Used Hyundai ix35 (2009-2015) Review

It may look like an off-roader but most people choose two-wheel drive versions of the Hyundai ix35. However, even if you opt for the 4x4, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are both low, helping to keep running costs down. It's a genuinely good alternative to 'crossovers' such as the Nissan Qashqai or Ford Kuga and does a great job on the road too.

Sit behind the wheel and you could be forgiven for thinking that you're in a Volkswagen, with upmarket, well-finished materials and a smart design. It's incredibly well equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth and heated seats in the front and back.

Add in a great range of engines, including a refined and punchy 2.0-litre CRDi diesel that returns a claimed 51.4mpg and the Hyundai ix35 begins to stand out against more expensive competition. In fact, there's very little to criticise. Easy to drive and cheap to run, the Hyundai ix35 is one of the best family cars on the road.

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You sit high and get the impression of a lot of metal around you, with space for three in the back and comfortable seats for longer journeys. The 591-litre load area is 41 litres bigger than a Ford C-MAX. Yet at 4,410mm, it's actually 9mm shorter than the latest model Vauxhall Astra. Disappointingly, the rear seats don't fold completely flat in the clever cantilever manner of the Hyundai Tucson.

Yet under the load floor there's a full size alloy spare wheel, an exact match for the road wheels, allowing you to rotate and even out tyre wear if you want to. On the move, the ix35 is generally quiet with only a small amount of road noise. One nice touch is that front and rear heated seats are standard - something only top-end executive cars can usually boast.

The 2WD base mode on 225/60 R17 tyres is noticeably more refined than the 4WD premium model on 225/55 R18s. The penalty is that it lets go at the front a bit early on rain-slicked roundabouts. On bumpy, rutted, pot-holed country road corners it's better, but this is not a car you push into bends. As a two-wheel drive, it gets to 60mph in a shade under 10 seconds.

In contrast, the 4WD hangs on better at the penalty of more noise, especially at around 2000rpm and 60mph in 6th. Usable engine torque doesn't come in until quite late, about 1750rpm. You can trickle down at about 1250rpm, but no lower, or it starts jerking and the gearshift indictor flashes at you to change down. That actually means you can't use 6th below about 45mph, and you can't use 5th below 30mph. Four-wheel drive mode is activated by a button on the dash. This locks the car into permanent four-wheel drive and works up to 25mph, splitting power equally between the front and rear wheels.

The 161bhp petrol engine lacks the low-down pull of the 2.0-litre, but it's a lively and a good engine for buyers who don't rack up mega mileages. The petrol is available as a two-wheel drive only and has a five-speed gearbox, where the 2.0-litre diesel is a six-speed.

The entry-level 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.7-litre diesel engines were available from later in 2010.

The 163PS petrol engine offers some decent economy with 38mpg on offer provided it isn't revved too hard. 

CO2 emissions span from 135g/km (1.7-litre two-wheel drive diesel) to 189g/km (2.0-litre four-wheel drive, automatic diesel), which means you'll pay between £150 and £305 to tax the ix35. 

Style models have 17-inch alloy wheels, ESP, air conditioning, active head restraints, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, those heated front and rear seats, downhill brake control, electric windows front and rear, electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED-type side repeaters, six airbags, glove compartment with cooling function, ‘follow-me-home' headlamp function, Hillstart Assist Control, leather steering wheel and gearknob, remote central locking with alarm, steering wheel audio controls, stereo-radio CD with MP3 and iPod connectivity, reverse parking sensors and a trip computer.

Premium models offer add 18-inch alloys, a full-length panoramic glass sunroof, automatic headlights, chrome door handles, chrome interior trim, cruise control, dual zone climate control with humidity sensor and Ioniser, electric folding door mirrors, front windscreen wiper de-icer, keyless entry with engine stop-start button, rear privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, part-leather upholstery and smart roof rails.

You can pick up a 2011 1.6-litre petrol Hyundai ix35 Style for the less than £6000 with 50,000 miles on the clock. At the other end of the scale, a 2015 2.0-litre diesel automatic with four-wheel drive and in posh Premium trim will cost around £12,000 with less than 20,000 miles on the clock.