Hyundai ix35 Tested February 2010

Rating Quick Summary Recommended. Good looking, well equipped and cheap, the ix35 looks set to continue the success Hyundai has enjoyed with smaller cars. Make sure you pick the right engine though.

Full Road Test

Hyundai is in the process of casting off its reputation for building cheap and cheerful cars, and the ix35 is the latest in a growing line of impressive and well-specified models.

It's described as a crossover - essentially a small off-roader - and is based on the platform of the highly successful i30 hatchback. As a result it would make sense to consider the ix35 a rival for the likes of the Ford Kuga and the Nissan Qashqai. But Hyundai would like us to think otherwise and reckon it is a genuine rival for smaller hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus.

By pricing the ix35 competitively and filling it with huge amounts of standard kit, it does make a lot of sense. There are just two trim levels on offer - Style and Premium - and even the entry-level car comes with lots included in the purchase price. You get 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, downhill brake control and iPod connectivity. You even get heated seats in the back as well as the front. The Premium trim adds £1,750 to the price, but brings kit like cruise control, a sunroof, keyless entry and auto lights and wipers.

So the ix35 is well-equipped, but this would mean very little if the car drove appallingly, which thankfully it doesn't. It holds the road admirably well for a car of its height and the ride is firm without being uncomfortably jarring. However, the crucial element is the choice of engine. The car comes with two from launch - a 2.0-litre diesel with 134bhp and a 161bhp 2.0-litre petrol. The diesel is far superior to the petrol and will deservedly account for the majority of sales. It gets to 62mph in 9.4 seconds and 236 lb ft of pulling power means it responds happily to any request for acceleration.

The diesel comes with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive, and remarkably there is barely any difference between the two in terms of economy and emissions. In basic Style trim, the 2WD version manages 51.4mpg and emits 147g/km, while the 4WD is just behind with 49.6mpg and 149g/km CO2. With just £1,000 difference in price between the two, it makes as much sense to go for the all-wheel drive option. It feels slightly more planted on the road, with the front-drive option feeling a little more uncertain through corners.

The 2.0-litre petrol is best avoided, and is unlikely to even be on offer for that long according to sources at Hyundai. It is an engine that needs a lot more revving, and yet never really delivers with much in the way of performance. Not only is it slower to 62mph than the diesel at 10.4 seconds, but it lacks any sort of urgency. When depressing the accelerator you are left waiting for a kick of power that sadly never arrives.

But pick the right engine - a smaller diesel and petrol are due to join the range later - and the ix35 makes a very compelling choice. It is a credible alternative to more expensive equivalents to the likes of the Ford Kuga, and may well even go so far as to be an alternative to smaller hatchbacks like the Focus or i30.