Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 



Week at the wheel: Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.

Week at the wheel: Hyundai ix35
Hyundai is trying to be all things to all buyers with its new ix35 crossover. We find out if it's success or distress.

   



<< earlier review     later review >>

Reviews homepage -> Hyundai reviews

| Week at the Wheel | Hyundai ix35 2wd |

Inside & Out: star star star star star

Hyundai has been responsible for some shockers in the looks department in its past, and the company won't thank us for pointing this out. However, it serves to illustrate just how far Hyundai has come and the ix35 is the first of the Korean firm's new 'fluidic' style of cars. It's not as dramatic to look at as, say, a Ford Kuga or tough as a Land Rover Freelander, but the ix35 looks good in the town and country.

Inside, the same applies, as the ix35 feels more 4x4 than anything else thanks to its raised driving position. No bad thing, in our book, as it gives a good view ahead and to the sides. Just a shame the tiny porthole rear three-quarter windows restrict over-the-shoulder vision so much when parking or changing lane. Still, the dash is a classy and uncluttered affair. There's plenty of space for the driver and adjustment for the seat to offer most drivers the chance to get comfy. Rear seat space is also generous, helped by a flat floor uninterrupted by a transmission tunnel as is so often found in SUVs. A large boot out back copes with most loads, while the rear seats split 60/40 and fold nearly flat to cope with larger items, with minimal intrusion from the wheelarches.

Engine & Transmission: star star star star star

There's a 2.0-litre petrol engine offered in the ix35, but Hyundai estimates sales for this engine will total no more than 5 percent of UK ix35 registrations. From experience, we reckon it should account for none and everyone should head straight for the diesel. When we tried the ix35 for the first time, the quiet manners of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine impressed us, but after a week of living with the car in all conditions we're not so enamoured. Noisy when started from cold, the 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel only ever settled to a reasonable audio level when cruising on the motorway. Around town or in the country when using more than medium revs, it was just a bit too coarse compared to the best from the SUV, MPV and crossover sectors.

There's no arguing with the acceleration offered by the turbodiesel engine though, and in the two-wheel drive guise of our test car, 0-62mph is taken care of in a sprightly 9.4 seconds. The six-speed manual gearbox has a light movement from one ratio to the next, though it doesn't have the short, precise action of a Toyota RAV4's gearbox for instance. All ix35 models come with Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Brake Control (DBC). The HAC stops the car from rolling back during hill starts, while the DBC works like hill descent control to help when descending slippery slopes in place of the ix35 coming with a low-ratio transfer 'box.

Ride & Handling: star star star star star

Pitching the ix35 as a crossover doesn't only bring the Hyundai into competition with some very talented cars, notably the Nissan Qashqai; it also means the ix35 has to fend off the likes of the Volkswagen Golf hatch, Ford C-Max MPV and Volkswagen Tiguan SUV. Blimey, that is a hard place to be, but the Hyundai acquits itself with dignity, though it doesn't pose a worry to any of those rivals.

Around town, the ix35's suspension is firm and potholes can be felt more than in the likes of the Golf or Qashqai. However, the Hyundai is never crashy or crude, and it's happy to plot any course the driver plans even if the steering has an unusual feel to its power assistance. Just off centre, the steering wheel takes on a heavy sensation, but this then disappears with more than a quarter turn of the wheel and it feels fine. Driving in town, it's a low level irritation more than anything else and something owners may well stop noticing in time, but we'd still like a more consistent feel to the assistance.

At higher speeds, the ix35's ride smoothes out and it makes easy work of motorways or rural roads. The low-speed firmness translates into composed handling and the Hyundai keeps body lean to an acceptable level compared to most SUV competitors. There's good grip, even in two-wheel drive form, and ESP is standard to help keep any wheel slip in check.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: star star star star star

It's hard to fault a car that comes as comprehensively kitted out as the Hyundai and includes a five-year warranty, so we won't bother. Additionally, we know the ix35 has engines and transmissions that are hard wearing, excellent build quality and reliability. The Premium model tested here gains 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, cruise and climate controls, keyless ignition, part-leather upholstery and roof rails over its cheaper Style sister model. That's a healthy list of equipment and comes on top of heated seats, all-round electric windows, CD stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, six airbags and ESP. Just about the only option to consider is satellite navigation, which comes as part of a media pack that includes a rear parking camera and touch-screen.

With a competitive price and strong warranty the Hyundai ix35 has appeal for private buyers. Corporate customers will be tempted by the carbon dioxide emissions of 147g/km for the two-wheel drive turbodiesel model. The four-wheel drive version comes in at 149g/km, so sits in the same tax band as the two-wheel drive model and both are comfortably under the crucial 160g/km threshold for business users. Combined economy of 51.4mpg for our two-wheel drive test model seems perfectly achievable if you don't spend all of your time in town. Group 19 insurance makes the ix35 one of the cheaper SUVs to get cover for in its class.

Overall: star star star star star

We may have a couple of reservations about the Hyundai ix35, notably the engine refinement and steering feel, but a four-star rating is definitely deserved. Any car that offers this much equipment and quality coupled to a five-year warranty and low running costs is worthy of attention. With handsome looks, cabin comfort and versatility on its side, the Hyundai ix35 may not best any of the cars from the various sectors it aims to straddle but it does a creditable job of being sound, affordable and likeable family transport.

Alisdair Suttie - 7 Sep 2010



  www.hyundai.co.uk    - Hyundai road tests
- Hyundai news
- ix35 images

2010 Hyundai ix35 specifications: (2.0 CRDi Premium (2WD))
Price: £19,745 on-the-road
0-62mph: 10.8 seconds
Top speed: 113mph
Combined economy: 47.9mpg
Emissions: 153g/km
Kerb weight: 1610kg

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.



2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 

2010 Hyundai ix35. Image by Hyundai.
 






 

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©