tucson highlander review Page 7

Hyundai’s Tucson Highlander is the range-topper that turns the school run into a smug little victory lap.

It serves up a plush cabin, big-car tech and safety, and the sort of creature comforts that make you feel faintly guilty about the dog hair.

Engines vary by year—think 2.0 petrol, perkier 1.6T with AWD, and a torquey diesel, with a newer hybrid option—so pick your poison; the diesel and hybrid sip, the 1.6T is sprightly but its dual-clutch can fidget in carparks.

Ride is settled most of the time but those big wheels can thump over scrappy Aussie tarmac, and road noise creeps in on coarse-chip.

Space is generous front and back, the boot is family-proof, and you get a full suite of driver aids alongside clear infotainment and easy smartphone integration.

Not a firebrand, more a thoroughly competent all-rounder that feels expensive without the badge-tax—and the five-year warranty sweetens the deal.