Hyundai iLoad 2018 review

This is the most significant update of the iLoad to date - the new front-end design brings it more into line with current Hyundai passenger-car models. It still looks at odds with, say, a Santa Fe or even an i30, but it’s an improvement on the existing version, which was looking out of place in showrooms.

The boxy front-end styling carries Hyundai’s ‘cascading’ grille in black plastic with a chrome lining on iLoad models, and of course there is a new front bumper, and new squarer headlights, which are now auto-dusk sensing, but still only have halogen bulbs.

The squarer headlights are now auto-dusk sensing. (image credit: Matt Campbell)

The iMax people-mover van, which is based on the iLoad, gets a full chrome grille and a more attractive front bumper treatment - we imagine some posh plumbers might want to consider trying to source those parts to add a bit more flair to their work vans.

From the back edges of the headlights, nothing else has changed with the iLoad’s appearance. It still has the same shape, the same easy-to-grab handles, the same tail-lights and the same 16-inch steel wheels. 

Every iLoad comes with dual sliding side doors, making loading easy no matter whether you’re parked kerbside or in a loading bay, or a driveway - some vans only come with a single kerbside door as standard, with the onus on buyers to option a driver’s side slider at extra cost.

Every iLoad comes with dual sliding side doors. (image credit: Matt Campbell)

For the iLoad there’s the choice of the standard-fit tailgate, or a pair of “twin swing” barn doors (which adds $550) - but if you option those you have to forego a reversing camera. How a brand like Hyundai can’t work around that in 2018 beggars belief. 

As for colours, the iLoad only comes with three choices - 'Creamy White' (no cost) 'Hyper Metallic Grey' and 'Timeless Black' (both $695). Other vans have many more options to choose from: the Renault Trafic, for instance, has the choice of brown, blue, red and green; the Ford Transit Custom, however, takes the cake - there are more than 100 colour options (including silver, purple, pink, aqua and orange) available through the brand’s Special Vehicle operations team.

The Hyundai iLoad range isn’t the most affordable in the segment, but it does undercut some of the competition. 

List pricing (before on-road costs, also known as RRP or MLRP) for the iLoad range starts at $38,790 for the manual model, and $41,790 for the auto. Those prices are for the model with the liftback tailgate, with a three-seat layout.

If you need barn doors at the rear, then you’ll be paying $39,340 for the manual Twin Swing model, as Hyundai calls it, and $42,340 for the auto.

The six-seat iLoad Crew Van adds $2000 over the respective models listed above.

Standard equipment for iLoad models include that 7.0-inch touchscreen media system, auto headlights, dual sliding side doors, air-conditioning, steering wheel audio controls, revised cloth seat trim, power windows and mirrors, and a reversing camera.

Inside the iLoad you'll find a 7.0-inch touchscreen media system, steering wheel audio controls, revised cloth seat trim, plus power windows and mirrors. (image credit: Matt Campbell)

There are some shortcomings here. The manual versions don’t come with cruise control, for instance, but auto models do. And while the auto dusk-sensing halogen headlights are fine, there are no daytime running lights, and no auto wipers. You won’t find an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, no model has GPS satellite navigation, and you need to pay for rear parking sensors to be fitted at the dealership. 

Leather seats? Heated seats? A heated steering wheel? Dual-zone climate control? They’re all in the ‘no’ column.

As for accessories, the iLoad can be had with a range of additional gear. Ours had a mesh cargo barrier and tow bar, but other options include roof racks, a full technician pack (with ladder holders, conduit holder and more), a wooden floor for couriers, 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear step, floor mats (carpet or rubber) and a roof pod (395L). 

If you’re after a nudge bar or bullbar, you will need to shop the aftermarket. But they’re out there.

While it mightn’t be the most technologically advanced, or the best equipped, or the nicest to look at, the Hyundai iLoad is still decent to drive.

Most mid-sized vans are pretty good, I have to say, but the iLoad is well sorted - whether you’re running around with a load in the back, or hitting the highway empty. I did both during my time in the vehicle, and was impressed by its general comfort and compliance - and bear in mind, Hyundai Australia doesn’t consider it necessary to fettle the suspension and steering of the iLoad and iMax models for local tastes, as it does with every other vehicle in its range. 

The drivetrain felt completely unbothered by the weight when we loaded in 750kg over the rear axle, and the five-speed automatic transmission was very smart in its shifts - relying on the engine’s torque where suitable, and smoothly making its way through the ratios as speed increased or decreased.

The drivetrain felt completely unbothered by the weight when we loaded in 750kg over the rear axle. (image credit: Matt Campbell)

The engine isn’t a thumper, but it revs smoothly and has good response across the sweet spot of the rev range (2000-2250rpm). There’s a mild amount of turbo lag from a standstill, but it’s easy to contend with, and the throttle response is just about perfect. 

There was a bit of low-speed suspension noise, and it was a little bit sharp over speedhumps, taking about three bounces to finally settle at the rear. But driving loaded at higher speeds, it rolled over bumps pretty well and maintained good composure through direction changes. Unladen, the ride is a little less settled, but never to the point of annoyance. 

The steering was definitely affected by weight in the rear, but in a good way - it wasn’t as light as it was when unladen (it can be a little bit light on centre and twitchy to adjust when you have absolutely no weight in the rear). 

The rubber floor of our test vehicle is standard, and the 10 load hooks are well placed on the floor. Our load did move a little on a steep descending driveway under brakes. 

On brake response, it was decent but not exceptional in both loaded and unloaded driving. We did note the traction control could kick in around off-camber corners at low speeds, and it really cuts into acceleration response as a result.

On the surface the Hyundai ownership plan looks solid, but there are some elements that could be better.

The warranty offered is a five-year/160,000 kilometre program. That’s good, but not as good as Hyundai passenger vehicles (five years/unlimited km). It used to be a bit of a benchmark for the segment, but has been bettered by Ford and Renault, both of which have five-year/unlimited-km coverage. But Toyota, Mercedes and Volkswagen all have lesser, three-year warranty plans. 

Hyundai also has a “lifetime service plan”, which allows customers to know what it will cost for maintenance at each scheduled service. The intervals are every 12 months/15,000km, which is fine - but some competitors have longer intervals, so if you do a lot of driving, you may wish to take that on board.

For instance, both Ford and Renault have 12 month/30,000km service intervals: Ford’s cover is life-long (average annual cost over the five years/150,000km: $486); Renault’s plan only covers three years/90,000km, at a cost of $599 per visit.

Hyundai quotes $356, $356, $365, $506, and $356 over the first five years/75,000km. That may look fine at a glance - especially considering you don’t have to get it serviced every six months/10,000km like a Toyota HiAce. 

But let’s say you travel 30,000km per year - and many tradies do - then the iLoad starts to look pretty expensive against some of its competitors. For instance, if you cover 90,000km in three years, you’ll pay $2449 in servicing for the iLoad - but you’d only be paying $1430 for the Ford and $1797 for the Renault … and you’d be visiting the dealership less often in both instances, too. 

Hyundai offers the option to pre-pay your servicing for between three and five years. If you consider the five-year plan costs $1930, and the sum of the services above is $1939, there’s not much point unless you want to roll the cost into a lease or finance plan to lessen the impact at service time.

Be sure to check out our Hyundai iLoad problems page to get an idea of any potential issues, complaints, concerns or recalls.