Hyundai ix35

Historically considered a value-formoney brand, its excellent i10, i20 and i30 trio of city car, supermini and family hatchback brought swarms of drivers to the showroom doors.

You might consider the i10, i20 and i30 as providing a foundation stone on which Hyundai can confidently build its market share elsewhere.

And if you want to look at how that confidence translates into a new upmarket four-wheel offering, then take a look at the ix35.

It follows the trend for family crossovers that combine the practicality and sensible proportions of hatchbacks with the high-rise driving position of SUVs.

But, more than that, it shows how the brand is now perceived – one that offers top-notch build quality and desirability.

You might expect a sensible, value-for-money proposition from Hyundai, but the ix35 also oozes cutting-edge styling. It’s a struggle to find an angle from which the iX35 suffers aesthetically. Granted, it’s not supercar exotica, but it’s awash with interesting lines and creases and more than a match for its European rivals.

Inside, there’s a similar appeal.

The layout is decidedly smart and stylish, the ambience near-premium class.

An attractive set of dials greets the driver and there are obvious nods towards convenience.

It’s roomy, too. Headroom is naturally very good for a car in the crossover sector, but legroom in the rear is generous – even if three adults might find it a bit too cosy.

This cosiness is because the ix35 is no wider than the average fivedoor C-segment hatchback, which means it will take up no more space on your drive or in the supermarket car park.

Like all good crossovers, it doesn’t feel like a big car in town, but offers an excellent driving position with a commanding view that adds to the enjoyment.

Hyundai reckons the typical ix35 buyer will live out of town, have two or more children and will enjoy a more active-than-normal lifestyle.

The 2.0-litre diesel unit provides evenly-distributed torque, making it an undemanding car to drive.

Refined on the motorway and with a duly responsive and a wellbehaved chassis on a B-road, it’s hard to find fault. My one gripe would be the steering, which may be a little springy for some and may be an area for revision at a future date.

In terms of road-holding, the fourwheel drive chassis has obvious benefits, but the two-wheel drive version is very capable.

Both two and four-wheel drive models come with two important safety innovations, courtesy of the standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). The first of these is called HAC, which stands for Hillstart Assist Control and helps prevent the car from rolling backwards in a hill-start situation.

The second is DBC, or Downhill Brake Control, and limits the car’s speed on steep descents. It allows the driver to maintain full control without needing to feather the brakes or hold in a low gear.

The four-wheel drive option is expected to prove popular with customers coming from the conventional SUV market, who might use their vehicle for towing, or who live in areas often affected by inclement weather conditions.

The drivetrain is a single ratio 4WD system, with a default status that delivers all of the engine’s torque to the front wheels during ‘routine’ driving. This set up allows for better overall fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

Whenever a front wheel loses grip, a percentage of the car’s available torque is automatically transferred to the rear wheels to maintain forward motion. But if the driver wants to engage the 4WD system permanently, either in slippery conditions, or for greater traction when towing, Lock Mode can be selected. This splits the torque equally between the ix35’s front and rear axles for better stability, up to a maximum speed of 25mph.

The new ix35 will costs from £16,995 There are five trim levels for the new SUV, comprising S, SE, SE Nav, Premium and Premium Panorama.

All models come with a long list of standard equipment that includes LED daytime running lights, tyre pressure monitoring system and Trailer Stability Assist to help when towing.

There are also alloy wheels, air conditioning, Hill Assist Control and Downhill Brake Control for off-road driving.

Both two- and four-wheel drive versions of the ix35 are available, depending on engine choice. There are 1.6-litre petrol and 1.7- and 2.0- litre turbodiesel engines to pick from. The popular 1.7-litre diesel offers 139g/km carbon dioxide emissions, while the new 2.0-litre diesel delivers improved 41.5mpg and 179g/km CO2 emissions compared to the previous version.

Hyundai is also offering the Safety and Comfort Pack for SE models and above that comes with front parking sensors, Supervision cluster, Flex Steer and a tyre pressure display for £795.

And, as with all new Hyundai cars, a five-year warranty is included as standard with the ix35.

What’s more, all ix35s are backed up by Hyundai’s famous five-year warranty and a ten-year antiperforation corrosion warranty.

At the iX35’s asking price, I can think of no other car that offers so much and looks so good.