Sasaki Time's Review of the 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE - Stylish and Affordable

Last summer I had the privilege of driving the 2016 Hyundai Tucson in Minneapolis for its media launch. Now I got to drive it for a week in my home of Southern California. How would the compact SUV hold up on the streets and freeways of Orange County? Let's find out as I took the Tucson through the historic streets in Downtown Orange!

The stylish good looks of the Hyundai Tucson will stand out here in the glitz of Southern California! The now signature large Hyundai grill and the wrap around headlights will surely catch your eye. Powering these stylish good looks is a 164-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine on the SE. All other trims have the option of a 175-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. There is more than enough power to conquer the streets and freeways of the O.C. area. 

The cockpit is nicely laid out. The basic SE version that I am reviewing here comes equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen with audio display and rear view camera and several power ports.  The Eco, Sport and Limited trims come with heated and cooled leather seats, a larger infotainment screen with navigation, a panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, lane departure warning, rear view camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. The Eco and SE trims however do not have 19-inch alloy wheels and go for a more efficient 17-inch alloy wheel. 

The cloth seats are comfortable and provide a lot of support.

As you can see the back row has amble room for your family or for your friends.

One of my favorite places is this Ruby's Streamliner Lounge and Diner in Old Towne Orange and located in the historic Santa Fe train depot. This depot was built in 1938 and the restaurant has been restored to make you feel as if you are traveling by rail in the 1930s. The railroad tracks are still in use by the Orange Metrolink and you can literally get off the train and come in for a meal or a drink.

After having some great burgers and some old-fashioned cocktails it was time to hit the road. But before that I needed to see how much room we had in the back of the Tucson. We were heading to The Donut Man in Glendora for their famous strawberry donuts! They only offer them during strawberry season and it was the first day of the year for them! It looks like we could easily transport a few dozen safely back to Orange County!

Behold the glory that is the strawberry donut from The Donut Man! These are the best strawberry donuts in the area and I cannot say enough about them! Plus they are on historic Route 66! It doesn't much better than a classic road trip and some world famous Donut Man donuts!

The 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE is stylish, a little light on the tech side but offers a smooth drive with plenty of power for city and highway driving. As reviewed, the 2016 Tucson SE comes in at $24,320.