2011 Hyundai IX35 Reviews

We’re not sure exactly what was going on in Hyundai’s marketing department at the end of the first decade of this century, but somebody was definitely having two bob each way. Up until 2010, the Tucson had been Hyundai’s mid-sized SUV entrant, but that badge disappeared the same year as the ix35 hit showrooms as the Tucson’s replacement. But after just five years on sale, the ix35 was itself replaced by none other than the Tucson. Confused? Us too, but to keep it simple, if you’re shopping for a Hyundai-made mid-sized SUV built between 2010 and 2015, the ix35 is the badge you need to look for. Meantime, leaving nomenclature out of it, the LM (as it was known internally) ix35 was a bread-and-butter kind of family SUV with familiar overall proportions and nothing too confronting mechanically. It could be had in three trim levels (Active, Elite and Highlander, in that order) and with a range of driveline options. There was a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 122kW, a 2.4-litre petrol with 130kW and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with 135kW and lots more torque than the petrol variants. The 2.0 petrol was available with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission and was front-drive only. The 2.4 petrol and the turbo-diesel were fitted exclusively with the six-speed automatic and were all-wheel drive, although they used on-demand AWD, and operated as front-drivers in most conditions. Conventional wisdom says late-model Hyundais are pretty stout things, even if they don’t offer much in the way of driving excitement. The ix35 makes sense if all you want is a roomy (for its size) box with which to move people and their belongings. But even then, there are some reliability problems to note, and driveability was never anything better than average. Overall, there are better, more entertaining choices in a second-hand SUV of this type. Again, it goes against the mood for this brand, but the ix35 did have some serious reliability issues that, even though they didn’t affect every example, should make you weigh things up carefully before making a purchasing decision. Something very wrong was going on in Hyundai’s engine department at this point in history. All three of the ix35’s engines suffered (to some extent) with some serious issues that saw Hyundai replacing entire engines under warranty in an attempt to stay in favour with its customers. The problems mainly centred around engines that consumed excess oil (to the point where some owners were caught out with empty sumps between services) and rattling engines that were signalling their death knock. The consensus is these problems were caused by poor manufacturing accuracy, leading to cylinder scoring, at which point the engines became noisy (particularly when cold) and started to burn oil. The fix was to either rebuild the engine with a new crankcase or, more commonly, replace the whole engine. Other issues reported over the years have been interior trim peeling (most notably steering wheel covers) and flaking paint caused by a bad batch of paint that affected other carmakers (including Toyota) and was traced to the top coat not adhering properly to the undercoat at the factory. This model Hyundai has had its share of recall notices over the years, some of them more serious than others, but a couple posing a definite safety risk. They include a recall to check the seat belt tensioning system, and a driver’s airbag that could have been assembled incorrectly and not deploy as it was designed to. Leaks were another ix35 recall theme, with oil leaks from the sump, fuel leaks and transmission fluid leaks all creating recall notices. There was also a recall to check some cars for a brake system that could allow brake fluid to contaminate the ABS module, leading to braking problems. You can check out the full details including what batches of cars were affected at: https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/ If you’re buying a petrol ix35, the ones to avoid on the basis of the engine problems and oil burning were the ones from the first generation built between 2010 and 2013. If, however, you’re after a diesel version, the post-facelift cars (2013 to 2015) seem to be the problematic ones. Either way, you’d want to know the service history of any second-hand ix35 and be prepared to shell out for a pre-purchase inspection which would include a compression test and perhaps even a bore-scope examination of the engine. The number of ix35s still floating around with 250,000km on board, or even more, suggests the engine problems were a bit random and clearly didn’t affect every car. We’d still be a lot happier, though, with an example with less than 160,000km on its odometer, along with an up-to-date and complete service history as some proof of it having a chance at going the distance. A car with a factory replacement engine (and documentation to support this) would also be preferable to one with no history. The turbo-diesel ix35 was always the better one to actually drive thanks to its beefier power and torque delivery. The added safety of all-wheel drive only reinforces this view. The petrol versions do the job, but they can feel breathless and stretched a bit tight at freeway speeds when fully loaded. Right now, you’ll find sellers with early-built, high-mileage examples of the ix35 with an asking price of about $5000 or even less. But these are best left to speculators. Better value is to be found in the $8000 to $10,000 price range where you start to find diesel examples with much more moderate mileage showing. Don’t forget that service history. Hyundai is a big brand not just in Australia, but globally. So, spare parts are not hard to find. Neither is a workshop that can navigate what is, fundamentally, a pretty straightforward vehicle. There’s a huge online market for parts to suit cars like this one, but be wary of online sellers you haven’t used before. Don’t rule out parts recycling yards for spares like body panels and some mechanical parts. Despite the problems some owners experienced with this car, Hyundai managed to sell plenty of them here, with sales peaking at about 18,000 per year at one point. That gave it a huge chunk of the market in its segment, but those mechanical problems took their toll, leading to the badge being replaced by the revived Tucson model in 2015. Some owners were forced to walk away from their ix35s when the cost of repairs became more than the value of the car itself. But the sheer sales figures when things were looking good mean there are at least a couple of hundred ix35s for sale on the bigger online sites.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2010 - 2015 Hyundai ix35 as a used buy. Hyundai ix35 is a small-medium SUV that's proven popular in Australia since arriving here from South Korea in January 2010. Build quality is very good as by this time the two Korean giants were really getting their acts into gear. A combination of neat

AUSTRALIAN motorists love compact SUVs which have taken over as the new family vehicle. The segment is one of the few experiencing growth and it's no wonder with 25 models available with a range of variants with diesel power, manual and automatic transmissions, plenty of cargo space and room for a family of five and even their pooch. Today every maker needs a compact SUV in their range. Over at Volkswagen Australia managing director Anke Koeckler says:. "The Tiguan is one of the volume sellers in our plan to become a significant player in Australia." The current Tiguan's about to be replaced by a second-generation model and is in short supply as is the Toyota RAV4 so they couldn't make this comparison of five compact petrol-powered automatic SUVs that includes top sellers, a European and the two emerging Korean models. We asked the Tranter family - Ross and Julie and their children, Joshua, 7, and Samantha, 5 - to come with us for a drive through city traffic, highway touring, rural roads and a picnic in the country in our full-day comparison test. They own a Mazda2 and admit that in a couple of years they will look at an upgrade, possibly to a compact SUV. VALUE Pricing and feature fit-out is keen in this highly competitive category. Our five vehicles are mid to high spec, according to what was available from the manufacturer, but they only vary in price by $5000 from the Hyundai ix35 at $35,490 to the Subaru Forester at $40,490 which comes with a comprehensive info/navigation/entertainment system with reversing camera. The Renault Koleos is listed at $36,990, but our test vehicle was fitted with a leather package ($2500) that includes black leather seats, electric driver's seat, heated front seats and quick-release rear folding seats. It also comes standard with a built-in Tom Tom navigation system, auto wipers, front and rear parking sensors, and a chilled glovebox. The top-spec Kia Sportage Platinum is fitted out at similar levels to the Hyundai. It costs an extra $1230 but adds rain-sensing wipers. Both have rear parking sensors, sunroof, rearview camera, auto headlights, fog lamps (front only on Kia) and heated side mirrors. In the middle is the X-Trail at $38,490 with roof rails, auto climate control and cooled/heated cup holders. All come with what are considered essentials in a family car these days - remote locking, cruise control, comprehensive stereo connectivity for Bluetooth phones and iPods, fog lights and climate airconditioning. Resale values are similar, but slightly better for the Renault and Subaru at 54 per cent and the lowest was the X-trail at 50 per cent. TECHNOLOGY At the heart of all these models are four-cylinder petrol engines of similar capacity. Even though the Hyundai and Kia share a 2.4-litre engine compared with the 2.5-litre units in the others, power and torque are almost the same across the group. Power varies only 5kW from 125kW in the X-Trail to 130kW in the Koreans and torque 9Nm from 226Nm in the Koleos and X-Trail to 235Nm in the Forester. All models also offer a diesel variant which are worth considering for economy if you're doing long distances and for their driveability. The Forester transmission is an old-fashioned four-speed auto, while the Koreans have six-speed torque-converter automatics; the X-Trail and Koleos have continuously variable transmissions with six selectable steps. Most are front-wheel drive switching to all-wheel drive when they sense rear-wheel slip, while the Subaru is permanent all-wheel drive. All have hill descent control and hill-start assist, but only the Renault, X-Trail and the Koreans have a locking diff function. Economy is fairly close across the group but interestingly the X-trail is the best at 9.1 litres per 100km compared with 9.5L/100km in the Koleos which runs the same engine, but weighs about 80kg more. The Koleos also requires 95Ron fuel. If towing is important, the X-Trail and Koleos have 2000kg capacity compared with 1600kg in the Koreans and 1400kg for the Subaru. DESIGN The group can be split into two on styling - the boxy Nissan and Subaru versus the more curvaceous Hyundai, Renault and Kia. It comes down to taste, but the Tranters liked the "modern" look of the ix35. "I like a car with a lot of curves," says Julie. To us the X-Trail and Subaru are starting to look a little old-fashioned, even though both have had major makeovers only a couple of years ago. Of the "rounded" models the Kia has a little more pizzazz with LED daytime running lights and coupe-like rear roofline. Statistics for cargo space never give a real-world indication of how much luggage can be fitted, but with picnic baskets, esky and our photographer's kit bags loaded, all seemed to hold a fair bit of gear. The Renault is the only model with a split rear tailgate which Ross liked, but Julie thought it would make it more difficult to reach luggage items at the back of the cargo area. However she liked the underfloor storage area with slide-out tray in the Nissan. "I'd probably use it as a permanent storage area for sunscreen, the kids' hats and snacks," she says. The X-Trail's cargo floor was the only one in the group not carpeted, a virtue according to Nissan for outdoor types. In the cabin, the Nissan again looked a little tired, while the others appeared modern and fresh, although the Renault is a little quirky and difficult to get used to all those knobs and controls. The Tranters found cabin space good in all but praised the Subaru for having the best legroom space in the rear for the kids in their booster chairs. SAFETY As a fire and rescue officer, Ross Tranter places a strong emphasis on safety. "There are things I've seen at crash scenes that I'd rather forget," he says. The Tranters own a Mazda2 and bought the top spec just for the extra airbags in the back, so they were impressed that all models, except the XTrail, get a five-star safety rating with full-length curtain airbags and stability control. They also commended all for their good forward visibility and praised the Kia and Hyundai for their reversing camera conveniently located in the centre mirror. There was high praise, too, for the high driving position of all, which at least gave them a feeling of safety. All vehicles come with three anchor points in the rear, but the Tranters found the Subaru was the only vehicle that was easy to fit the seats as the belt clasps were not spaced wide enough in the others. On the theft safety front, the Subaru also has Data Dot protection. DRIVING It was the Tranters' ninth wedding anniversary but they enjoyed our test loop through Brisbane city and out into the country for a picnic, then later McDonalds for the kids. Stepping up from their Mazda2 to the compact SUVs was easy for the Tranters who commented that they liked the high seating position and good forward visibility of all models. They liked the Subaru: easy to drive, plenty of room in the back for the kids, a big boot and a quiet and comfortable ride. They found the Hyundai a bit noisy on some surfaces, comfortable with a lot of extras they enjoyed but they didn't feel it was as stable as the Nissan in the dirt. Praise came for the Renault's handling and steering feedback. "I didn't feel like I wasn't in total control at any time. It's not wanting for power either. I could put my foot down and it was there when I wanted it," Ross commented. Julie found the Renault's quirky controls a bit confusing to start with. And Ross didn't like the Kia's seat. "It has good support down low but not up high." We found the Koreans' automatic gearboxes had to work hard to keep things humming along, while the Forester, Koleos and X-Trail felt more lively and responsive, even the Subaru with its four-speed box. We're no great fans of continuously variable transmissions, but the CVT boxes in the Renault and Nissan are among the best we have driven and kept the revs in the sweet spot for difficult terrain. Most of these will tackle a rough bush track and even a beach, but be aware they are not meant for heavy duty off-roading. Subaru is fitted with Yokohama Geolanders which we have found the best compromise between highway and track. The Forester also has the best ground clearance at 220mm while the Koreans have the lowest at 170mm (Hyundai) and 172mm (Kia), but you should take into account a load and passengers will reduce these clearances. VERDICT If rough country roads were on our agenda, we'd pick the Subaru or X-Trail as both vehicles not only handled the terrain with poise but also gave a feeling of being solidly built and reliable. The Renault has the same X-Trail underpinnings and urges you to have a go at the rough stuff thanks to a pretty slick engine/transmission combination and slightly more compliant suspension. It is a much under-rated vehicle with only 310 sold fo far this year. Most of the vehicles in this class are suburban run-arounds doing the grocery, school and sports ground circuit. Here, the modern styling of the French and Korean models look the part. For the record, the Tranters liked the style of the Hyundai but when it came to family practicalities their vote unanimously went for the Subaru for its space, comfort and quiet ride. SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XS PREMIUM Price: $40,490 Engine: 126kW/235Nm 2.5L 4-cyl petrol Transmission: 4-speed auto, AWD Body: 5-door wagon Thirst: 9.3L/100km  CO2: 220g/km Safety: 5 stars, 6 airbags Towing: 1400 (braked), 750kg (unbraked) Warranty: 3-yr, unlimited km Service: 12,500 or 6 mnths Resale: 54% NISSAN X-TRAIL ST-L Price: $38,490 Engine: 125Kw/226nM 2.5L 4-cyl petrol Transmisson: CVT, 4WD Body: 5-door wagon Thirst: 9.1L/100km  CO2: 214g/km Safety: 4-stars, 6 airbags Towing: 2000 (braked), 750kg (unbraked) Warranty: 3-yr/100,000km, roadside ass. Service: 6 mnths/10,000km Resale: 50% HYUNDAI ix35 2.4 HIGHLANDER Price: $35,490 Engine: 130W/227Nm 2.4L 4-cyl petrol Transmission: 6-speed auto, AWD Body: 5-door wagon Thirst: 9.2L/100km  CO2: 219g/km Safety: 5 stars, 6 airbags Towing: 1600 (braked), 750kg (unbraked) Warranty: 5-yr, unltd km Service: annual or 15,000km Resale: 52% KIA SPORTAGE 2.4 PLATINUM Price: $36,720 Engine: 130kW/227Nm 2.4L 4-cyl petrol Transmission: 6-speed auto, AWD Body: 5-door wagon Thirst: 9.2L/100km  CO2: 221g/km Safety: 5-stars, 6-airbags Towing: 1600 (braked), 750kg (unbraked) Warranty: 5-yr/unltd km Service: 1-yr or 15,000km Resale: 52% RENAULT KOLEOS DYNAMIQUE Price: $36,990 ($40,290 as tested) Engine: 126kW/226Nm 2.5L 4-cyl petrol Transmission: CVT, AWD Body: 5-door wagon Thirst: 9.5L/100km  CO2: 228g/km Safety: 5 stars, 6 airbags Towing: 2000 (braked), 750kg (unbraked) Warranty: 5-yr/unltd km, roadside assist Service: 1-yr or 10,000km Resale: 54% SHOWROOM SUCCESS SALES success in the highly competitive compact SUV category is fickle, changing every month. Nissan X-Trail was the leader in June, Hyundai ix35 in May, Subaru Forester in February, April and July, Toyota RAV4 in January and March. So far this year Subaru Forester is the top seller with 7574, even though sales are down 13.1 per cent on last year. This repeats its top-selling success in the category since 2008. The new Hyundai ix35 was second with 6806, RAV4 third (6472), X-Trail fourth (6430) and Dualis fifth (5156). Despite the Renault Koleos being a Nissan X-Trail with French dressing, it has sold only 310 so far this year to rank 20th out of 25 models in the category. The compact SUV segment is one of the few recording growth with an increase of 2.1 per cent so far this year while the SUV category is down 2.9 per cent and the total new vehicle market is down 5.9 per cent. The only faster-growing categories are luxury SUVs (317.4 per cent) and utes (6.2 per cent). SAFE AND GREEN OWNERS of any of our tested vehicles can rest assured they are safe and green. They all have six airbags, stability control and anti-skid brakes as a minimum, while some have more driver aids such as Hyundai's Vehicle Stability Management which adds steering assistance in low-traction situations. All get a five-star crash rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Program, except the X-Trail which was last tested in 2007 and scored four stars. The Australian Green Vehicle Guide gives all vehicles better than average scores for greenhouse air pollution and economy. The Kia and Hyundai score closely because they basically have the same drivetrain. The Hyundai scores 6 greenhouse rating out of 10 and 8.5 for air pollution gaining four stars. The Kia scores a 5.5 greenhouse rating because its CO2 levels are 2g/km higher. Next is the Subaru with 6 for greenhouse emissions, 6.5 for air pollution for 3.5 stars and Koleos with 5.5, 6.5 and 3.5 stars. There are no results listed for the X-Trail. Most of these models have been around for a while in some shape or form and are good buying second-hand. Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V are the only used compact SUVs rated as a "safe pick" by the Automobile clubs of Australia. In their recent annual buyer's guide to used car safety ratings, they gave five stars to the Forester (02-08) and CR-V (02-06). Four stars were awarded to the Kia Sportage (98-03), Toyota RAV4 (06-09), Ford/Mazda Escape/Tribute (01-06), CR-V (97-01), Forester (97-02), Suzuki Grand Vitara (99-05) and RAV4 (01-06).

SENSIBLE SUV-ing sums up Hyundai's middle-of-the-road ix35. It ticks most of the boxes for most of the people most of the time and is an intelligent addition to the South Korean company's line-up. Hyundai sold 7202 ix35s last year to be seventh in a congested compact SUV market of 23 models. It doesn't have the looks of its sportier-styled SUV sibling the Kia Sportage but the classic styling has won more fans and explains why it outsold the Kia two-to-one in the previous month and year. VALUE The ix35 power up at $32,490 plus on-roads for the all-wheel drive petrol model, while the top-end Highlander turbodiesel starts from $38,490. The base money buys a five-start rating ANCAP vehicle with six airbags and a a 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 130kW/227Nm. Step up to the 2.0-litre turbodiesel Carsguide tested and the car is a willing, if noisy performer. The diesel idle on startup continued throughout the rev range. It was matched by the characteristic turbo push from the 135kW/392Nm turbodiesel and, with a majority of freeway driving, Carsguide returned a frugal 7.0-litres for 100km, better than the claimed average. TECHNOLOGY There's not much to ask for in the turbodiesel Elite. It misses the reversing camera, panoramic glass roof, six-stack CD player, heated seats and electric folding mirrors on the range-topping Highlander, but is $3000 cheaper and still has auto headlights, fog lamps and the exterior chrome detailing kit on the grille and door handles and push-button start. The basic platform sits well on the roads until you get beyond the realms of typical SUV driving, at which point it starts to pitch and roll more than a driver wants, but less than the safety software sees fit it intervene. It's a reasonable balance, given the ix35 has off-road ambitions, but is still designed to spend more time on the bitumen than in the bush. SAFETY A five-star ANCAP rating puts the Hyundai is on the front line for safety. It has six airbags, a suite of protective software aids for on and off-road driving, a sound body structure and an all-wheel drive system that's mainly limited by ground clearance. It feels stable on the road and the airconditioning is first-rate, clearing humidity/frost build-up on the windscreen in seconds. The towing rating is 1600kg (braked) to boot, so it's capable of towing the small boat/caravan found in so many backyards these days. STYLING The ix35 was penned at Hyundai's design centre in Russelsheim, Germany, so it's a stylish-enough beast without having the sporty pretentions of the aptly-named Sportage. The bumpers are subtly aggressive, especially with the foglights fitted, there's a roof spoiler and it looks like a quality vehicle. Nothing inside will change your opinion, be it the seats or the instrument layout. The basic package looks ... durable ... and that's something that will help the ix35 win even more sales. The icing on the proverbil cake is the junior family friendliness that is dials and plastics served up in an easy-to-digest format that looks like it will survive repeated wipe-downs. DRIVING This is a consensus approach to the compromised suspension set-up SUVs have to be fitted with. On the one hand drivers expect road-compliant riding but still demand plenty of travel when they venture onto a rain-rutted track. The ix35 cuts the two extremes off - it's no sportscar, not a hardcore bush-basher - and does its best to satisfy the middle-class mums-and-dads' ground who won't need it for much more than the odd gravel or sand track. The steering is light - too soft for me, but no worse than some rivals - and lets you keep the car on track at anything less than 100 per cent acceleration. Floor it and the front-end can be a bit floaty, especially with the turbodiesel's torque curve matched to the auto's six-speed ratios, meaning acceleration is brisk for quite some time. The radio reception dies earlier underground than some of the Japanese cars in this class and the auto headlights take a couple of seconds longer to activate in tunnels, but it is a solid all-round performer that deserves its ranking on buyers' shopping lists. There's enough space in the back to stow a family of four's weekend camping gear and the doesn't suffer too much from the extra rearward weight. VERDICT It stands out by being good, without being a standout, in so many areas. HYUNDAI ix35 2.0 R ELITE Price: $35,490 Engine: 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder Power: 135kW at 4000 revs Torque: 392Nm from 1800-2500 revs Transmission: Six-speed automatic, on-demand all-wheel drive Economy: 7.5 litres/100km (claimed, combined) CO2 emissions: 198g/km Body: Five-door wagon Seats: Five Dimensions: length 4410mm, width 1920mm, height 1655mm Wheelbase: 2640mm, tracks front/rear 1585mm/1586mm Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion Suspension: MacPherson strut (front), multi-link (rear) Fuel tank: 55 litres Fuel type: Diesel Weight: 1706kg Spare tyre: Full-size Brakes: 300mm ventilated front discs, 284mm solid rear discs Wheels: 17-inch alloys Tyres: 225/60 Safety gear: ABS brakes with brakeforce distribution, hill ascent/descent control, electronic stability control, traction control, six airbags. FEATURES Air-conditioning Cruise control Alloy wheels Parking sensors Auto wipers.