The year ahead looks bright for Hyundai, with the introduction of the company‘s new ix35. This new crossover costs from just £16,495, a bargain for this stylish newcomer and it is a very real alternative for buyers considering a conventional hatchback.
The really good news is that low running costs are one of the key features. A combination of the low purchase price, economical running costs and high residuals mean that the latest Hyundai model is likely to cost less to run than mainstream family cars and MPVs with comparable engines.
The ix35 range has equipment levels that no rival can match. Not just private buyers, but also company car drivers can choose an ix35 and actually pay less tax than on a mainstream hatchback or MPV.
The surprises continue; the entry-level ix35 Style model is less expensive to buy than a basic Ford Focus, yet for your money you get features like 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP, air conditioning, built-in Bluetooth phone connectivity, heated front and rear seats, electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED side repeaters, leather steering wheel and gear knob, reverse parking sensors and a trip computer.
Need to go even further up market? Then the Premium model adds beefy 18-inch alloys, a double-length panoramic glass sunroof, automatic headlights, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, electric folding door mirrors, keyless entry with engine start/stop button, rear privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, part-leather upholstery and roof rails.
Options include full leather seats, touch-screen sat-nav and a reversing camera. The good news story does not end there; all ix35‘s are backed up by Hyundai‘s famous five-year warranty and a 10-year anti-perforation corrosion warranty.
I drove the new Hyundai and my stint was behind the wheel of a 2.0CRDi Style 2WD, which is expected to be the big seller of the range. This model has excellent residual values, an expected 43 percent residual value figure after 3 years/30 thousand miles.
This is far from the conclusion of the ix35 story; the range will be expand from this Autumn when two new smaller engines join the range, a 1.6 petrol with direct injection technology and a new 1.7 diesel offering supermini-rivalling emissions and fuel economy.
Currently the engine choice is two-litre, petrol or diesel with two trim levels, Style and Premium and of course you can select from two or four-wheel drive.
Both engines have impressive power outputs, yet are efficient in terms of their fuel efficiency and CO2 outputs and the 2.0 CRDi common-rail diesel is expected to be the number one choice. It is compliant with Euro 5 emissions legislation and comfortably outperforms most power units from rival manufacturers, with 134bhp of power and 320Nm of torque.
In two-wheel drive guise, it delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 51.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 147g/km. While the four-wheel-drive variant, using the same engine, is capable of 49.6mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 149g/km.
The petrol engine is the high-output Theta II, a Euro 5 compliant two 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 ix35 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.
Even the range topping model is just over twenty thousand pounds at £20,745 and this puts you in the driving seat of the 2.0 CRDi five door Premium 4WD.
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