According to Hyundai's Korean website, the 2WD Tucson VVT has a 142hp/184Nm engine. What is appaling is that its price, at least in Korea, puts it in the range of the 2WD Tucson CRDi w/ 112hp/245Nm. Granted, the CRDi may not be a speed demon, but considering our traffic and road conditions, its superior torque would have come in handy.
I'm not so sure if the 4WD Tucson CRDi in the market right now is even a good buy. Its engine especially its turbo unit is less advanced than the Matrix CRDi VGT which only has a 1.5l displacement but capable of delivering 102hp/235Nm (some say 110hp, but I'm skeptic) versus the Tucson's 2.0l 112hp/245Nm. Even the agents that I've talked to admit that whenever they take these two for mall displays, the Matrix just leaves the Tucson behind.
Besides, the Tucson CRDi is due for an engine and turbo replacement in early 2006. Hyundai's Korean website announced that it would have a variable geometry turbine just like the Matrix which could churn out 140hp/305Nm. Imagine shelling out 1.18M now for an automatic 4WD Tucson CRDi and then in a few months, a more capable Tucson is released.
Manual 2WD Tucson CRDi at perhaps 900k

Automatic 4WD Tucson CRDi at 1.18M
