2022 Hyundai Tucson vs Jeep Compass vs Citroen C5 Aircross

• Tucson is the top choice. Superb engine, gearbox, Hyundai-backing, comfortable, features etc. Second choice Compass Diesel AT.
• 2022 Hyundai Tucson
• Jeep Compass
• Citroen C5 Aircross
• Volkswagen Tiguan
• Skoda Kodiaq
• Jeep Meridian
• Mahindra Alturas G4

Tucson is the top choice. Superb engine, gearbox, Hyundai-backing, comfortable, features etc. Second choice Compass Diesel AT.

2022 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson Pros

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

Hyundai Tucson Cons

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone’s liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn’t as punchy as the competitors’ turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds…
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Jeep Compass

Jeep Compass Pros:

• Handsome Cherokee-inspired styling & loads of character
• Solid build. Feels very robust, just as a Jeep should
• Powerful 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, fast on the open road
• 1.4L turbo-petrol makes 161 BHP! Offers fast performance.
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available (unlike some competitors)
• City-friendly: Compact size, higher seating, smooth gearshift, soft clutch & low NVH
• Topnotch safety: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• We think the Compass is well-priced for what it offers. The driving experience & overall package feel premium

Jeep Compass Cons:

• Small size for the price! A sentiment echoed by most people who saw it in person
• Suitable for 4 adults, not 5. Boot is small too
• Inexplicably, only the AWD Diesel gets 6 airbags! All other variants have 2
• Tiny dealership network. Plus, after-sales quality & long-term reliability are unknown factors
• AWD’s premium is over 2 lakh rupees on-the-road. Includes 4 extra airbags, but is still too much
• Turning radius of 5.65m is wide. Also, 17º approach angle is too low
• Missing goodies (blanks on the steering, auto-dimming IRVM, auto wipers & headlamps, lumbar adjustment, reclinable rear seats)

Citroen C5 Aircross

Citroen C5 Aircross Pros:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It’s matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes…
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

Citroen C5 Aircross Cons:

• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10″ adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, wireless charging, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a premium car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn’t have
• The LHD orientation of many controls (gear shifter, e-brake, bonnet release, engine start button)
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns

Volkswagen Tiguan

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq Pros:

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking…)
• AWD is available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

Skoda Kodiaq Cons:

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a couple of lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn’t have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Jeep Meridian

Jeep Meridian Pros:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
• Diesel AT now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)

Jeep Meridian Cons:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited
• Just the higher Limited & Limited (O) variants at launch. Not sure when lesser variants will follow

Mahindra Alturas G4

Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:

Diesel: Tucson is the top choice. Superb engine, gearbox, Hyundai-backing, comfortable, features etc. My second choice Compass Diesel AT, but I would pick the Tucson over it today. Sure, the Tucson is overpriced, but what car isn’t in 2022? OEMs are in the business to make money and will charge whatever is the max they think they can extract from the customer.

Petrol: Kodiaq, and I would wait months for its delivery. It’s a crossover that always punched above its weight, and is now better in the 2022 avatar with the faster turbo-petrol engine and adjustable suspension. The “comfort” & “sport” suspension modes make a world of difference.

Let’s keep this discussion around the car-like crossover options. Not including body-on-frame SUVs like the Fortuner & Gloster due to their higher price & size. Kept the Alturas only because it’s among the cheapest here.

Here’s what BHPian AYP had to say on the matter:

I’d go for the Tucson diesel among the options listed here. Its diesel engine with more than 400NM torque and close to 200 BHP of power is very difficult to ignore, especially when the diesel options are getting more and more limited. IMHO, diesel has a very limited lifespan left. I wouldn’t be too surprised if 8-10 years down the line, diesel disappears for good or gets limited to a very selected list of cars. For all practical purposes, a person buying a diesel in the next 2-3 years will be the last diesel he or she will ever own. The TSIs and the petrol, in general, shall continue to be available for at least the next 15-20 years if not more.

For the second position, it is a very close call between the Meridian and the Kodiaq. From a neutral perspective, the Kodiaq is the best car hire period. But the Meridian offers a ‘decent’ diesel while still being luxurious enough on the inside. I’d pick the Meridian diesel with the manual gearbox over the Kodiaq. The Citroen C5 Aircross is a dark horse though with its potent diesel+ AT combo and its performance in all probability shall push me towards it over the Meridian.

Overall: Tucson diesel> C5 Aircross> Meridian> Kodiaq> Tiguan> Compass diesel> Compass petrol> Tucson petrol> Alturas.

Here’s what BHPian Gsynch had to say on the matter:

I have voted for Jeep Meridian.

I took a TD of both Meridian and Tucson back to back and found Meridian to be more bang for the buck for a city dweller. Tucson Signature Diesel AT and Meridian FWD AT Limited (O) are almost at the same price point and Meridian offers much more. Gives the flexibility to use it as an occasional 7-seater when needed. Meridian interiors are half a step above Tucson’s interior (purely subjective observation). Jeep is also a pure-play SUV brand recognized the world over.

Lastly and this could be important to many people, Meridian is available within a couple of weeks while Tucson D is 3+ months waitlisted (which, in today’s uncertain times, means one potential price hike by the time one gets the car)

Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Kodiaq is undoubtedly the best car here. From space to pace to finesse to sheer quality. Nothing quite like it. If one has the budget, this is a no-brainer.

The second choice will be Jeep Compass, diesel manual. An absolute hoot to drive, perhaps the most fun you can have on this side of a BMW. It is a good 10L cheaper than the other options listed here and is a phenomenal car overall. It is the perfect car for the enthusiast with a small family. Stellar fuel efficiency is added bonus.

Keyword: 2022 Hyundai Tucson vs Jeep Compass vs Citroen C5 Aircross