The Koreans have improved their cars so much in the recent years that you cannot label them as budget carmakers anymore. Their latest offering, the all new Tuscon SUV, is no exception.

Looking more stylish and handsome with its latest 'Fluidic Sculpture 2.0' design, the Tuscon is arguably one of the best looking SUVs in its class. But watch out, its other Korean rival, the Kia Sportage which has yet to arrive on our shores, is one good looker too!

It might just be me but I thought the rear lights give the Tuscon a wide and low-slung look.

Inside, the design is slightly less adventurous but it sure is functional. Storage space upfront is good and the quality of the plastics on the dash are as good as the rest of the class.

Space at the back is plentiful. Large sunroof enhances cabin space too.

Nothing fancy here. Controls are all well laid out.

Blind Spot Detection useful in Singapore's wild traffic.

On the topic of traffic, I found the Auto Hold function more useful than I thought. Just remember to turn it off before you start parking else you might find yourself waiting for the car to creep after coming to a complete stop. Select-able Drive Mode good to have but does not change the attitude of the car much. Found myself using the Sport setting only as the other modes made the car slightly less responsive.

Six-speed automatic smooth and fast enough for an SUV. Could be more responsive in Manual mode but I am just nitpicking here.

For those who are keen in driving, there isn't much joy in driving the Tucson fast. Handling is best described as secure which is no bad thing for a family SUV. The ride is well-damped and it can actually carry decent speeds into the turns. While the steering weight is fine, the feel could be improved as it felt slightly artificial at times.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and smart SUV from Hyundai. If you are shopping for a soft off roader and find the Qashqai getting a bit too common, you might want this on your shopping list.