It’s fresh. It’s fully loaded. It’s ready for families. Meet the all-new 2016 Hyundai Tuscon:

1.)  The new Tuscon looks a lot like the rest of the fleet. Sculpted body forms and sporty contours for an athletic, bold and slightly aggressive appearance make the Tuscon fall in line with the brand’s car offerings. On the front you’ll find a hexagonal-shaped grille enhanced by available high-efficiency LED twin-projector headlights, LED headlight accents and integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs).

2.)  It’s fingertip tested and approved. A stitched, premium, soft-touch pad is located near the driver’s right knee, for better comfort during long commutes or spirited cornering. Interior touch points have been upgraded with premium, soft-touch materials.

3.)  Tucson means safety technology. When it comes to safety, the Tuscon doesn’t skimp on available technology offerings. The new Tucson, when equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking, is expected to receive a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For 2016, advanced safety technologies such as Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross-traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Backup Warning Sensors and standard rearview camera will be offered.

4.)  The 2016 Tuscon is bigger than ever. It’s longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the previous model for greater interior volume and versatility.

5.)  Backseat passengers have more room, and so does your cargo. Overall, cargo room has been increased to 31.0 cubic feet, a full five cubic feet over the previous model, with a dual-level rear cargo floor. The rear liftgate opening has been enlarged in every dimension, for greater cargo flexibility. The 60/40 rear seatbacks have a greater range of adjustable recline for varying combinations of passengers and cargo, with an increased available recline of 37 degrees compared with 28 degrees for the previous model.

6.)  The 2016 model is the most fuel efficient yet. Based on internal tests, fuel economy for the 2.0L FWD model is estimated at 23 (city), 31 (highway), 26 (combined). The 26-mpg combined fuel economy rating is a one-mpg improvement over the previous model.

7.)  The new engine is designed to drive. Eco, Sport and Limited models offer a new, Gamma engine family, 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder with an estimated 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Peak torque delivery starts at only 1,500 rpm and holds through 4,500 rpm, for low-RPM responsiveness and performance in everyday driving conditions.

8.)  Torque and traction are taken care of. The 2016 Tucson will offer an advanced AWD system developed by Hyundai in conjunction with Magna Powertrain. The system includes a driver-selectable AWD lock that allows a differentiated torque split between front and rear wheels, for off-road and extremely slippery road conditions. The system also includes Active Cornering Control, which automatically transfers torque to the wheels with the most traction. The system reduces understeer and enhances cornering performance by braking the inside rear wheel and delivering more torque to the outside rear wheel, providing a torque-vectoring effect. Finally, the system incorporates both Hillstart Assist and Downhill Brake Control to assist drivers facing sharp incline or decline conditions.

9.) The vehicle is full of segment firsts. The 2016 Tucson offers several compact CUV segment firsts, including ventilated front seats and YES Essentials® stain-resistant seats. Newly available features on Tucson include LED headlights and accents, LED Daytime Running Lights, HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) that turn-in with the direction of the steering wheel, LED map lights, color LCD cluster display, individual tire monitoring, power passenger seat and heated rear seats.

The new Tucson also offers a smart power liftgate with auto-open similar to current Ford models. The smart power liftgate enables the Tucson owner to automatically open the rear liftgate, hands-free, by simply standing within a few feet of the liftgate for a few seconds with the key fob in a pocket or purse (that’s where the brands vary; Ford technology requires you to wave a foot under the vehicle).

10.) Infotainment technology is in line with other brand offerings. The new Tucson will offer a standard five-inch color LCD display with rearview camera and touchscreen function for intuitive operation. Apple Siri® “Eyes Free” integration also is now available.

Available features include a 405-watt, AM/FM/SiriusXM premium audio system with eight speakers, the latest generation of SiriusXM Travel Link® with Traffic, Sports, Weather, Stocks, Fuel Prices and Movies. SiriusXM’s Tune Start® allows the replay of a song from its beginning whenever a preset is selected. Additional multi-cultural channels are also available.

Tucson will also offer Hyundai’s next-generation navigation system, with an advanced, eight-inch display for easy legibility. Display brightness (up 33%) and touchscreen sensitivity are improvident the 2016 model. The screen also now offers a split-screen display with both map and music data available simultaneously. On the navigation-equipped Tucson, popular apps such as Pandora® Internet Radio and Yelp® are already integrated with the multimedia system.

The new Tucson will arrive at Hyundai dealers in July.

all images courtesy of Hyundai