Review
/5
- Pros:
- Distinctive styling
- Generous equipment levels
- Smooth, comfortable ride
- Cons:
- No seven seat edition
- Steering is vague
- Some fabrics used inside look cheap.
reviewed by Carbuyer
"Stylish, comfortable and versatile, the Hyundai ix35 offers interior quality to rival the likes of both Toyota and Kia."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 1.7 CRDi 2WD (ISG) Style 5dr
£18,800 - The cheapest
- 1.6 GDI 2WD Style 5dr
£17,295 - The fastest
- 2.0 CRDi 4WD Style Auto 5dr
£22,945 - Top of the range
- 2.0 CRDi 4WD Premium Auto 5dr
£25,045
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There's no getting away from the fact that the Hyundai ix35 is a distinctive-looking car – its tall suspension, and prominent grille and headlamp combination help it turn heads wherever it goes. Crucially, the ix is 10cm longer than its rival the Nissan Qashqai, and as a result there's lots of room inside. The dashboard is clearly laid out and the car's fixtures and fittings feel solidly made. Premium trim cars offer climate control, heated leather seats, automatic wipers and a panoramic glass roof as standard, as well keyless entry. There are four engines on offer, including a powerful 134bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Also included in the line-up are 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol editions, plus a 1.7-litre diesel. Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions are available. However, there's a slight chink in the ix35's armour… No seven seat-version is currently made, limiting ultimate versatility.
Drive
The steering lacks the accuracy of rivals like the Ford Kuga, or Nissan Qashqai
On the open road, the ix35 makes a capable cruiser, particularly if fitted with the powerful 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. On winding roads, the ix35 feels slightly out of its depth. The steering lacks the accuracy of rivals like the Ford Kuga, or Nissan Qashqai, and you'll find yourself making lots of small adjustments to the steering to keep the car pointing in the intended direction of travel.
Comfort
The ix is very impressive on city roads, thanks to smooth suspension and a tall ride height
On rough roads the tall ride height and soft suspension mean that the ix35 absorbs big bumps and potholes very well. It's even more impressive around town where this, coupled with the commanding view of the road ahead, help insulate the driver from the cut and thrust of city traffic. Standard equipment includes luxuries like air-conditioning which does a great job of cooling the cabin on hot days. At motorway speeds the engine is quiet. As a result, the cabin is a relaxing place to spend time.
Reliability
The ix35 feels very well built, and uses proven components
While the Hyundai ix35 is still too new to have appeared in many customer satisfaction surveys, it's worth knowing that its sister car, the i30 was named the top performing car in the 2010 Driver Power survey. The ix uses many of the same parts, and - apart from a few cheap looking bits of plastic inside - looks and feels like a very high quality product. The ix scored a five star result in the Euro NCAP test with a 90 percent rating for adult protection and an impressive 88 percent rating for children.
Practicality
The boot is reasonable enough, but its not the biggest in the crossover class
With 465-litres of space on offer with the rear seats in place, boot is reasonable enough. It's not quite as big as the one on offer in the Skoda Yeti though and there's a high load lip. Folding the rear seats liberates extra room, but the load area is not quite flat, and is awkwardly shaped. At least there are plenty of cabin stowage cubbies, plus a generously sized glove box.
Value for money
Even in entry-level Style trim, the ix35 has heated front and rear seats as standard
There's no doubt that the ix35 offers strong value for money. Even in entry-level Style trim, the ix35 has heated front and rear seats as standard, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and parking sensors. Drivers can also choose to add a £1,550 "Media Pack" which includes satellite navigation, a reversing camera and keyless start. Prices are competitive, but because the ix35 is not as established as rivals it's not very easy to judge whether or not resale values will be stronger than rivals from Skoda or Ford.
Running costs
A five year warranty helps protect against repair bills in the long term
Claimed fuel economy for the 2.0-litre diesel is 47mpg, though on our test drive, we struggled to match this figure - with overall economy of around 35mpg. And with CO2 emissions of 147g/km road tax is expensive too, placing the car in Band F. 1.6-litre petrol engines are obviously much more efficient, but lack performance and are less relaxing to drive. A five year warranty helps protect against repair bills in the long term.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
