9:59pm Monday 5th July 2010
By Matt Westcott
THE Hyundai ix35 may sound like an under-powered 1980s computer, however, it's anything but dated.
Daft name apart, the South Korean crossover is a thoroughly modern motor and a real contender in a field that is becoming increasingly crowded.
On price alone it is worthy of more than just a cursory look, but add to that the amount of kit you get with it and the quality of what lies beneath the bonnet and it becomes even more alluring.
Importantly, the ix35 looks fit for purpose. It has an imposing front end, with a cats-eye like headlight arrangement and a self-satisfying smile of a front grille.
Along the sides, it appears sleek. Two creases draw the eye along the flanks as it rises to the rear and to and beyond its shallow rear windows.
The back end, while more formulaic, is no less pleasing on the eye.
You sit high in the ix35 and there's good vision all round.
As you'd expect, there's also plenty of room for those in the front and the rear, though the roof does begin to slope away towards the rear.
It's easy to get comfortable and the seats are very easy on the backside.
In common with many so-called lesser brands, the lack of status the Hyundai name affords is offset by the amount of equipment you get.
Our test car, which can be found at the higher end of the model range, came with dual zone climate control, Bluetooth with voice recognition, huge 18ins alloy wheels, reversing sensors and a panoramic sunroof among other standard items.
Additionally, our car had the optional full leather seats, a touchscreen satellite navigation system, full colour rearview parking camera and upgrades to the audio system.
All those things bump the total price up to beyond £21,500, but they're not necessary and you could just as easily get along with the standard equipment and save yourself around £2,000.
While there's plenty of plastic on display in and around the cabin, it's not too tacky and looks like it will survive the test of the time.
All the buttons and switches are chunky and sturdy and the dash itself is nicely laid out.
The only criticism was that the gearstick felt a bit loose, with a fair bit of play in it as you traversed the gate.
The panoramic sunroof was a real bonus in the recent warm weather, but a world of warning - don't try and clear flies or other detritus off your windscreen with it open as you'll find yourself swallowing a mouthful of screenwash, as I learned to my cost.
The ix35 offers a good drive, without being stunning. The steering was a little too light for my liking and I found the car drifting all too easily if I didn't keep it in check.
Despite its size and height, it takes bends in its stride and is relatively supple when it comes to speed bumps and potholes.
The two-litre diesel in our car was incredibly powerful, offering a great degree of grunt right throughout the range. Unfortunately, there's more than a little grunt in terms of low end noise, but I found that this dissipated as I reached cruising speed.
The large wing mirrors do cause a bit of wind noise and there's sound from the road surface to contend with too, but I didn't find it half as bad as some critics have made out.
I'd forgo the four-wheel drive variant, unless you absolutely must have it as you'll find yourself paying more to keep it on the road. Our two-wheel drive test car was more than adequate and returned a decent mpg into the bargain.
If you're not into badge snobbery and want to get the most for your money, then the ix35 is an enticing possibility. It's not going to threaten the reign of the Nissan Qashqai, but it's more than worthy of standing in its presence.
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