IF you were to use a price-comparison site when seeking out a compact SUV, then you would see Huyndai’s new ix35 ticks the right boxes in every department.
For this newcomer is not just a replacement for the outgoing Tucson, but is a Crossover vehicle which has more faces than that portrayed by the great Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi.
Its Tardis-like interior offers masses of space with plenty of head, shoulder and leg room where it really matters, while it also leads the field with its class-leading boot area, which gives anything between 591 litres of space with the back seats in place to 1,436 litres with both 60/40-split seats folded.
It also scores high in the looks department, the ix35 instantly recognisable as a rugged soft-roader with a hint of coupé DNA thrown in for good measure.
Then to the nerve centre. For now, there’s a choice of a two-litre petrol or similar-sized diesel, the latter of which is destined to be the first choice of the majority of buyers, thanks to its impressive performance, decent fuel-consumption figures and low emissions. Later in the year, these will be joined by a 1.6-litre petrol and 1.7-litre oilburner.
An all-wheel-drive system is offered as a £1,000 option on the diesel model, which will add an extra choice to those, like farmers and those who live off the beaten track, who require an SUV machine as a matter of necessity.
Safety features are also to the forefront, with prolific use of high tensile steel to give car body extra stiffness which also adds to cabin protection.
Add on six airbags, active head restraints on front seats, rollover protection sensors within the vehicle’s ESP system, downhill brake control to limit the speed on steep descents and hillstart assist which prevents the vehicle rolling back in a hill-start situation, and you can see the car is well protected for most eventualities.
Last but not least, there’s the little matter of pricing, and again the ix35 excels. Starting with the petrol front-wheel-drive Style model at £16,495, they don’t come much cheaper than this little beauty, for it leave the opposition standing on the price front, even undercuting entry-level family hatchback offerings from most top-flight manufacturers.
However, it’s the diesel with its £1,500 premium which will prove to be the top dog for Hyundai. Prices start at £17,995 for the two-wheel-drive Style rising to £20,745 for the range-topping all-wheel-drive Premium spec model.
But, for me, the £18,995 4WD oilburner in Style trim offered an all-round package that’s hard to beat.
Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the 1,998cc Euro 5-compliant diesel unit is a compact version of the class-leading 2.2-litre engine which made its debut earlier this year in the Santa Fe.
It comes with the third-generation common-rail fuel system which in return helps deliver a fuel consumption figure of 49.6mpg and along with CO2 emissions of 149g/km, puts it in band F for annual road tax of £125.
Performance figures are equally impressive, with the Hyundai having a top speed of 112mph and a zero to 62mph sprint time of 10.2 seconds, which compare favourably with those of the Ford Kuga, VW Tiguan, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai, the ix35’s main competitors.
Out on the road, the ix35 performed and handled well and thanks to its hardish suspension set-up, there is little roll through the corners.
Road, wind and engine noise are well supressed and the ix35 proved a fine high-speed cruiser for motorway and dual-carriageway motoring. Around town its compact size made it easy to get through the busy and traffic and ease of parking.
As with all SUV machines, the car’s raised driving position gives the driver a clear view of the road ahead and the range of adjustment in both seats and steering wheel, means a comfortable, relaxed driving position is easily found.
Inside, the twin-dialed dash more than meets expectations and overall the car offers a high-end quality feel and is easy to the eye.
Hyundai has not skimped in any way, with standard features including leather-rimmed steering wheel, trip computer, air conditioning, high-quality six-speaker sound system incorporating MP3, USB, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity and front and rear heated seats, with the whole package topped off by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty.
There’s no doubt Hyundai have now come of age, and with the ix35 with its fine mix of SUV, MPV and hatchback credentials combined into one beautifully-designed and executed package, there will more than just a few shockwaves felt in many of the South Korean competitor’s boardrooms.
FAST FACTS
Hyundai ix35 2.0 CRDI 4WD Style
Price: £18,995
Mechanical: 134bhp, 1,995cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
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