Hyundai ix35 driven
* 1.6 GDi version tested * Average economy 41.5mpg; 158g/km * On sale now, from £16,195...
If the Hyundai ix35 is all about crossover style and space on a budget, then this new entry-level 1.6-litre petrol version should be a winner.
Its certainly got the value part sewn up. For £16,195 (or £16,365 with engine stop-start, as fitted to our test car), you get a practical family car with an economical and impressively punchy engine. True, the engine is a bit boomy at medium revs, but its smooth.The stop-start system is slick, too.
The ride isnt quite so polished, with a little too much bump around town and too much fidget on the motorway, but otherwise the ix35 is decent to drive. Light controls and a high-up driving position help make low-speed manoeuvres easy, even if over-the-shoulder visibility isnt so good.
Of course, this is a Hyundai, so youd expect plenty of kit. You get it: air-con, heated front and rear seats, reversing sensors, Bluetooth, six airbags and stability control are all standard, plus a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
If only the plastics were as plush.
Still, at £1200 less than the cheapest diesel model, this petrol Hyundai ix35 deserves to be considered.
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