SUV group test: Hyundai Tucson v Nissan Qashqai v Renault Kadjar

Can you new Tuscon topple its two identikit rivals from Nissan and Renault?

Compared to a hatchback or similar, all three offer higher driving positions

We pit the new Hyundai Tuscon against two versions of the same vehicle. Both the Nissan Qashqai and the Renault Kadjar share a lot in common, thanks to an agreement between the two companies. But it’s the Qashqai that rules the roost. And not just the SUV roost either. It remains the fifth best-selling vehicle in Britain. That’s quite an achievement, when you consider it’s only just behind the VW Golf. So can a new SUV knock it off its perch?

Compared to a hatchback or similar, all three of these offer higher driving positions. That’s a good start for seeing the road ahead or seeing into other people’s gardens. In truth, there’s not a lot to choose between the interiors on these three. The Tuscon has reclining rear seats though, which is quite a novelty and one the others don’t share. They all have reasonable boots, although the Kadjar wins with the biggest number there.

They’re all comfortable, all have adjustable lumbar support and all interiors feel reasonably well made. But if you had to pick one, it would still be the Qashqai. It just feels better made, better put together.

But if you had to pick one, it would still be the Qashqai

Both the Nissan and the Renault share the same 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine, so it’s no surprise that they drive in a similar fashion. It’s a fairly quiet unit, even quieter in the Qashqai, although you do have to keep the revs up if you want to make more rapid progress.

The engine in the Hyundai is 200cc bigger, and you can feel it. It pulls stronger from lower down and keeps it going. That’s good to feel, but at the same time the increased power comes with increased noise and vibration compared to the competitor engine.

The Hyundai's engine is 200cc bigger than the Renault, and you can feel it

The Tuscon has the stiffest of the suspension set-ups, so it doesn’t rock and roll. The payoff is that it does seem a little stiff and unforgiving over rougher surfaces. The other two handle a bit better, and of them the Nissan handles a bit better again. It’s more compliant and comfortable over rough surfaces, and has the slightly heavier steering. That’s good at higher speeds, less welcome around town.

None of these cars is a big thrill to drive, but again the Nissan just shades it.

In terms of cost, it depends on who is buying. The Hyundai is the least attractive for company car drivers, but in overall running costs it manages to sandwich itself between its two rivals. In the real world the Renault wins out as the cheapest of the three, but there aren’t huge sums in it either way.

Hyundai have certainly improved the Tuscon, that is not in doubt. What is doubtful is whether it can trouble either of its competitors here. Given that it can work out the most expensive as well, it does fall slightly short in rather too many areas to make the cut.


 The Renault shares many of its components with the Qashqai

The Renault Kadjar is the cheapest vehicle here, yet shares many of its components with the Qashqai. It’s good to drive, is fairly stylish and should depreciate fairly slowly. Yet it also doesn’t feel that great inside and too many bits we’d like are options.

It lacks the ultimate refinement of the Nissan Qashqai. We’ve done quite a few group tests over the years, and every time the Qashqai is in it, it wins it. It’s the most sophisticated, the best drive and the most classy vehicle on test here. Nobody has yet managed to beat it.

The results

1st: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCI 110 [5 stars]

Engine size 1.5-litre diesel
Price from £23,770 (list)
Power 109bhp
Torque 192lb ft
0-60mph 11.8 seconds
Top speed 113mph
Fuel economy 54.7mpg
CO2 103g/km

2nd: Renault Kadjar 1.5 dCI 110 [4 stars]

Engine size 1.5-litre diesel
Price from £21,595 (list)
Power 109bhp
Torque 192lb ft
0-60mph 11.5 seconds
Top speed 113mph
Fuel economy 58.0mpg
CO2 99g/km

3rd: Hyundai Tucson 1.7 CRDi 116 [3 stars]

Engine size 1.7-litre diesel
Price from £22,740 (list)
Power 114bhp
Torque 207lb ft
0-60mph 11.4 seconds
Top speed 109mph
Fuel economy 47.0mpg
CO2 119g/km