Hyundai ix35 first drive

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Thursday, 25 February 2010 19:49

On sale in the UK from March 25, the new Hyundai ix35 crossover range, part SUV, part C-Segment hatchback with a hint of MPV, is the first of a new generation of models claimed to offer ‘fluidic’ sculpture design and with a hexagonal grille which is the new face of the brand.

Prices for the new five door, five seater, two or four wheel drive models with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engine options start from £16,495.

The ix35 replaces the existing Tucson 4x4 SUV range.

The sales boom for Hyundai in the UK has been phenomenal and when the scheme ends in March around 45,000 Hyundai vehicles will have been sold to customers under the Scrappage incentive. Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai UK said that 93% of customers who bought a Hyundai under the Scrappage Scheme were new to the brand and this was good news because it gives our 140 dealers opportunities to introduce buyers to other models in our range not just the prime Scrappage Scheme i10, i20 and i30 models.

He added that 50% of their 56,726 record sales last year were Scrappage deals and this was followed up by 7,272 registrations in January, again half being Scrappage buys.

Speaking at the press launch this week for the new ix35 range Whitehorn said, “Scrappage has been and gone. We were the number one selling brand, all other manufacturers had the same opportunity – we just did it better than the rest.”

“What the Scrappage Scheme has shown us is that customers want transparency when buying a new car. We are now taking this further with our Happy Returns programme for customers who bought a Scrappage car. They can now change that vehicle for less than £500 for a new model. We can also now offer a post Scrappage scheme for customers with cars between 7-10 years of age.”

“We are also launching our free 555 programme – our existing five years warranty but now coupled with five years free health check and five years mechanical breakdown cover.”

He added, “The new ix35 is the future, there are good rational reasons for customers wanting a new SUV, MPV or Hatch to buy one. Hyundai are coming and in the next 18 months we will be introducing eight brand new models and facelifts – we are turning the market upside down.”

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Whilst Hyundai’s UK customers are traditionally retail buyers with an average age of 57 years, the new ix35 crossover range of five door, five seater, two and four wheel drive models priced from £16,495, and further all new models to come, will open up the market for the brand to younger retail and business user chooser customers, fleets and even Motability clients.

With an increased awareness of the brand, due to its success with the Scrappage Scheme, the five year warranty, attractive finance packages, fuel efficient and lower CO2 emissions engines which control company car Benefit-in-Kind tax levels and with expected higher residual values, there is every prospect of a prosperous life for the Hyundai brand in the UK after the Scrappage boom.

The ix35 range goes on sale in the UK from 25 March and replaces the current Hyundai Tucson 4x4 SUVs.

The ix35 has SUV styling with deeply sculptured body lines, sloping roof Coupe looks from the side and MPV practicality with its seating layout and large rear tailgate. At launch there is the choice of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, with the petrol engine available only with front wheel drive and the diesel with two or four wheel traction.

There are two trim and equipment levels, Style and Premium plus Media and Individual option packs. Prices top out at £20,745. The likely best selling model, the 2.0-litre CRDi diesel, 2WD with Style trim costs £17,995. A 1.6-litre GDI direct injection petrol engine and a 1.7-litre CRDi diesel unit will join the line-up later this year as will a six-speed automatic transmission option.

Marc Palmer, Product Planning Manager for Hyundai UK, estimates they will sell around 3,000 of the new models this year and between 4,000 and 5,000 in a full year. He anticipates that 50% of sales will be from conquest customers. He also thinks that up to 90% will be for two wheel drive versions, diesel models will take 80% of sales and the Style level of trim and equipment will take around 60% of registrations.

Although older people have been Hyundai’s core customers in the past, the modern styling and functionality the ix35 offers should appeal to younger active families, and I cannot disagree with that. The key to this vehicle’s success is the competitive pricing, the compact length and width, which is no more than an average C-Segment hatchback. But it offers more load space than say a Ford C-Max MPV and it has attractive and thoroughly modern good looks. Projected residual values look good as well. The 2.0-litre CRDi should return 43% after 3-years/30,000 miles, the highest in its segment and £4,641 better than the Ford Focus 2.0-litre TDCi say Hyundai. Running costs are lower as well over a 3-year/60,000 mile period – just £1,290 which is £850 less than a Ford Kuga SUV and just £155 more than a Ford Fiesta supermini.

Obvious key rivals include the Nissan Qashqai which is credited with starting this hatchback/SUV crossover segment and the more traditional SUVs such as the Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan, and Toyota RAV4. But other competitors from the hatchback/MPV segments include the Ford Focus/C-Max, Vauxhall Astra/Zafira and Toyota Auris. Of course the ix35 might just nip a few sales from Hyundai’s own new 2.2-litre CRDi Santa Fe larger 4x4. The top priced ix35 model is very close to the price of the starter Santa Fe version.

So what do we get for the relatively low purchase cost? Style versions, available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines from £16,495, comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP electronic stability programme, air conditioning, active head restraints, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, heated front and rear seats, downhill brake control, electric windows front and rear , electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED-type side repeaters, six airbags, glove compartment with cooling function, ‘follow-me-home’ headlamp function, Hillstart Assist Control, leather steering wheel and gearknob, remote central locking with alarm, steering wheel audio controls, stereo-radio CD with MP3 and iPod connectivity, reverse parking sensors and a trip computer.

Premium models add 18-inch alloys, a full-length panoramic glass sunroof, automatic headlights, chrome door handles, chrome interior trim, cruise control, dual zone climate control with humidity sensor and Ioniser, electric folding door mirrors, front windscreen wiper de-icer, keyless entry with engine stop-start button, rear privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, part-leather upholstery and smart roof rails.

Available in two or four-wheel-drive, but with the diesel engine only, Premium models start at £19,745 on-the-road.

Premium models can also be ordered with two option packs. The Media Pack provides a reverse parking camera, touchscreen satellite navigation and a seven speaker stereo system with amp and woofer, while the Individual Pack offers full leather upholstery in black or brown, an auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass and a SuperVision instrument cluster, with bright blue lighting. The Media Pack costs £800, and the Individual Pack £700, both tremendous value compared to rivals.

The interior is light and airy, but the high waistline means that the side windows are fairly shallow and visibility to the front and rear quarters is limited so there are blindspots. The controls are logical and well positioned. The seating is generally comfortable but the rear seat backs do not fold down completely to form a level load floor. Nothing really exceptional except the value for money.

As for the running gear: Based on the class-leading 2.2-litre CRDi diesel engine which made its debut in the 2010 Santa Fe, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel common-rail unit is Euro 5 compliant with 134bhp of power and 320Nm of torque.

In two-wheel-drive form, the engine delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 51.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 147g/km. My test car returned 37.8mpg driven over rural roads with no motorway cruising. Top speed is 113mph and 0-62mph takes 9.9 seconds.

The four-wheel-drive variant, using the same engine, is capable of 49.6mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 149g/km. My test drive returned 33.2mpg, again for rural driving and the performance figures are 112mph and 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds.

The petrol engined model uses a Euro 5 compliant 2.0-litre twin cam unit with dual continually variable valve timing to deliver peak performance, economy and emissions. The all alloy unit delivers a lively 161bhp of power and 194Nm of torque – enough to power the car from 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 114mph.

Offered as a two-wheel-drive model only, the petrol ix35 returns 37.7mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 177g/km. The test drive figure was just 29mpg but that included stop/start commuter driving. In real life it should do better.

Both units, whilst not outstanding, are perfectly acceptable, quiet and refined and all that most customers will want. For the record four wheel drive versions use an on-demand system. Basically in normal use the driving torque goes to the front wheels but a percentage of the power will automatically be transferred to the rear wheels when extra grip is needed on slippery surfaces or when towing. There is also a ‘Lock Mode’ which can be selected and this splits the torque equally between front and rear axles and can be used for speeds up to 25mph – off road or in deep snow for instance. There is also Downhill Brake Control which limits the car’s speed on steep descents such as off-roading.

All sensible and financial good sense and rewarding to own and drive. Ride comfort can be a bit on the harsh side though thanks to our potholed roads.

MILESTONES. Hyundai ix35 2.0 CRDi 2WD Style (best selling model). Price: £17,995. Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder DOHC, common-rail turbodiesel, 134bhp, 320Nm/236lb ft of torque from 1,800rpm, 6-speed manual, on demand 4WD. Performance: 113mph, 0-62mph 9.4 seconds, 51.4mpg (37.8mpg on test), CO2 147g/km, VED £125. Insurance group: From 15E (50 group rating). Dimensions/capacities: L4,410mm, W1,820mm, H1,660mm. Load area 591-1,436-litres, braked towing weight 2,000kg. For: Good looks, right size at the right price, high safety and equipment levels, long warranties, emerging popular brand. Against: Harsh ride at times, front/rear quarter blind spots, rear seats do not fold down completely flat. Miles Better News Agency http://www.girlracer.co.uk