Test Drive Hyundai IX35 (Tucson) since 2009 SUV

Chameleon

This year for Hyundai Tucson will be the last. On a number of markets, this Parquetnik, probably, already in the afternoon, you will not find the fire, however, if somewhere he is, it is the remnants of the machine with such a name in the old light will no longer be supplied. Her place will take the crossover IX35. Moreover, the replacement of Koreans promise to spend very quickly and, which is characteristic, with the maximum coverage by April, the novelty will appear not only in Western Europe, but also in Russia.

This vehicle for the second generation of Tucson is generally characteristic (in the markets of Asia and America, the model has saved the old name, but with the IX console). To take at least the embryonic stage of development: everything began with the prototype of the IX-Onic Concept, shown exactly a year ago in Geneva, and in the fall in Frankfurt Hyundai demonstrated the serial version. Whereas one of the main competitors of the IX35 Skoda Yeti was born a long four years, and this is a comprehensive support for the largest automaker of the old world itself ...

Without the help of the Germans, it was not in this case: both IX-Onic Concept, and IX35 from the beginning and to the end were developed in the new technical center of the company in Frankfurt. In the work on the commodity version, nothing supernatural to local specialists did, in fact, did not have the concept initially reflected the modern trend in the development of the appearance of compact crossovers, so designers only slightly smoothed the firmly shot down body, making an excessive strife from him, and stretched the car to generally accepted sizes. Which is characteristic, it was quite logical here even a family wave-like waist line was fitted, as if referring to the now Healthy Hyundai Elantra. The body she, honestly, weights, but it is impossible to say that spoils ...

This is whom IX35 does not look like perfectly on the predecessor. No, theoretically find some similarities in them, of course, it is possible to: take at least a silhouette or dimensions (the novelty added only 85 mm in length, 20 mm wide, another 10mm has grown the wheeled base.) But in general, IX35 is perceived absolutely another.

If you can still identify the Korean on the outside in IX35, then inside the crossover looks completely in Europe. Dynamics, shapes, texture ... Let's say more like the interior could well appear on some German product. Of course, it would hardly have been VW, but for Opel why not? Not the worst option, especially since problems with the quality of materials that, alas, were by no means the rare phenomenon in Tucson, there is no absolutely.

The quality of the driver's board in IX35, alas, not perfect, but it is definitely higher than in the same Qashqai or Toyota RAV-4. In the Salon of the Crossover installed quite decent and sufficiently rigid seats, no worse than those that put today on Tiguan or Yeti. What is characteristic, did not smear the picture and relatively small range of longitudinal adjustment: it turned out to be quite enough to, on the one hand, with acceptable comfort, to place a man with an acceptable comfort for the meter of ninety, and on the other hand, to leave the necessary minimum living space as the same dimensional inhabitants of the second row . In other words, four sufficiently high people here can be placed without much difficulty. The only restriction of the stock vertical space. It so happened that all IX35, which had a chance to ride these lines, were equipped with panoramic roofs, which, as you know, gives some spare centimeters vertically and, alas, not too objective picture, as in Russia this option does not use in demand . Here is navigating, Bluetooth Hands Free with voice control feature, electronic key and rear view camera will surely find.

It is quite decent this time a list of options aimed at ensuring security. Koreans added here active head restraints, helping during descent and moved to the mountain of the DBC system (Hillstart Assist Control). ABS, ESP, BRAKE ASSIST and six airbags in this case are perceived by granted. However, here for us there is at least one unpleasant news if in most European countries these systems will enter the mandatory list, we, apparently, will have to pay extra for each of them (except for ABS and four pillows). In return, however, we will receive almost all the most accessible motors: this is the basic 2-liter gasoline four, and a pair of 2-liter turbo diesel engines with a capacity of 135 and 184 hp

Our acquaintance with the IX35 immediately began with the top engine, moreover, a 184-horsepower turboodiesel was also equipped with a new 6-speed automaton. And these were extremely positive emotions: even confident traction in almost the entire turn range, magnificent elasticity and absolute logicality in the operation of the transmission. The reactions to gas here, as usual, are slowly recapinated, but the general picture does not spoil longer than 0.5 seconds the unit did not even think even in the mountains.
But despite this, on the site of the buyer IX35, the author of these first modification lines would prefer the option with a 136-strong engine. In a pair with a 6-speed MCP, he is not worse than the top turbo diesel, but it is even more economical. In addition, he will surely be much cheaper: we have the difference between prices for these modifications may well make about 100 thousand rubles.

The most accessible traditions will be machine with gasoline engines, however, the 163-strong unit of Theta-II series, honestly, presented at the presentation, honestly, was not impressed. The fact that he does not have enough thrust below, it was easily predicted, but when the Four demonstrated the same greedy and at high speed, it was time to get upset. Alas, but the Euro-5 chances for survival atmospheric units practically leaves. There is here, however, and good news: we will come to us as basic unassembled aggregates, sharpened under Euro-4, and, having remembered about such a promotion that touched the new Mazda3, they should not be better to go.

It is managed by IX35 at the same time very well. Koreans replaced the hydraulicel on the electric that made the steering wheel easier with a slightly computer feedback. However, this does not interfere with the car to accurately prescribe arcs and can easily hold the trajectory specified by the driver. Here the suspension compared to the predecessor became much tougher comfortably less than less. But the rolls have decreased, so that the crossover behaves completely in a passenger one on the asphalt.

As for behavior outside of fortified surfaces, then there are practical changes to minimum: in the system of full drive, the Koreans installed a new electron-controlled coupling, which can also be blocked forced using the corresponding button. In addition, the crossover is still produced in both front-wheel drive and in all-wheel drive execution.

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With the release of the IX35 Hyundai, in fact, finished the update of the model range (only a small restyling Santa Fe restyling) and announced the beginning of a massive expansion, which one way or another will affect all European markets without exception. And this is despite the fact that last year the company, selling 3.11 million cars and increasing the market share to 2.4%, became the fourth most popular manufacturer. Sales growth in Europe at the same time amounted to 26%. In Russia, the number of cars sold over the same period compared to the previous year, on the contrary, decreased by 61% (74 thousand cars against 192 thousand in 2008), but this did not prevent Hyundai to become the fourth in the overall standings, passing forward only AvtoVAZ, Chevrolet and Ford.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hyundai IX35

Dimensions (mm) 4410x1820x1660
Wheel base (mm) 2640
Road clearance (mm) 170
Mass (kg) 1450
Ragge volume (L) 5911436
Slave. Engine volume (cm3) 1998
Max. Power (hp) 163
Max. Torque (NM) 194
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b(km / h) 182
Acceleration 0100 km / h (c) 10.7
Cf. Fuel consumption (l / 100 km) 7.5
Price (rub.) N.D.

Competitors

UPSTART
Qashqai plunges European markets for three years, but all this time he, in fact, existed in refined conditions, since only Nissan could offer customers so democratic prices. However, by now, this Handicap has decreased to a minimum: in March, we will start selling the updated Qashqai, and its price compared to the dorestayling version increased by about 12% (from 753,000 rubles). In general, the Hyundai task in this regard is simplified: in order to keep the position conquered by Tucson, it is enough to offer a comparable price tag.

Firstborn
Receiving orders for the first in the history of Skoda crossover Yeti Russian brand dealers began in December last year, as soon as the assembly of the model started at the VW plant near Kaluga. In less than a month, they managed to sell almost 900 cars. Moreover, this is probably not the limit: the cheapest Yeti today costs 699,000 rubles. True, we are talking in this case about the front-wheel drive version, all-wheel drive modifications with 1.8 TSI at least 200 thousand more expensive. Nevertheless, the crossover in the reserve there is another 1,4-liter turbo engine, which will also soon be on Yeti Russian assembly.

CLONE
Sportage sales in January of this year unexpectedly increased, and more than 100%. And it is against the background of the continued market fall. However, if you remember that Nissan at that time almost stopped selling Qashqai, and Hyundai continues to sell Tucson 2008 and 2009, this dynamics looks quite logical. However, in the leaders Kia, there are three to four months left: by the summer, they will raise the renewed competitors, in addition, the new generation of the model is presented at the Geneva Motor Show, and it will begin to be sold in Russia in autumn.


Material: Vladimir Lodine
 

A source: Mkmobile Magazine [March / 2010]