. Trim levels include the GLS, SE and Limited. There is a choice of either a four-cylinder or V-6 engine, and a manual transmission is available for four-cylinder models. Both versions can be equipped with front-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. The Tucson seats five.

New for 2009
The Tucson gets a bolder front grille and rear treatment, a tweaked transmission management system and torque converter said to improve fuel economy. Upper-level models gain standard luxury features.

Exterior
A single-bar grille contains the Hyundai logo. Riding a 103.5-inch wheelbase, the Tucson is 170.3 inches long and 66.1 inches tall. The base GLS is 70.7 inches wide, but the uplevel versions have plastic wheel-well flares for a rugged appearance, extending the width to 72.1 inches. Compared to its Ford and Honda competitors, the Tucson is the shortest in length but close in width. With the roof rails, the Tucson stands 2 inches taller than the CR-V.

  • Standard 16-inch alloy wheels
  • New, bolder front grille and rear treatment
  • Fog lamps on SE and Limited
  • Power sunroof standard on Limited V-6 models

Interior
The Tucson’s five-passenger interior has 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 65.5 cubic feet with the seat down. Standard equipment includes power windows and locks, heated mirrors, air conditioning and an intermittent rear wiper. Available features on other trims include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry with alarm and cruise control. Fully loaded Tucsons have heated leather seats, automatic climate control and a six-CD stereo. A new 200-watt Kenwood Navigation/Audio system with 700 MB of internal memory, SD card slot, and touch-screen functionality is standard on the Limited and optional on the GLS and SE.

  • 60/40-split flat-folding rear seat
  • Easy-to-clean plastic cargo floor with multiple tie-down locations
  • Standard AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary input jack

Under the Hood
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that uses continuously variable valve timing is standard. In uplevel trims, a 2.7-liter V-6 engine is offered. The available four-wheel-drive system can divert up to 50 percent of available power to the rear wheels in response to changing road conditions or torque demand. A button lets the driver lock the driveline into a 50/50 torque split. Hyundai says engine improvements and the transmission management system should improve fuel economy for the four-cylinder engine and increase city mileage for all-wheel-drive V-6 models.

  • 140-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 136 pounds-feet of torque
  • 173-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 with 178 pounds-feet of torque
  • Shiftronic four-speed automatic or five-speed manual
  • B&M Racing Sport Shifter for manual transmission

Safety
Standard features include:

  • Side curtain airbags

Consumer reviews

(23 reviews)
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.3
  • Interior 4.3
  • Performance 4.3
  • Value 4.6
  • Exterior 4.3
  • Reliability 4.8
Write a review

Most recent consumer reviews

Fuel guzzler

Love it but chews through fuel, bigtime. 0therwise great shopping car, family car, touring car. But not economical. Might have to sell it on, which I don’t want to do.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
10 people out of 10 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

Super dependable, great gas mileage, sporty look.

Super dependable, great gas mileage, sporty look. It goes well beyond the 100k warranty, I am at 133k. I recently changed a/c compressor. Definitely a great investment.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
1 person out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

SAFE, RELIABLE and ROOMY

I have owned GMC's, Nissans and a number of other vehicles...This has by far been the most reliable and runs the greatest for the money.. Stylish, comfortable and runs tight...never any mechanical problems!

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No
See all 23 consumer reviews

Safety

Based on the 2009 Hyundai Tucson base trim.
Frontal driver
5
Frontal passenger
5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4
Side driver
5
Side rear passenger
5

Warranty

New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Hyundai
New car program benefits
Bumper-to-bumper
60 months/60,000 miles
Corrosion
84 months/unlimited distance
Powertrain
120 months/100,000 miles
Roadside assistance
60 months/unlimited distance
Certified Pre-Owned program benefits
Maximum age/mileage
Less than 80,000 miles; less than 7 years old (currently MY18- MY24)
Basic warranty terms
Remainder of the 5-Year/60,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. From original in-service date and zero (0) miles.
Powertrain
10-Yr/100K-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. From original in-service date and zero (0) miles.
Dealer certification required
173-point inspection
Roadside assistance
Yes
View all cpo program details

Have questions about warranties or CPO programs?

Compare the competitors