HYUNDAI'S remarkable Tucson SUV now has another string to its bow ... a new two-wheel drive version went on sale on January 1, 2005, at the amazing price of £13,995 on-the-road. The front-wheel drive Tucson 2.0 GSI features all the usual Hyundai refinements and a very long list of standard equipment, and at a price, which will attract even more owners to Hyundai SUV motoring.

What is more, as with all new Hyundai models, it comes with an unlimited mileage, full transferable, five-year warranty. All models feature six airbags, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, power steering, air conditioning, electric sunroof, double folding 60/40 split rear seats, CD player, alloy wheels and roof rails.

The two-litre engine, which is the CVVT (continual variable valve timing) unit as seen in the Coupe, develops 139bhp@6000rpm, has 184Nm/136lbs ft of torque on tap at 4500rpm, enough to propel the Tucson to a top speed of 112mph and from 0-62mph in just 10.4 seconds - nearly a second quicker than the four-wheel drive 2.0-litre variant The two-wheel drive Tucson 2.0 GSI returns excellent fuel economy, achieving 42.8mpg extra urban, 27.1mpg urban and 35.3mpg combined.

Launched in the summer of 2004, the Tucson range has proved to be a huge hit in the UK, selling more than 1,700 units in just four months. The Tucson marks the entry point to Hyundai's 4x4 range and is complemented by the larger Santa Fe SUV, and the rugged off-road Terracan. Hyundai sold more than 7,000 4x4 vehicles in 2004 - a remarkable achievement considering the company only entered the 4x4 market in 2001.