2022 Hyundai Tucson Takes the Dreaded European Moose Test

Yes, we're talking about the moose test, carried out by the Spanish magazine KM77. The point is to simulate what would happen if an animal suddenly jumped out in front of you and needed to be avoided by going into the opposite late and then back again. The faster the speed at which the test can be carried out safely, the better.

In recent years, the focus has been placed on passive safety systems like autonomous braking and pedestrian detection. They do their jobs, but most buyers are ignoring the role played by the old-fashioned wheel+tire combination or good suspension tuning.

The highest speed at which the test can be carried out safely is 71 kph (41 mph), which is well below the expected threshold. Above that speed, the new Tucson can be seen bouncing about. The testers noted that while the vehicle is equipped with an adaptive damper system, they couldn't feel much of a difference in sport mode. The Michelin Primacy 4 tires aren't exactly cheap spec either.

But we do think the powertrain. This is the Tucson Hybrid with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that's part of an HEV setup that delivers 227 hp (230 PS) to the 4x4 system (non-permanent). Not many people will buy this model, and we feel that the cheaper Hyundai powertrains might be better in a moose test. This is quite a heavy configuration and the batteries could be contributing to the wild body movements.

While the expected test speed of 77 km/h (48 mph) wasn't met, the test proves that the Tucson won't roll over when pushed hard. The testers also noted that it changes direction well while being comfortable during the slalom.