Hyundai ix35 – UK details

Hyundai has now released engine and specification details for the UK Hyundai ix35.

I suppose it would have been a bit pointless for Hyundai to keep the European and UK details of the Hyundai ix35 / Tucson under wraps for any longer, especially after we reported on the Tucson ix release in Korea last week together with the press release and video. Hyundai gave in a bit last week and sent us a pictures of the UK ix35, but it was basically the same launch picture from Korea but with the ‘ix35’ moniker on the number plate instead of ‘Tucson ix’.

But now we have more Euro details from Hyundai on the ix35 which will officially launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. The new ix35 is longer and wider than the outgoing Tucson but is actually 20mm lower, although headroom is unaffected. As we already know, the ix35 is a pretty close call for the ix-onic concept we saw at Geneva, and features Hyundai’s new hexagonal grill.

Engines on offer at launch will be two petrol units and two diesel. The petrols are a 1.6 litre with 138bhp and emissions of 158g/km and a 2,0 litre with 164bhp and emissions of 178g/km. The diesels are both 2.0 litre in two states of tune – 181bhp and 134bhp. A third diesel will be launched at the end of the year – a 1.7 litre with 113bhp and emissions – with the ISG stop-start – of 149g/km. Six speed manual ‘boxes are standard, although you can specify the six-speed auto’ with the 2.0 litre diesel.

This ix35 seems to have made a quantum leap forward in design and quality from the outgoing Tucson. Front suspension is McPherson strut, with multi-link rear suspension, and you get some pretty high-end goodies like hill assist and downhill brake control, and an LCD screen in the rear view mirror to help with reversing. Also included is a start button, cooled glove box and SatNav.

Sales will start in the New Year, so by the time the ix35 hits the roads in the UK there will be the full range of five engines. Expect prices to start from around £15,995.

And you can also expect sales to be strong. This is a good package.