There's no denying the replacement for the popular Tucson will be a big hit, especially in looks.
The latest entrant in the crowded compact SUV market was designed at Hyundai's style studio in Germany and is the first with the new hexagonal grille, a feature that will be on all future Hyundais. The sculpted lines give the spacious fashionmobile better aerodynamics and a powerful on-road presence, the latter backed by a choice of two petrol and a diesel engine and three spec levels.
Like the comparatively bland Tucson, the ix35 is available in front and all-wheel-drive configurations.
The sole front-wheel driver is the Active, which uses a perky 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine that cranks out a respectable 122kW/197Nm and is priced from $26,990.
It is remarkably well-equipped for an entry model, boasting refinements such as a powered driver's seat, ABS, electronic stability and traction control, Hill Start, Downhill Braking Control, auto door-locking, aircon, a trip computer and six-speaker audio with MP3/CD plus Aux and USB inputs for iPods.
Runs well too, with brisk acceleration and a combined cycle fuel use of 8.5litres/100km in either six-speed manual or five-speed auto, the latter at a $2000 premium. The motor is 18kW up on the Tucson's 104kW offering, but whether it will be the big seller in the range is not known.
Tucson's 2WD City outsold the AWD model about nine to one.
We drove all three ix35 models on a mix of twisty, undulating sealed and dirt roads in Victoria and found them all pretty impressive.
The mid-range Elite, from $31,990, comes in 130kW/227Nm 2.4L petrol or 135kW/392Nm 2.0L turbo-diesel and the top-of-the-pops Highlander ($37,990) is diesel only.
Your Say
"The car is too small for 7 seats... buy a Santa Fe.Why is it overpriced? The Tucson City was priced from $24990 (runout specials were from $22990 but this is irrelevant), so this model starts from $2000 dearer, then you get a newer state of the art vehicle with better everything.You can't expect them to spend millions on a brand new model and sell them at the same price.I like it except the wheels look way too small and skinny."
Matt
Elites and the Highlander all have six-speed automatics and are AWD. Fuel economy for the petrol Elite is 9.2L/100km, while the diesel uses just 7.5L/100km.
The swoopy-lined ix35, big on comfort and interior space, has a futuristic dash display in the traditional blue hue and its quiet cabin is a pleasant place to be.
The hexagon motif is everywhere, subtly fused into bits of the dash and parts of the steering wheel, the carpets, and even the exterior.
The ride, set up for Australian conditions, is quite firm and there's next to no body roll on corners.
But it can be rather bouncy on rough surfaces and the auto gearbox can be prone to a bit of soul searching for the right ratio on exiting tight corners.
But the steering is spot-on, the brakes excellent and it has better-than-expected agility for such an elegant number.
It was designed as an urban cruiser, but it has no problem handling long distances and less than ideal roads.
While the Active runs on 17-inch steel wheels, the Elite gets alloys, foglights, auto-on headlights, a proximity key and cloth-and-leather upholstery.
The Highlander has a vast panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloys, a six-CD in-dash stacker, folding side mirrors and dual-zone climate control to keep everyone comfy.
Elite and Highlander normally run in front-wheel drive and automatically engage AWD when needed. They also have a centre diff lock -- something unlikely to be used. But hey, you never know.
The ix35 is beautifully put together and has a five-year unlimited distance warranty. Packed in a vehicle with 'fluidic sculpture', it could be mobile art at its best.
