After four years on the market, the popular ix35 has received its facelift; and a useful one, it is. With designer Peter Schreyer now in charge of both Hyundai and Kia styling, the soft, rounded edges have
given way to more muscular touches. New head- and taillamps, new grille, roof rails and (on this top-of-therange model) panoramic sunroof and 18-inch wheels are exterior features, while inside we notice reclining rear seats, tilt-and-rake steering wheel adjustment, cruise control, keyless-go starting, a new audio system and a useful touchscreen.
The interiors of Korean-designed cars have for years impressed with general quality and the ix35’s is no exception. The steering wheel controls are ergonomically top notch, as are the instrumentation and trip computer displays. Although the facia top is still made of hard plastic, the finish is high quality and the rest is all impressive. Only the base model uses cloth seats. The rest of the versions have appealing but rather hard leather upholstery.
Legroom is more than satisfactory both in the front and rear, and the boot space is sufficient for a family even though there is a full-size alloy spare under the boot board. In fact, the measurement of 304 dm3 bests those of a number of rivals.
Safety-wise, six airbags and ESP on this model are standard, and the rear-view camera is a neat feature to add to the safety specs (as does that often-overlooked full-size alloy spare wheel).
While the 2,0-litre petrol version lacks low-down torque, this 2,0-litre turbodiesel has it in abundance. A healthy 130 kW with 383 N.m from 1 800 r/min provides a really enjoyable experience. No stalling, no vibration and easy-going. The gearbox has six-speeds and shifting is easy and precise. Drive is to the front wheels only, but remember that a 4×4 version with automatic transmission is available for an additional R60 000. The steering feel has been improved to feel much less artificial and Hyundai’s FlexSteer system can lighten the load at the touch of a button. Between comfort, normal and sport, the last one feels the most natural and the ride is very well-tuned to soak up bumps without too much roll in the corners.
Performance is excellent for a middle-weight SUV, with sprint times of less than 10 seconds to 100 km/h, while consumption will not break the bank with an expected figure of 7,8 litres/100 km in all-round driving.
About the only real criticism we could muster is that the air-con was seemed to struggle in warm weather.
TEST SUMMARY
Whether you call the ix35 a crossover or an SUV, it is one of the best in class. Nevertheless, this is a hotly contested market, so best take your time and do your homework.
