SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.
My most recent drive is on the home page. Archived reviews and opinion pieces are in the active menu down the left side. Hover your cursor over a heading or manufacturer's name and follow the drop-down.
Posted: 20 February 2015
The cheat sheet
Price: R359 900
Engine: 1685 cc, chain driven DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 85 kW at 4000 rpm
Torque: 260 Nm between 1250 and 2750 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 12.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 173 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.1 l/100 km
Tank: 58 litres
Fuel: 50 ppm diesel
Luggage: 591 – 1436 litres (VDA)
Warranty: 5 years/150 000 km: with roadside assistance
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km; at 15 000 km intervals
Titles can be misleading; Hyundai’s 1700 cc, iX35 budget diesel, introduced last November, may wear the entry-level “Premium” tag but it has more nice-to-haves than either of its petrol powered, similarly named, sisters. Somewhat confusingly, this 1.7-litre diesel boasts essentially the same equipment as Elite and Executive petrol models but isn’t quite as fancy as the 2.0-litre Elite 4x2 diesel.
For example it has telescopic steering adjustment, combination leather and cloth upholstery, cruise control, automatic headlights, autolocking on the move, a front screen de-icer, temperature controlled glove box, ambient temperature indicator, lighted sun-visor mirrors, a compass, and a luggage net in the boot.
Features the 2.0 diesel Elite offers over and above the 1.7 CRDi Premium include flex steer, bigger wheels, ESP, vehicle stability management, active yaw control, downhill braking, hill start assist, reach adjustment on the head restraints, daytime running lights, indicator repeaters on the side mirrors, push-button starting, ionised dual channel climate control, a light in the glove box and a sunroof. Considering that this kit, along with the bigger engine, adds R50 000, I might be content to do without. That’s unless the extra performance of the 2.0-litre were to become vitally important, of course.
Among the features added when the facelifted iX 35s arrived almost a year ago were new projector headlights with LED accents, LED tail lights, a body-coloured front grille, roof side rails and new alloy wheels. Added interior fittings included push-button starting on Elite models, a new audio system, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and a 4.3-inch TFT touchscreen for the music system and to display the view covered by the reversing camera.
A new 2.0-litre petrol engine and six-speed manual- and automatic gearboxes joined the equipment list, as did flex steer and keyless starting, reclining rear seatbacks and ionised, dual channel air conditioning on certain models. Blue interior lighting, new steering wheel satellite controls and stronger construction are common across the range.
While diesel engines are known for lots of torque at low revs, this 1700 rewrites the book – output peaks at 1250 rpm, contrasting with the two-litre’s more industry-standard1800 revs. For a relatively small engine in a big body, it pulls like a carthorse from just above idling speed and keeps on going. Overall performance is quite brisk too, so most buyers would want to think twice about whether they need to pay so much for the few additional features included with the bigger motor.
To be fair, this 1700 engine is quite rowdy on first startup, but it settles down as it warms and is no more intrusive than most other diesels once moving. It turns over at 2400 rpm at 120 km/h in sixth and roll-on acceleration is satisfactory. Possibly because of its drive-and-forget torque band, there is some danger of accidental lugging. It was therefore pleasing to note that the car’s gear change indicator advises downshifts when revs drop to about 1500 as user complacency sets in. Diesels need to be kept working too, you know.
The rear hatch opens using the usual rubber pad, revealing a wide and clear loading deck about 75 centimetres above ground level. A light, a 12-volt socket, four lashing hooks and a pair of bag hooks make life easier, and the floor board hinges upward to reveal a fully sized alloy spare and some free space around it for small items. The seatbacks split 40:60 and fold almost flat.
Rear seat passengers are pampered with loads of head, knee and foot room, a full set of safety belts and head restraints and plenty of storage, including the usual pair of cup holders in the centre armrest. Thankfully, the central hump is almost non-existent, so middle passengers don’t suffer unduly. Egress is also a little easier than I remember from previous iX35s, so something right must have happened in the meantime.
Up front, the roominess continues, the usual SUV commanding outlook rules and, thanks to clever engineering resulting in a 10.6-metre turning circle, the car turns and parks easily. My only whine is that the “C” pillars are very wide and the inset windows are too small to help much, so the rear/side outlook is compromised. Despite its small size, the full-colour TFT touch screen displays all the information you really need and it’s more responsive than some I have used.
Controls are all easy to use and get to and the pedals are well spaced with plenty of room to reach the footrest. Summing up, this “budget” diesel powered iX35 is decently equipped, easy to drive and has all the power and features most people need. The only upgrade I would consider would be to all-wheel drive and even then I might choose a manual if Hyundai offered one.
Test car from Hyundai Automotive SA press fleet
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
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SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8