"So, is this some kind of sports car?"
My 15-year-old son had just sauntered over to inspect the new 2017 Hyundai Tucson "Night Edition" parked in our driveway.
Like other manufacturers before it, Hyundai has given one of its most popular models the black-out treatment - in this case the five-passenger, Tucson compact SUV, which just had a clean-sheet redesign in 2016.
For the record, the Tucson Night is not a sports car. In fact, its zero-to-60-mph time is in the fairly pedestrian 8-second range. But if looks could kill, our murdered-out, black-on-black Tucson Night tester would be an absolute assassin. This SUV looks like it has been dipped in a bucket of liquefied onyx and coated in diamond dust.
The Night Edition, the second most expensive trim level in the Tucson line-up, comes in four colors: gray, black, Caribbean Blue and - curiously - white. (Night white, I guess.) All the exterior colors are paired with 19-inch matte-black Rays wheels with red hubs, black side mirrors, a panoramic sun roof and aluminum pedals. The striking Night treatment is about a $2,000 upgrade.
Together, the design accents give the Tucson a custom look that belies its $30,220 bottom line. The Tucson line has six trim levels which range in price from $25,000 for the SE to $34,875 for the top-of-the-line Limited model.
Look for the Night edition Tucsons to hit local car stores in coming weeks. Hyundai says there will eventually be about 4,000 copies available nationwide.
In the meantime, Long Hyundai in Chattanooga reports 19 Tucsons in its digital inventory and Gray Epperson Hyundai in Cleveland, Tenn., has 20 Tucsons listed on its website.
STYLING AND FEATURES
The quickest way to establish a design signature in a vehicle is with a prominent grille, which capitalizes on the human instinct to put a face on an inanimate object. Hyundai's gaping, three-bar grille looks like a chrome step ladder. It's particularly dazzling when paired with the Black Noir Pearl exterior paint. (By the way, it's been more than 40 years since we've been in French class, but "Black Noir" seems redundant.)
Hyundai designers have done an especially good job sculpting the SUV's headlight assemblies, which sweep back and provide visual interest to what otherwise might look like a big, black box. A tiered hood also provides a canvas for a reflective light show. Meanwhile, the roof-line tapers gently down to the rear of the SUV, and flared rear wheel wells add muscle to the design.
The black theme continues inside the Tucson, with firm fabric seats sporting a dark, cross-hatch pattern. Big, round gauges are easy to read, although our tester's 5-inch color touchscreen seems a tad small for a $30,000 vehicle. Higher trim levels get a bigger screen.
There's a copious standard equipment list on our tester which includes a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, seven-speed dual clutch transmission, hands-free liftgate, blind-spot detection system, power driver's seat, rearview camera and satellite radio. New for this year are available Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
Hyundai says there's 31 cubic feet of storage area behind the back seats, and almost 62 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The Tucson comes in two engine variants, a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four cylinder (164 horsepower) and the 1.6-liter turbo, which makes 175 horsepower and, more significantly, 195 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine is a big upgrade and will be favored by most who are not looking for the most inexpensive option.
Meanwhile, the sewing-machine quiet seven-speed dual-clutch transmission provides an elevated driving experience.
In a week of Chattanooga-area driving, we found the Tuscon Night to be a willing playmate that earned lots of admiring glances from people who seemed to love the sexy trim package.
BOTTOM LINE
The Tucson competes alongside the popular Honda CR-V, the Maxda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4. It offers a refined engine, value pricing and Hyundai's class-leading 100,000-mile (or 10 year) power-train warranty.
With the turbocharged engine expect 28 miles per gallon highway and 24 mpg city.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/ mkennedycolumnist.
Fast facts
-Model: 2017 Hyundai Tucson Night AWD
-Exterior color: Black Noir Pearl
-Interior color: Black
-Engine: 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder
-Horsepower: 175
-Transmission: Seven-speed, dual clutch
-Fuel economy: 28 mpg highway, 24 mpg city
-Local Dealer: Long Hyundai (Chattanooga), Gray Epperson Hyundai (Cleveland)
-Price (as tested): $30,220