The enhanced 2008 Hyundai Tucson is more occupant-friendly with new and active front head restraints. It is loaded with life-saving standard safety features that include electronic stability control and six air bags. And it is the only crossover in its class to have standard XM satellite radio and an auxiliary audio input. Although Tucson, unlike Santa Fe, has yet to gain popularity, it has been earning rave reviews in the auto industry. It also comes at an affordable price. The 2008 Hyundai Tucson is available in three trim levels: standard GL, midlevel GLS and upscale LX. An optional, manually interactive Shiftronic automatic is also available.

Standard on all Hyundai Tucson trims is a 2.0-liter, DOHC, "Beta" inline, four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels. Continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) optimizes the valve timing for better performance and fuel economy and for lower emissions. At 6,000 rpm, the engine develops 140 horsepower, with the peak torque of 136 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm. In addition to a smooth and efficient four-cylinder engine, the Tucson also offers a refined, optional 2.7-liter V-6 for improved acceleration and passing power. Horsepower peaks to 173 at 6,000 rpm, and torque crests at 178 pound-feet at an accessible 4,000 rpm. A precise five-speed manual transmission or a convenient four-speed Shiftronic automatic are the transmission choices available. The Tucson has a tighter suspension. It gives 17-20 mpg in the city and 23-25 mpg on highways. The Tucson is good as a basic, compact sport utility vehicle, but it lags behind its competitors in overall driving performance and refinement. However, Hyundai's five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty far surpasses that from competitors Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The design of the 2008 Hyundai Tucson is considered conservatively sporty. The exterior is purposeful, with a rugged bumper and higher ground clearance. It has the distinctive Hyundai grille, standard alloy wheels and roof rails. The five-passenger interior, while blending thoughtful features with utility, echoes the sleek athleticism of the exterior, with matte-black accents in the GLS trim and metal-grain accents in the SE and Limited versions. Illuminated power window and door lock switches combine with highly legible analog instrumentation to aid functionality and convenience. The cargo space is slightly below average for its class. It has 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up.

Safety features include a power-assisted front vented disc and a rear solid disc; advanced air bags for driver and front passenger, and front seat-mounted side impact air bags; front seatbelts; tire-pressure monitoring system; body-side reinforcements; and a shift interlock system. The Hyundai Tucson secured a full five-stars in NHTSA frontal crash testing (driver and passenger) and side crash testing (front and rear). The vehicle also has anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH), child-seat anchors and six air bags.