2006 Hyundai Tucson Trims and Specs

The 2006 Hyundai Tucson GL 2WD is unchanged from last year. The front-wheel drive compact SUV rides on a four-wheel independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars and 16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires. As the base model, the 2006 Tucson GL 2WD carries a 140-hp, 2.0-liter DOHC I4 and choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed shiftable automatic. It is fully equipped with traction and stability control, electronic brakeforce, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, and dual front, front-side, and side curtain airbags. Rear seats split-fold 60/40 into the floor, and the front passenger seat also folds down. Cargo capacity reaches 65 cubic feet, and is supplemented by a standard roof rack. Tie-downs and a cover are included.

Power windows, locks, and mirrors are standard, along with wheel-mounted cruise control, heated mirrors, intermittent front and rear wipers, a CD player, keyless entry, and a security system. Privacy glass is included. The rear window opens separately from the liftgate, for quick access to cargo. A nice feature that owners and backseat passengers like are the reclining rear seats. Overall handling, style, and the surprising interior roominess please drivers looking for a SUV versatility in a more compact package. The 22/27 gas mileage is so-so, and drivers wish there were more options and more power in the 2006 Tucson GL 2WD.

Adding a bit more confidence in difficult driving conditions, the 2006 Hyundai Tucson GL 4WD features an all-wheel drive system that can be either automatically or manually engaged to distribute power 50/50 front and rear. The default setting is front-wheel drive. It is accompanied by a locking center differential, but is not equipped for true off-road driving. The 2006 Tucson GL 4WD comes only with a 5-speed manual connected to a 2.0-liter, 140-hp DOHC I4 that delivers 138 lb-ft of torque. Traction and stability control, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, front and rear stabilizer bars, electronic brakeforce, and six airbags (front, side, curtain) win five stars in crash tests of the compact SUV.

Features are the same as the 2WD model, with a full power setup, cruise control, CD player, intermittent front and rear wipers, privacy glass, keyless entry, tilt steering wheel, heated mirrors, and a security system. Consoles and seatbacks provide some storage options, and the 22 cubic-foot cargo area expands to 65 cubic feet when the rear seats fold into the floor. The front passengers seat also folds to accommodate longer objects. Tie-downs, a light, and a cover are included in the cargo area, and a roof rack adds more options. Some owners complain about the inconvenient latches to release the rear seats, and they also would like more power and better gas mileage. Highlights include roominess, a smooth ride, car-like handling, and good road grip.

The mid-level 2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS 2WD offers a lot more upgrades and a more powerful engine than the base model of this compact, front-wheel drive SUV. Seating four or five in two rows, the GLS 2WD adds a tire pressure monitor to the long list of safety equipment, which includes 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce, traction and stability control, and dual front, front-side, and side curtain airbags. The SUV rides on an independent suspension, using 16-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires. Power comes from a 2.7-liter, 173-hp DOHC V6 and 4-speed shiftable automatic, that deliver 178 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 2000 pounds.

Some standard features you get when you move up to the 2006 Tucson GLS 2WD are foglights, leather wheel and shifter trim, a CD/MP3 player, a trip computer, and speed-sensing wipers. This is in addition to cruise control, a full power setup, intermittent front and rear wipers, tilt steering wheel, security system, privacy glass, and a bevy of storage consoles and cupholders. Rear seats fold into the floor and recline back, and the cargo area expands to 65 cubic feet and offers tie-downs and a cover. A roof rack is standard. GLS options include heated front seats, a sunroof, and a CD changer. Owners are drawn to the SUV for its affordability and like that it packs in so many features. They compact size is good for city driving, yet there is a lot of interior space for passenger comfort. the biggest complaint is the 20/26 gas mileage, which drivers say is an overestimate.

Packing a lot of high-end standard features into an affordable compact SUV, the 2006 Hyundai Tucson Limited 2WD is a front-wheel drive SUV that seats four in two rows of seats, and carries a 2.7-liter, 173-hp DOHC V6 and 4-speed shiftable automatic. The powerful engine enables you to tow up to 2000 pounds and delivers 178 lb-ft of torque. Offering more safety features than most compacts, the 2006 Tucson Limited 2WD comes with a tire pressure monitor, traction and stability control, 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, an independent suspension and front and rear stabilizer bars, 16-inch alloy wheels, and dual front, front-side, and side curtain airbags.

What the Limited adds to the GLS are leather seats, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a CD changer, and an external temperature display. This is in addition to power features, cruise control, a security system, keyless entry, leather trim, intermittent front and rear wipers, and a trip computer. Rear seats fold into the floor and the front passenger seat also flips down to expand the cargo area to 65 cubic feet. A roof rack is standard, as are tie-downs and a cargo cover. The rear window opens separately from the liftgate. The main option is a sunroof. Praise goes to the long list of features, reclining rear seats, V6 power, and passenger leg and headroom. Downsides include sluggish acceleration, 20/26 mpg, and a front armrest that is too far back for comfort.

Unchanged from last year, the 2006 Hyundai Tucson GLS 4WD is the mid-level offering for the compact SUV, adding a four-wheel drive system that automatically apportions torque to the front wheels and then 50/50 according to road conditions. The system can also be engaged manually. It features a locking center differential, but no low range gearing. Under the hood sits a 173-hp, 2.7-liter DOHC V6 and 4-speed auto tran with manual mode. Safety and security come from 16-inch wheels with all-season tires, traciton and stability control, 4-wheel ABS brakes, dual front, front-side, and side curtain airbags, and a tire pressure monitor. Together, these help earn five stars in crash tests.

The 2006 Tucson GLS 4WD adds foglights, a CD/MP3 player, leather wheel and shifter trim, and a trip computer to the base equipment, which includes full power features, cruise control, variable power steering and a tilt steering wheel, intermittent front and rear wipers, a security system, and keyless entry. A standard roof rack adds storage space to the cargo area, which expands from 22 to 65 cubic feet with the rear seats folded into the floor. The front passenger seat also folds down. Rear seats recline for passenger comfort. If you need more space, the 2006 Tucson GLS 4WD can tow up to 2000 pounds. It offers more options than the base, including a sunroof, heated front seats, and a CD changer. Drivers like the seat versatility, unexpected roominess, and smooth ride of the V6 engine, and understandably complain about the 20/26 fuel economy.

Full-time four-wheel drive that apportions power to the wheels when needed is found in the 2006 Hyundai Tucson Limited 4WD, the top end trim for this compact, yet roomy SUV. Normally engaged in the front wheels, the 4WD system can engage 50/50 according to the road conditions, and can be manually set as well. It comes with a locking center differential, but it is not an offroad vehicle, however. 4-wheel disc and ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce, traction and stability control, a tire monitor for the 16-inch wheels and all-season tires, and six airbags (dual front, side, and side curtain) are all standard. Power sits in a 173-hp, 2.7-liter DOHC V6 and 4-speed auto tran with manual mode.

Passengers have plenty of leg and headroom in the 2006 Tucson Limited 4WD, and both rows recline. Rear seats split-fold 60/40 into the floor, along with a folding front passenger seat. The small cargo area expands to 65 cubic feet, and there is also a standard roof rack. Leather seats, automatic climate control, a CD-changer/MP3 player, temperature display, and auto-dimming rearview mirror are the upgrades from the cruise control, power features, intermittent front and rear wipers, leather trim, and keyless entry in the GLS. Privacy glass, storage consoles, a tilt steering wheel, and reading lights are other conveniences. A sunroof is optional. While owners wish for better fuel economy and a power driver's seat, they love the style, value, abundance of features, and safety record (five stars) of the 2006 Tucson Limited 4WD.