Hyundai iX35 first drive

Monday, 01 August 2011 14:40

The other day I found myself sitting at a petrol station. Now I know this is nothing unusual, because we all at some point have to fill up our cars.

But, for some reason, I was left waiting to fill up for nearly 15min. I now know how a rail passenger feels when their 3.45 from Paddington turns up at 4.15.

This situation was compounded further, by the fact that this station only had one pump working and everybody was fighting to get there first. As I sat there in the queue with my life drifting away, I realised that this situation was worse because some idiot had decided to fit a Subway sandwich bar at my local station. Ok, we all get hungry, but a sandwich bar at a petrol station! This is not the sort of place that I would choose to eat from.

As I watched people exit the kiosk, they came out with a whole labyrinth of goods, from sweets to bread. One guy had even bought some washing up liquid! What are we all doing? Why do we think it’s ok to shop at our local petrol station? All most of us want to do is drive in and drive back out with the minimal of fuss. I for one don’t want to be held up by a man buying washing up liquid. Do you?

Anyway, back to what I should be writing about, the Hyundai iX35. The iX35 has been out for some time now, and I have seen quite a few on the road, but, I didn’t give it a second glance, because I thought it was trying to be another sort of Range Rover. But, because I was curious about how it would perform, I decided to give it a go.

My test car was the 2.0 litre CRDi Premium. From the outside, its looks very similar in shape to the Kia Sportage, but the iX35 had some added extras that make it a little bit different from the rest. I love the high stance and its bold sweeping lines, including the eye-catching ‘Double Z’ swage line on the vehicles flanks. Let’s not forget about the bold exterior detailing and the chunky alloy wheels.

My neighbour seems to like it too, as I spent the best part of an hour talking to him about how he thought it was the best looking SUV out there today. I would not totally agree with him, but it is quite a handsome devil.

Inside: the iX35 gets even better, with the Premium models being kitted out with more bling than a Beverly Hills Boutique. In fact it was so comprehensively equipped, that I didn’t know where to start looking first.

The 18-inch alloys standard on all models is a nice touch (excluding the 1.7 CRDi 2WD), as is the double-length panoramic glass sunroof, automatic headlights, chrome door handles, chrome interior trim, cruise control, dual zone climate control and electric folding door mirrors.

Then there’s the front windscreen wiper de-icer function, keyless entry with engine start/stop button, rear privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, part-leather upholstery and roof rails, plus optional leather seats. Don’t forget the touch-screen sat-nav and a reversing camera too.

And for all the music lovers out there, the ix35 has a state-of-the-art six-speaker stereo system, which incorporates MP3, USB and iPod connectivity with a CD and RDS radio. If you do upgrade to the ix35’s all-new touch screen navigation system, you will also benefit from an external amplifier and single woofer, hidden in the car’s cargo bay side trim. Also, all models come with Bluetooth connectivity.

Space: inside the cabin is roomy, and there is enough legroom for a large family, plus all the associated gear that you need to take along for your daily commute or a long weekend away. Drop the rear seats, and you can easily fit in a double fridge, as I did when mine decided to die last weekend. Despite the compact size, the ix35 can rival most MPV’s on the current market.

On the road: the dynamic chassis, with advanced multi-link rear suspension ensures that it holds the road really well. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to drive. The iX35 deals well with all the lumps and bumps on today’s roads with ease, and it comes with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) as standard. I also think that the option of either two or four-wheel-drive will add even further the iX35’s versatility and driver appeal.

Performance from the 2.0-litre CRDi engine is brisk, and the 134bhp of power and 320Nm of torque is more than enough to get you in the mood to make up for some lost time. All versions of the 2.0-litre CRDi engine also benefit from a third-generation common-rail fuelling system that delivers diesel to the engine at incredibly high pressure – thus, far improving the accuracy of the car’s fuel consumption. In two-wheel-drive form, the engine delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 47.9mpg (54,3mpg extra urban/40.4mpg urban) with CO2 emissions of 153g/km.

To sum up: I like the iX35 a lot, but it has some obvious key rivals like the Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan and Nissan Qashqai. But, I think that once you go out and test the iX35, you won’t be sorry that you did.

Hyundai iX35 2.0 CRDi Premium

Price: From £16,540 on the road

Engine: 2.0 Diesel (6 Speed)

0-62: 10.8 sec

Power: 134bhp

Top Speed: 113mph

MPG combined: 47.9mpg

Warranty: 5 years (unlimited Miles) By Anthony Yates

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