Starex name dropped for new LCV

Hyundai has been quietly selling the iMax people mover for a couple of months, but the company is now shouting it to the world that the new vehicle is available for purchase.

The iMax is a new people mover based on the equally new iLoad van. Both vehicles are -- badges notwithstanding -- the H1/Starex model revealed at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney and first covered in our report as long ago as May of last year (more here) and subsequently confirmed for Australia with Hyundai's Sales & Marketing Director, Kevin McCann (more here).

Extending the 'i' prefix nomenclature to its light commercial range as well as the passenger cars, Hyundai is aiming to take on vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Volkswagen Transporter with the new model range -- also capturing some crumbs left by Toyota's HiAce since the demise of the HiAce SBV.

To this end, the iLoad and iMax are claimed to be refined and safe, by the standards of competitors in the same segments.

Two four-cylinder engines are on offer; a 2.4-litre petrol engine developing 129kW of power and 228Nm of torque, or a 2.5-litre common-rail turbodiesel producing 125kW and 392Nm. Hyundai claims that the diesel uses as little as 8.5L/100km in combined cycle fuel consumption testing for the standard model with five-speed manual transmission.

As an alternative, the iLoad CRDi is also available with a five-speed automatic option, featuring a sequential shift function. This variant will achieve a fuel consumption figure of 9.6L/100km. Petrol variants of the iLoad/iMax record figures of 10.1L/100km (manual) and 10.6L/100km (four-speed auto, N/A for iLoad).

The iMax people mover is available with the same two engine options, but standard transmission for the 2.4-litre petrol engine is a four-speed automatic, but the 2.5-litre CRDi model can be ordered with either the standard five-speed manual or the same sequential-shift five-speed automatic option available for the iLoad CRDi.

Hyundai claims a 2000kg towing capacity (braked) for both vehicles, fitted with the CRDi engine and manual transmission. This figure is reduced to 1500kg for the CRDi auto and petrol variants. As an option, the iLoad and iMax with the CRDi engine can be ordered with a locking differential for added traction.

The warranty for the two vehicles is limited to five years, capped also at 160,000km for the iLoad, but unlimited by distance for the iMax.

Able to carry a payload of up to 1132kg, the iLoad also provides a barn-door option for loading two pallets by forklift. That option is available with the three-seat version only; the iLoad also being available -- in a direct swipe at Mercedes-Benz -- as a six-seat crew-cab van. The standard tailgate for the iLoad is a single-piece pressing that lifts up and iLoad also comes with sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle.

Standard safety equipment for the iLoad includes dual front airbags, remote central locking and ABS with EBD. Buyers can specify electronic stability control and traction control for the iLoad with the turbodiesel engine. At the present, these safety systems are still under development for the iLoad petrol.  For convenience, electric windows, electric mirrors and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel are fitted to all models.

By comparison, the iMax CRDi is fitted with ESP and traction control as standard, but as for the iLoad, will not be offered in the petrol model initially.

Eight-seat capacity for the iMax comprises two buckets up front and two three-seat benches behind, with the second-row seat folding in a 60/40 split ratio. As with other people movers, the second-row seat slides forward to facilitate more legroom for the third-row seat and ease of access.

Standard features for the iMax include two-tone interior trim, a six-speaker MP3-capable audio system, dual-zone climate control with vents for all three rows of seats and the remote central locking, electric windows/mirrors and tilt-adjustable steering of the iLoad.

Prices for the iLoad and iMax start from $29,990 for the 2.4-litre petrol manual iLoad van. The CRDi option adds $4500 and the automatic transmission option on top of the CRDi engine is a further $2500.

The iLoad crew cab models kick off at $31,990 with the same engine/transmission options and prices.

Fitted as standard with the 2.4-litre petrol engine and four-speed automatic, the iMax is priced from $36,990 and the only other iMax variant is the CRDi engine with manual transmission, bumping up the price to $39,990.

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