Euro-style ix35 rides into town

Hyundai has finally put to rest the aging Tucson with a replacement in the form of the new ix35. A car likely to draw comparison with Volkswagen's Tiguan and the Ford Kuga, the ix35 has been styled by Hyundai's European design centre in Russelsheim, Germany.

The importer has officially launched the Tucson successor in Australia in three grades and with multiple engine and transmission variants.

As the entry-level model, the ix35 Active is priced at $26,990 for the five-speed manual coupled to a 2.0-litre 'Theta II' petrol four-cylinder engine. The option of a six-speed automatic transmission with the same engine adds $2000 ($28,990). In this level of trim, both variants are front-wheel drive only, just like the Tucson City was.

Moving up a rung, the ix35 Elite is available with either a 2.4-litre version of the Theta II petrol engine for $31,990 or a 2.0-litre 'R Series' turbodiesel four, priced at $34,990. Both variants feature all-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmissions as standard.

Topping the range is the ix35 Highlander, at $37,990. This variant is powered by the same 2.0 R Series diesel also available in the Elite grade. As for the mid-range model, the ix35 Highlander also offers standard all-wheel drive and six-speed auto.

In the Active grade, the ix35 features 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry/alarm, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, four-spoke steering wheel with remote control for the USB/iPod-compatible CD audio system and cruise control.

For the ix35 Elite specification, Hyundai has added roof rails, front fog lights, 17-inch alloys, leather/cloth trim, push-button start and auto-on/off headlights.

Over that, the ix35 Highlander also features as standard 18-inch alloys, panoramic glass roof, electric folding mirrors, full leather trim, heated front seats, reversing camera, dual-zone climate control and six-disc CD audio system.

Standard safety features across the range include: stability control, traction control, ABS/EBD, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Control, front seatbelt pre-tensioners/load limiters, front airbags, side-impact airbags and side-curtain airbags.

The 2.0-litre DOHC petrol engine develops 122kW of power and 197Nm of torque, versus 130kW of power and 227Nm of torque for the 2.4-litre version. Displacing 2.0 litres, the R Series diesel produces 135kW of power and 392Nm of torque, the latter available between the engine speeds of 1800 and 2500rpm. Fuel consumption figures in the combined-cycle test range from 7.5L/100km for the diesel variants to 9.2L/100km for the 2.4-litre petrol auto. In front-wheel drive configuration only, the 2.0-litre petrol variants achieve the same result -- 8.5L/100km -- for both manual and auto.

Hyundai expects the majority of sales (from February 15) will comprise ix35 Active (50 per cent), with the remainder composed of 40 per cent Elite and 10 per cent Highlander. The initial expectation is for sales between 500 and 800 a month, with a forecast down the track of 1000 a month.

"I expect that it could do a better job [than Tucson]," says Edward Lee, CEO of Hyundai Australia. "Already, worldwide demand is very high."

Key to pictures: ix35 Active (red), ix35 Elite (green), ix35 Highlander (silver)

Watch Carsales TV's Hyundai iX35 video review here

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