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Need advice on possible 2017 Tucson purchase

15K views 44 replies 25 participants last post by  stromm 
#1 ·
I'm considering getting 2017 Tuscon, probably the base model but open to options.

When I see all the problems with the DCT like the temp warning lights and other problems I wouldn't get one with a DCT .

Is the 6 speed auto transmission reliable?

Any engines that are considered reliable or to avoid?

thanks Ron
 
#2 ·
Ron, welcome. I think you need to test drive both latest models. I was also concerned about DCT and went with 6 speed automatic with 2 litre 184HP diesel. I am pretty happy with the car and reasonably happy with the gearbox so far. As long as DCT works well it's a fantastic concept. I had a VW GTI with DSG/DCT and was brilliant. If you do lots of crawling in traffic with lots of stop starts then automatic gear boxes are generally superior as it's smoother. What engine : gearbox combos do you get where you live? I am based in New Zealand.


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#3 ·
Buy what you feel comfortable with, but I'm completely happy with the 1.6T and the DCT. Glad I didn't go with the 2.0 as that the same motor that's in my Elantra Sport and detuned to boot.


The 6 speed is a good transmission.
 
#4 ·
Hi Ron. Here were my thoughts on the Tucsons with the DCT when I was trying to decide which Tucson to buy. Most people who bought a Tucson with the DCT did not have any problems with it. Of the people who did have problems with the DCT, most had those problems resolved or reduced with Hyundai's service updates. However, there are still a significant number Tucson owners with the DCT that hate them and continue to have real problems with them. I was just not willing to take the chance that I would be one of the ones who had continual problems with the DCT. If you live in the US and want a Tucson without a DCT then you have 2 choices: The SE or the SE Plus. The SE Plus was not available when I bought my SE three months ago. I am very very happy with my decision to get the SE (with the popular pkg.) I think the 2.0 is a great engine and I don't find it under powered at all. I think there is a misconception that if a car manufacturer offers two engines then the engine with less horsepower must be under powered. It is not (at least for most people). The 2.0 with the automatic transmission is a smooth shifting, quiet, and reliable setup. I'm sure the 1.6 turbo is a great engine too, it's the DCT that was my concern. My favorite thing about the base SE is the simplicity of everything. Even the 5" touch screen display works great for me and I don't feel like I'm programming the launch of the Space Shuttle just to change the radio station.(My previous car's large touch screen display was a complicated nightmare). I am including a link that I have posted before on this forum. It is a review by Car and Driver of the SE with the 2.0. Good luck with your decision.
2016 Hyundai Tucson SE 2.0L FWD First Drive ? Review ? Car and Driver
 
#6 ·
However, there are still a significant number Tucson owners with the DCT that hate them and continue to have real problems with them.

Define "significant". The NTHSA has had 208 complaints out of how many built? If 50K built, that's still less than 1% (.004% actually). Granted I feel for those having problems, but lets not exaggerate.


The HP numbers are close for both motors, 164 & 175. But's the TQ numbers that make the difference as the 2.0 is 151 @ 4000 and the 1.6T is 195 @ 1500. That makes a difference with a 3500 lb vehicle.


Buy what you want and feel comfortable with. As already stated, test drive in all sorts of environments.
 
#5 ·
Test drive it and make sure you're happy with it.

We hear many people that complain after they bought the car. Too noisy, too rough, etc... For this reason, test drive it as much as possible on various road surfaces, including highways! Take your time. Don't be in a hurry.

Make sure that the recalls have been taken care of.
 
#7 ·
This is a no-brainer. Get one completely loaded with the ultimate package.

That DCT is a joy. You will pay more but it is far superior to the stripped models.

Only things I can find to improve on it would be an electric parking brake, smart cruise control and a heated steering wheel.

I also don't care for the auto rear deck loading, but some people do. I turned it off.

This car is a 100% improvement over the old model and I bought one of them too and it was loaded. No comparison.

Also, I cannot see why anyone would need the Santa Fe unless they needed more cargo area.

This is a simply wonderful car and I've bought 33 new vehicles in my lifetime. It wins hands down.
 
#10 ·
To answer your question, yes the 6speed auto is relatively reliable as it is a tried and true transmission.
My advice is drive both, you may be surprised. I was weary of the DCT but being the only option for the 1.6T it was not a difficult decision. The DCT shifts quick and smooth in my opinion, and I love the 1.6T. Hopefully it remains problem free.
 
#11 ·
There is one thing to bear in mind about the DCT. Do not "feather" the gas as one would do with a conventional automatic. That puts strain and wear on the clutches. Instead, if you find yourself in a traffic jam, merely put your foot on the brake securely so you are are not creeping along.

Additionally, if you find you are barely moving at all you can manually put it in the 1st gear (a super low gear) and that engages the clutches completely and you can speed up as traffic speeds up. At the point the traffic begins moving, simply push to the right and engage normal driving and you're fine. Just don't feather the clutches as one has no real choice in a manually shifted vehicle, especially on hills. A conventional automatic slips through the torque converter so there is no problem. With a DCT you should not use the transmission as a hill holding device. Put the brake on completely and then apply the accelerator pedal as both the brake and accelerator pedal will properly engage the clutches. No feathering. This is not an automatic. This is a manual transmission that is automated.

In 2011 I purchased a new Ford Fiesta. It too had the DCT but it was a six speed DCT. It would stumble and bumble and was a constant source of complaints although I learned to live with it. The Tucson has seven speeds and it is the 7th gear that is "super low" to get around this. Once underway, driving this car is "delicious" and well worth the money. Would never go back to a conventional automatic.
 
#12 ·
I haven't seen anyone yet who will regret that he/she got the 1.6T!! Instead of many ppl complain about 2l engine! When I was buying ours, I also faced this problem which one is good...but now I drive it more often then my wife....LOL
 
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#14 ·
1.6T and the DCT are a fantastic combo. Love ours! We've had it for just over a year. We did have a "Transmission Overheat" warning early on, but that was stop and go traffic up a slight incline, and I was guilty of driving it like a regular automatic. Ever since the programming updates and being aware it isn't a regular automatic, we've had zero problems, only fun driving.
 
#16 ·
I went with the 2017 Limited 1.6 Turbo AWD Fully Loaded w/Ultimate Package in Coliseum Gray color, and love it. Got it back in October with 17 miles on the odometer; just hit 3k miles last week. So far no major complaints.

I did have to take it to the dealership for the DCT update. Felt the hesitation before getting the update but it wasn't terrible. I would just use it in Sport mode to compensate. Vehicles being all computers nowadays they are bound to have some "technical difficulties". Had the update done when I took it for the first oil change back in February @ about 2,300 miles; I waited maybe 1.5hrs altogether, maybe even less.

Pros: Love the panoramic sunroof, bending HID headlights, auto tailgate, 19" wheels, Turbo got a good kick to it, love the all-around leather, heated/cooled seats are great. One thing I also like which I don't think many people consider as a plus is how much room there is to work under the hood. Not that I'm looking forward to having issues and having to replace stuff, but it’s good to know that if need be in the future I can do my own work on it and have access to almost everything.

Cons: not many but I’m not a big fan of the hazard lights being on while the remote start is on. Never seen that on a vehicle before. Also not a fan of the price for the features of the mobile app.

Previous vehicle was a '05 Nissan Murano S. It was a PITA to do any work on the car and turns out I had a lot of issues with it and things that needed replacing. Made it to 120k miles and probably could've gotten a few more years out of it but the wife got into an accident and it was totaled by our insurance company.

The Tucson is my wife's daily driver but I drive it a few times a week when she's off from work. I love the driving experience. I love the design. I think Hyundai did an amazing job with the new style comparing to previous generation models. To me it looks similar to the BMW X3. I came to find out that the current designer for Hyundai used to work for BMW. So I guess it makes sense. To me it is a very luxurious vehicle and compares to the luxury brands like BMW, Audi, etc...

A few years ago I would've never considered buying a Hyundai, but I am totally sold on it now. I hope I never have to use the 10yr/100k mile warranty but its great to know that it is there if ever needed. Hope I didn't ramble on too much but wanted to provide as much info as I could based on my opinion and experience so far.
 
#29 ·
Cons: not many but I’m not a big fan of the hazard lights being on while the remote start is on. Never seen that on a vehicle before. Also not a fan of the price for the features of the mobile app.


I have the 2017 1.6T Limited version with AutoStart but my lights do not blink when the remote start is on. The only lights that come on are the DRLs and nothing else. Nothing flashes that's for sure as I just came in from testing it!
 
#17 · (Edited)
I'm chiming in...wife's 2016 1.6T w/DCT. She experienced the issue a couple of times. Dealer did two updates. Bam! Issue resolved. I drove it the other day. Her sitting in the car making sure I did everything perfectly. Her car, her rules. I get it. She had a weak moment and let me open that panaramic roof. :eek: I want one in my Elantra. Thought I was in a convertible. I digress.

Anyway, not any hesitation. Seven speeds and buttery smooth transitions from one gear to the next. all shits were flawless. Silly thing will lull you to sleep. Only time will tell. But, hey...got a warranty, right? No lost sleep, here.
 
#18 ·
I can't get enough of that panoramic roof. Even had it open a few times in the winter cold and almost met my death when the family told me the f off. lol

TS
 
#19 ·
What the heck, I might as well chime in.
We got out Tucson Sport on Christmas Eve. We didn't get the Ultimate because there are things on that model that we just won't use. We had those options on our previous Chevy Equinox that we never used.
Our previous Equinox was loaded to the gills and this Tucson blows it away.
It is so easy to drive- very nimble and quick reacting. I love the 1.6T, my wife won't hardly let me drive it! It is very peppy and gets good gas mileage.
We test drove the Honda CR and the Toyota Rav. The were ok, but neither one spoke to us.
On our way home my wife saw the Hyundai dealership. I laughed and said no way, I'm not buying a "Hyundai ".
One test drive in a Tucson and the rest is history. I hope this car lasts.
Very reasonably priced.

There are only 2 things that I wish it had:
Memory seating/mirror adjust;
Auto dim/homelink mirror (which I will be installing the mirror).
 
#21 ·
Hello, Ron. I agree with the others, test drive the vehicle for you to have a better feel. I got the 2.0 AT 2017 model and so far my wife and I are enjoying the ride. Shifting is smooth. About the DCT, I've been driving the Ford Fiesta for 6 years now, had a few computer updates with the dealer before and I could say it's still is a joy ride. It's going to take some time though to adjust if you'll be driving a DCT for the first time. Follow your heart, Ron and good luck!
 
#24 ·
Yes - test drive for sure so you will always remember what your experience was of each model. That way you will always feel confident in your decision. My Tucson is now over 1 1/2 years old - just paid it off - and have never looked back. Wishing you all success in your shopping.
 
#32 ·
40K miles on a loaded Ultimate AWD and still happy motoring along. One unique feature of this DCT that some owners don't know it has is the "hill holder" feature. If you come to a COMPLETE stop on a steep incline, the brakes stay applied until you hit the accelerator. No drifting backwards like with a conventional clutch.
 
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