| First Drive | Hertfordshire, England | Hyundai ix35 |

We've heard the term 'crossover' being applied to a new car many times now, but Hyundai reckons its box-fresh ix35 has fingers in more model sector pies than any other car. The same size as a small hatch, with the versatility of an MPV and the option of four-wheel drive, the ix35 is trying to be all things to all people. Can it pull it off?

In the Metal

The ix35 has what Hyundai calls 'fluidic' styling. Bit of marketing-speak going on there, but what it really means is that this is what the next generation of Hyundai models will look like. That's no bad thing as the ix35's lines are modern, crisp and uncluttered, though it may miss some of the finer design touches of the likes of the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan. However, the ix35 introduces a new hexagonal grille we'll be seeing a lot more of in future Hyundais and, overall, the ix35 is neat and compact in the styling department.

It's also compact in terms of length; as Hyundai proudly states, the ix35 is a smidgeon shorter than the current Vauxhall Astra. This makes the Hyundai easy around town, yet it offers more load space than a Ford C-Max. Guess which cars Hyundai thinks the ix35 will be pinching sales from?

Inside, the look is much like the outside in that it's simple, clean and well made, but it doesn't quite have the design flair of a Ford Kuga's interior. No matter, the Hyundai's cabin is very well made and sturdy, boasts plenty of room for the driver with all the advantages of a raised seating position and decent rear seat space equivalent to a Volkswagen Golf's. There's also a generous boot, but the up-sweep of the rear window line does restrict over-the-shoulder visibility when reversing or changing lanes.

What you get for your Money

We've mentioned the poor view out when reversing, but Hyundai counters this by including rear parking sensors on all models, which is good considering the aggressive pricing of the ix35. There are two trim levels - Style and Premium - and the Style comes with air conditioning, heated seats, electric windows all-round, a CD stereo with MP3 and iPod inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP and six airbags. That is a lot of kit for a starting price of £16,495 for the 2.0-litre petrol model that only comes in front-wheel drive form, while the diesel is offered in two- or four-wheel drive from £17,995.

Choose the Premium version of the ix35 and you gain 18-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, cruise and climate controls, keyless entry and ignition, part-leather upholstery and roof rails. The Premium model is only available in conjunction with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine from £19,745, but can be ordered in two- or four-wheel drive.

Driving it

In comparing the ix35 to the likes of the Vauxhall Astra, Ford C-Max and Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai has not given its new ix35 an easy time of it. Luckily, the Korean SUV stacks up pretty well against these rivals. It's not going to out-point a Ford Focus on a twisty road, but the ix35's firmly set suspension keeps any rocking from the body in check to make it surprisingly fun to drive. However, the steering has an odd mix of sensations. At the straight-ahead, it's light and feels just fine, but as soon as the driver turns the wheel off centre, there's an unusual heaviness to the power assistance. This disappears when the wheel is rotated more than a quarter turn and does not hinder the ix35's ability in town or on the motorway. It just feels strange.

The suspension works best at higher speeds, where it offers fine comfort and control, but around town it's on the firm side of acceptable. We can forgive the Hyundai this for its agility through corners, where it grips well for an SUV. We also find it easier to forgive the ix35 this minor indiscretion in 134bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel form as the engine is very flexible, even from low speeds. It pulls well from 1,700rpm, revs keenly and the six-speed manual gearbox snicks through its ratios cleanly. Add in excellent refinement and little in the way of road or wind noise and the turbodiesel ix35 is a very appealing package.

No so the petrol alternative. This 161bhp 2.0-litre unit picks up revs eagerly, but there's too much noise created in the process. We also found the engine to be spinning quite fast at a 70mph motorway cruise and its five-speed manual doesn't offer the same slick sensation of the diesel's six-speeder. The petrol two-wheel drive model takes 10.4 seconds to go from 0-62mph, while the equivalent diesel takes just 9.4 seconds. Even the four-wheel drive diesel is quicker at 10.2 seconds, so it's just as well that Hyundai reckons 90 percent of ix35 sold will be powered by the diesel engine.

As for off-road ability, the ix35 doesn't make any claims in this area. Sure, there's the option of four-wheel drive and all models come with Hill Start Assist to prevent the car from rolling backwards on slopes, but there's no hill descent control or low-ratio transfer gearbox. However, the diesel-engined ix35s can tow up to 2,000kg, which is quite high for this class of car. The petrol model manages a still useful 1,900kg.

Worth Noting

Whether you choose a two- or four-wheel drive turbodiesel ix35, they fall into the same carbon dioxide emissions band; the two-wheel drive model emits 147g/km and the four-wheel drive version 149g/km. Those are commendable figures for a compact SUV and economy of 51.4mpg (49.6mpg for the four-wheel drive) is also good and on a par with many of the best diesel-fuelled small family hatches. The petrol-engined ix35 is good for 37.7mpg average economy and 177g/km CO₂ emissions. Add in Hyundai's five-year warranty and breakdown cover that come as standard and the ix35 should be a cheap date for many years to come.

Summary

For its mix of price and equipment alone, the Hyundai ix35 is worthy of consideration for anyone looking for a compact SUV. However, the ix35 goes further with the way it drives in diesel form and the economy and emissions achieved by this engine, regardless of whether you want two- or four-wheel drive. The petrol-powered ix35 is not such a sound choice. Even so, if the ix35 is the first of a new breed of Hyundais, we can't wait to see what else there is in the pipeline.