Tucson 2.0 CVVT vs Innova E

[orly_andico]

this should be a tough decision.
they cost almost exactly the same (give or take a few thousands).

Tucson
+ gasoline engine! no scary D4D
+ all power
+ Hyundai #2 in 2005 JD Power survey
+ made in Korea
- it's not a Toyota
- much less cargo and passenger capacity

Innova E
+ turbodiesel! should be more fuel-efficient
+ all power
+ it's a Toyota!
+ ladder frame chassis, it's more SUV than the Tucson
- made in Thailand
- scary D4D engine woes

no sense comparing the Innova J since the J is power-nothing. While the Innova G (gas or diesel) is way over the Tucson in price (although much less than the Tucson CRDI).

[carolco]

I own a Tucson CRDI 2.0 and am very happy with its performance. It's everything I've every wanted in an SUV at a lesser price. Korean cars I've heard are topping the charts/surveys. Maybe in time they will beat Japanese brands...

The ride is so smooth and quiet, and with regards to cargo space, I'm pretty much satisfied with it. The speakers/soundsystem that comes with it is awesome already for me, and the way the roof is made, it gives me more than enough protection from the sun (I get migraines!) It's really a no brainer, TUCSON wins!!!!

[niky]

Tucson, I'd suppose. The only advantage the Innova has is the third row space. Since the Tucson is sold in Europe and the US, so it should meet higher safety regulations than the Innova in terms of chassis stiffness and crash structure (even if it doesn't have airbags or ABS). Plus better ride and handling.

Plus, with the increasingly high profile of Hyundai, their resale value can only improve. Now if only they could solidify manufacturer aftersales support for their vehicles.

[carolco]

Yay!!!!Mannufacturer after sales support? OMG... I hope they do this fast and quick.

[carolco]

Yay!!!!Manufacturer after sales support? OMG... I hope they do this fast and quick.

[orly_andico]

Tucson, I'd suppose. The only advantage the Innova has is the third row space.

That's quite a bit. One could carry a fridge in an Innova, but not in a Tucson. Granted, you don't haul a fridge every day, but it's nice to have that functionality..

Also, as I mentioned in my original post, the Innova has a ladder-frame chassis. It should have higher ground clearance than the Tucson, plus a tougher bottom. Now you may not think this is relevant, but I want to drive to Sagada one of these days. The Tucson only has 7.1" of ground clearance, a measly 1" more than the Mazda 626 (yes, I checked!) so it would still be somewhat of a risk to take a Tucson up there. Might bust the suspension.

Now I know Sagada is really more of 4x4 low-range gearing territory, but a true 4x4 is significantly more expensive (except the Grand Vitara I suppose..)

[bryantpark]

I own a Tucson 2.0L CVVT automatic. Prior to my purchase, I was considering a Mazda 3V or an Innova E. The other entry lever SUV's were out of the question since it was beyond my budget of 1M. I've test driven both including the other SUV's (CRV, X-trail, Escape) and the Focus and was bent on getting me a Mazda 3. Then I saw the just released Tucson gas at a showroom near my place. I honestly never considered getting a Korean car at first but was impressed with the features and performance and amazed at the price that i settled for the Tuc in the end.

It may not be as long (but it's wider) that the Innova but all the passenger seats fold flat all the way to the front giving you room to squeeze in a fridge (if you dare lay horizontally). I sometimes work while on the road and I use the flat folding passenger seat as a table for my laptop. I've also slept in it comfortably once while out of town. I'm the second guy from work that has a Tucson and with it's smooth ride, generous space (I'm 6' tall), quiet engine, adequate power, reasonable fuel economy, solid built, good sound system, etc. etc...two other colleagues from work are getting a Tucson as well. The Innova and Fortuner are truck based so it rides like a truck while the Tucson is car based so go figure.

In the end, it all boils down to what your priorities are. But if you're looking for a good value SUV, I would definitely recommend the Tuc. You get more for at least around 200k less than other small SUV's. In as far as reliability, Hyundai has yet to achieve the brand image of its Japanese counterparts but it's fast catching up (in the US and Europe at least) and even besting them on some attributes.

[orly_andico]

The Innova and Fortuner are truck based so it rides like a truck while the Tucson is car based so go figure.

yeah, having not driven any truck-based vehicle, i can't guess how bad (?) it is. but the same argument goes the other way -- you'd take a truck places where you wouldn't dare take a car. now you might be thinking "who the h*ll drives to sagada?!?! and how often" yeah it's probably a once-in-two-years kind of thing. but that's one of my impracticalities.

i still personally think the Tucson is a better choice than an Innova E. but the Innova E can do several things the Tucson can't do (but it does these things rather crudely by comparison).

[pixelparadigm]

You get surrounded in a world of plastics when you get into a Tucson. However given the comparison against the Innova, they both are cheap afterall and quality at your fingertips should be a lesser factor than the amenities.

The front of the Tucson is ugly, for most. But honestly, there's a slight probability that it could grow on people... for being different but not as being hideous as a Ssangyong.

[bryantpark]

You get surrounded in a world of plastics when you get into a Tucson.

It really is a plastic world in there but I'm fine with it. I'm rather more concerned with the exterior. It's seems pretty solid and that counts a lot for safety. Makes me feel more secure driving it compared to my previous "tin can" Revo.

The front of the Tucson is ugly, for most. But honestly, there's a slight probability that it could grow on people... for being different but not as being hideous as a Ssangyong.

Likewise, I didn't like it (the two-tone) at first but the monotone somehow grows on you.

[ryan]

this should be a tough decision.
they cost almost exactly the same (give or take a few thousands).

Tucson
+ gasoline engine! no scary D4D
+ all power
+ Hyundai #2 in 2005 JD Power survey
+ made in Korea
- it's not a Toyota
- much less cargo and passenger capacity

Innova E
+ turbodiesel! should be more fuel-efficient
+ all power
+ it's a Toyota!
+ ladder frame chassis, it's more SUV than the Tucson
- made in Thailand
- scary D4D engine woes

no sense comparing the Innova J since the J is power-nothing. While the Innova G (gas or diesel) is way over the Tucson in price (although much less than the Tucson CRDI).

For me, the Tucson is probably "cooler" to own but the Innova wins in pretty much everything else (practicality, resale, aftersales service, spare parts, etc).

Just curious, why is "made in Korea" a positive point while "made in Thailand" is not? Do Thai made cars have a bad rep? I thought the Innova was assembled here and its the Fortuner that's from Thailand?

[orly_andico]

yeah the tucson is cooler... but the Innova is more practical.

for family people in this price segment, i guess the Innova wins hands down. mas matibay pa ang kaha kasi truck siya.

about Korea vs Taiwan.. the Koreans have better QA than the Thais. Ditto for Japan vs Philippines. A made-in-Japan Mazda6 will almost certainly have better QA than a made-in-Philippines Mazda3. Or so i would like to believe.

[bryantpark]

I agree, the Innova might be more practical for family use. I'm still single and looking so the Tucson's just right for me hehe.

On the contrary, I would like to believe that car companies with a global reputation require the same quality standards of their vehicles regardless of where it's manufactured especially if it's for export.

[20vanda01]

I agree, the Innova might be more practical for family use. I'm still single and looking so the Tucson's just right for me hehe.

On the contrary, I would like to believe that car companies with a global reputation require the same quality standards of their vehicles regardless of where it's manufactured especially if it's for export.

Agree with bryantpark. Multi-national company employs the same level of QA/process regardless where the plant is.

Will vote for Innova. One reason: pag nagsawa na ako sa Innova, ikukuha ko na siya ng taxi line, then will get a second car. 'Yong boundary ng Innova will pay for the second car...

[ReccaH]

Will vote for Innova. One reason: pag nagsawa na ako sa Innova, ikukuha ko na siya ng taxi line, then will get a second car. 'Yong boundary ng Innova will pay for the second car...

OUCH!!! hehe

[theveed]

That's one way of making money out of something that depreciates hehe.

[orly_andico]

not a bad idea actually!!!

pero for the budget-challenged parang mas interesting hintayin yung Avanza ah... concern ko kasi sa innova ang bigat bigat. ok pampamilya, pero what if wala ka (pang) pamilya? you'll be dragging that gasoline-powered hulk around.

(note about the diesel: scary yung Denso pump eh...)

[oldblue]

Tucson for me. but I still need to find out how's the after sales of Hyundai here

[niky]

Avanza for me... I can't wait to see this thing. If the 1.3 can drag that body around without racking up a catastrophic gas bill, it just might be the perfect office service.

[orly_andico]

i've heard mention on some web sites that the avanza is based on the unser platform (a.k.a. revo). could be true. and the interior daw is much plainer than the innova, which already doesn't win much styling points. but then it's cheap.

current price is 585k (indonesia equiv) or 610k (malaysia equiv)
siguro nasa gitna tayo because we're better off than indonesia but poorer than malaysia. :P