The Tucson has clean lines with a relatively big grille up front and headlamps that blend in well with the hood line and edge of the fenders. The front bumper is a large one-piece molding that spans from the lower edge of the hood underneath to form a spoiler. Its side profile is fairly flat as it barely protrudes in front of the grille opening. At the back, the edge of the rear bumper reaches up to the tail lights and sticks out from them by a couple of inches adding protection.
The GLS and LX models come with lower body cladding that runs from the front bumpers around the fenders and along the lower edges of the doors to the rear bumpers. Finished in matt black the cladding is not too obtrusive.
Even though the Tucson is not intended for serious off-roading it does have a relatively short front and rear overhang for improved clearance. This is largely thanks to the wheelbase, which is as long as that on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape even though those two vehicles are several inches longer overall. The Tucson also has a wider track, which helps improve its stability.
The rear tailgate slopes forward, avoiding the van-like vertical look of many SUVs. The rear window can be opened separately from the main tailgate although it is not very big, making it ineffective for loading much more than small light stuff.
All models come with 16-inch alloy wheels; the GL has five spokes while the other models get six-spoke wheels. A roof rack and tinted windows are also standard on all models.
