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CAP Blog > CAP Blog > Martin's Blog
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Nov
25
Written by:
Martin Ward
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
We went to Hyundai’s European HQ in Frankfurt to have a short drive in an early pre-production ix35. The ix35 will be available with either 2WD or 4WD when it goes on sale next spring, but it is expected that the 2WD will take the majority of sales.
 This new car starts production in Slovakia next February and has received mix views on just where in the market place it will sit and who its main competitors are. The product department in Frankfurt put it fair and square up against the Nissan Qashqai, VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga, Toyota Rav4 and Honda CR-V. However, after having seen and driven it, I believe that it could quite easily fit alongside cars in the C sector such as the VW Golf and Ford Focus. When you compare lengths, then it is easy to see that the ix35 will fit in neatly with some popular five door hatchback models. The ix35 is 4,410mm in length compared to the Golf at 4,534mm, Focus at 4,468mm, 308 at 4,500mm and the new Astra at 4,419mm. If the ix35 appears on user-chooser choice lists, because it is regarded as a regular hatchback in terms of size and price, then Hyundai will sell more vehicles. If the ix35 is up against other vehicles that are regarded as larger 4x4 models, then it seems unlikely that they would sell as many. Although the Kuga and Tiguan are selling extremely well as 2WD models, VW and Ford have the advantage of being a better known brand, whereas Hyundai are still struggling to get recognition from the public. In my view the ix35 really is a C sector hatchback and should be regarded by fleet managers as this type of vehicle and not a 4x4 look alike.
We drove both the 6 speed manual and 6 speed automatic versions around Frankfurt and then up into the hills. The manual felt to be the better car, as it seemed quieter and more refined. The automatic seemed to be a bit noisy and forever changing gear, but these were pre-production vehicles so some allowances have to be made until we drive the final production versions. Despite them both being pre-production, both were comfortable and on the few corners we had to contend with, the ix35 was competent and it felt safe and very solid.
 The interior has the look and feel of a quality car and the fit and finish from Hyundai has improved dramatically over the past couple of years. There is a lot of chrome in the car around the air vents, the gear stick and on the door panels, which does lift the whole interior, giving it a premium touch. All the seats are comfortable and supportive and the rear seat can easily accommodate three large adults with plenty of leg and headroom. The centre seat is fairly flat so it does not uncomfortably protrude out and into your back; so many other cars on the market seem to have this problem.
 The short time we spent in the ix35 proved that Hyundai has put a lot of time and effort into creating this car. It is large enough for a family, will have a good selection of engines and although the CO2 figures may not be able to compete with the more mainstream manufacturers, it is comfortable and is similar in size to the market leaders in the C sector so it will appeal to a large audience. With the option of the 4WD, this will maybe attract those who still need a 4WD, but at a realistic price and with smaller dimensions. It might have been made simpler for people to understand if the 2WD was badged i35 and the 4WD ix35; the ‘x’ depicting the 4WD.
There is very little to criticise the ix35 for. We all had positive thoughts about it; we just need to see final specification and pricing before it receives the big thumbs up, as getting the pricing right is crucial. Prices and specification have not been signed off yet by Hyundai but these are expected in early 2010.
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