2010 - 2015 Hyundai ix35 SUV Review
This is the Carzone.ie guide to buying a used Hyundai ix35.
Review
INTRODUCTION
The Hyundai ix35 was the Korean company’s second take on a mid-sized crossover SUV. It actually classifies as the Tucson Mk2 in North America and South Korea, but the company rebadged it as the ix35 for other global markets – returning to the Tucson nameplate worldwide for the Mk3 of 2015. The ix35 was a five-door family machine that competed in the competitive C-segment category against a wide array of rivals.
MODEL RANGE
Simple to understand, the vast majority of Hyundai ix35s you’ll find for sale will be powered by a turbodiesel engine – either the larger 2.0-litre, 136hp/320Nm unit which was available from launch, or the much-more-common 1.7-litre CRDi with 115hp/260Nm. Most cars came with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive, but 4WD ix35s are available and there was also an automatic option, which had six gears. Hyundai did offer a 1.6-litre GDI petrol engine in the ix35 and a vanishingly small number of them do sometimes appear on the used-car market, but in reality, the 1.7-litre diesel is the one you’ll encounter the most.
BEST BUY
Unless you need to tow regularly or you live in a part of the country where the weather is often very inclement, a 2WD 1.7-litre CRDi ix35 is the sensible choice. Go for a post-facelift model from 2013-on for the best all-rounder.
THE NUMBERS
Hyundai ix35 1.7 CRDi manual facelift
Engine: 1.7-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 115hp
Maximum speed: 173km/h
0-100km/h: 12.4 seconds
Fuel consumption: 5.8 litres/100km
CO2: 139g/km
GOOD POINTS
• Economical
• Reliable
• Spacious
BAD POINTS
• Interior finishing lacking
• Limited engine choice
• Automatic models unrefined
SUMMARY
Without being particularly flashy, the Hyundai ix35 makes a decent case for itself as an intriguing second-hand buy. It’s practical, spacious and fine enough to drive, even if its cabin finishing and overall refinement makes it feel a little bit off the pace. However, abundant on the used market and packed with kit, the ix35 is one crossover-SUV you ought to try.