Hyundai Creta in SA: Will the new crossover be a best-seller?

Hyundai South Africa is confident that its new Creta crossover will be a hit amongst South Africa's best-sellers.

It's not that the Creta is a more affordable - and slightly smaller - than its popular Tucson sibling, but because of the perceivable value for money the new crossover offers.

The Creta has already launched in other parts of the world during 2016 and proved to be a success. In India, for example, Hyundai sells 10 000 Creta units per month, while Hyundai SA aims to sell around 400 per month.

Game on, as the automaker expands its local line-up.

Design and spec

The Creta exudes a sense of maturity, despite being the smallest SUV in the Hyundai range. At the front it has a very upright stance to give it somewhat of a presence on the road.

Compared to the Tucson, the Creta's ground clearance is also slightly higher (190mm vs. 172mm), which makes it more at home on gravel.

Three derivatives are available, although all available in the same Executive specification. Hyundai has equipped its Creta with cornering headlights, 16” alloy wheels, air vents for rear passengers, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera, and a 20cm infotainment screen with navigation; to mention but a few. Interestingly, the vehicle is not equipped with cruise control, nor does it have traction- or stability control.

The interior is predictably laid out and it is not difficult navigating through dials and controls. Leather seats are standard across the range, as are power windows. Only the driver’s window has single-touch operation.

Engine, gearbox, performance

Two engine choices options are available - a 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel.

The petrol unit is mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. With 90kW/150Nm available from the naturally aspirated (n/a) engine, performance is adequate rather than brisk or lively. It accelerates with the calmness that is associated with n/a engines of this size and gradually builds up speed to 120km/h. At the launch we sampled the manual petrol-powered version. Uphill driving requires a lower gear or two to propel it upwards, but on flat surfaces it trots along at a very leisurely pace.

The diesel engine churns out a punchy 94kW/260Nm and is coupled to a six-speed auto ‘box. But despite boasting a healthy torque figure, the full 260Nm is only available at a high 2750rpm. This means that this engine, too, needs to be worked a bit to perform, but it's much smoother and more drivable than its petrol counterpart. The automatic gearbox isn’t the fastest nor the quickest-shifting unit on the market, but it matches the calm demeanour of the diesel-powered Creta.

The suspension is one of the Creta’s strongest assets. Over the various surfaces - tar, gravel, back roads - the Creta managed to stand its ground. Hyundai spent quite some time on fine-tuning the suspension. At the front the MacPherson struts adopt an I-shaped front sub-frame, while at the back the shocks are positioned in a more vertical position. This all adds up to bumps being absorbed in exemplary fashion for a vehicle in this segment. Steering is light at lower speeds, but firms up as the vehicle’s speed increase.

Driving on the launch route’s gravel sections proved to be little hassle for the Creta (knowing the route did of course help). The crossover went about its business, casually gobbling kilometre after kilometre of dirt road.

Should I get one?

The Hyundai Creta price, along with its likable specifications and features all make a great package. Test drive a Hyundai Creta at a Group 1 Hyundai dealership and feel for yourself that driving the Creta is where you belong.

Article source: https://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/2017-hyundai-creta-in-sa-will-the-new-compact-suv-be-a-best-seller-20170224

Hyundai ix35 review

Looking for a simple, no-nonsense off-roader that’s cheap to buy? The Hyundai ix35 for sale could be right up your street

You might have seen this face out and about on the road already. In fact, you probably have – the chances are, you just haven’t noticed it. That’s because the Hyundai ix35 is one of those cars that’s proven popular, but remains rather anonymous.

Its anonymity is in spite of a plethora of creases, folds and swoops to the bodywork that Hyundai has added in an effort to make it look interesting. Whether this tactic has worked or not will depend on you - looks are subjective, of course. But value isn't, and with its long warranty and low list prices, there’s no two ways about it: value is what the ix35 brings to the small off-roader party.

Space

The Hyundai ix35’s boot is one of the largest in its class, which means you should have no trouble fitting in a buggy, a couple of sets of golf clubs, or even the result of a shopping spree at the local furniture emporium.

And while the rear seats don’t quite fold flat, they don’t leave a nasty ridge behind like some rivals, which will make loading that coffee table you just couldn't say no to a breeze.

The spacious theme continues up front, where driver and passengers alike get plenty of head, leg and elbow room.

Thanks to the high seating position, it’s very easy to slide into the ix35, too.

Dashboard

Most of the ix35's dash is laid out pretty well, with clear dials, and a fast and reasonably intuitive touchscreen system mounted high in the centre console.

The console itself isn’t too overloaded with buttons, and there’s a big, easy to spot hazard light switch in the centre. True, the heated rear screen switch and radio volume knob are a bit of a stretch to reach, but not unduly so.

In fact, the only real bugbear in terms of the ix35’s ease of use are the stalks on the column, which are overloaded with functions and pictograms, that make them tricky to understand and use, especially at night.

Easy to drive

The ix35 is an easy thing to control, with light steering and responsive pedals. However, you can only get an automatic if you go for the most expensive engine option, and it’s a truly awful gearbox that’s awkward to use and ravages fuel economy.

The stubby nose of the car slopes away so much that it’s impossible to tell where it ends from inside, a problem compounded by the lack of front parking sensors on either the standard or optional equipment list.

What’s more, the curving window line at the rear makes for huge blind spots when looking over your shoulder. There are more blind spots at the front thanks to the huge chunks of bodywork between the windscreen and front windows, and these are compounded by large door mirrors that also get in the way.

Reliability

If the 2014 JD Power customer satisfaction survey is anything to go buy, ix35 drivers are a pretty happy bunch. The model came 23rd out of 109 cars, and 5th of the 15 off-roaders in the survey, which is a respectable showing.

You can see why. The ix35 comes with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which is better than most of its rivals; The Kia Sportage goes one – nay, two – better, with a warranty that lasts seven years, but it’s limited to 100,000 miles, and Hyundai also throws in breakdown cover.

Affordability  

The big plus point of any Hyundai is a low purchase price, and the ix35 is no different. You can buy a basic one for the same sort of price as a high-end small hatchback, making this quite a lot of car for your cash.

Hyundai dealers, like Group 1 Hyundai,  also offer reasonable discounts, so if you manage to catch one at the right time of the month, you might find that you can net a serious bargain on the Hyundai ix35 for sale.

Servicing and maintenance won’t break the bank, though carbon dioxide emissions are high, which will cost you more in tax, especially if you’re a company car driver.

Safety

When it was crash tested by Euro NCAP, the benchmark crash testing organisation, it scored 90 per cent for adult protection and 88 per cent for child protection.

The ix35 comes with plenty of safety kit; you get a full complement of air bags and lots of electronic wizardry that should help to stop you skidding, whether you’re going around a corner or in a straight line, and should also prevent you from rolling over.

Interestingly, there’s also a system which helps keep you stable if you’re towing, too, and every ix35 will also hold the brakes on momentarily when you’re on a hill, to stop you from rolling back during a hill start.

Standard spec  

The entry-level ix35 S is not particularly well-equipped – you get air conditioning, but not an awful lot else.

That’s why we’d ignore it; the SE version is a better bet, as it gets you a fantastic amount of kit for the cash. 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control and LED rear lights all come as standard.

The SE Nav version then adds – you’ve guessed it – satellite navigation, as well as a very decent sound system with a subwoofer. Crucially, you also get that cracking touch-screen system, which is why it’s the one we’d choose.

Choosing a Premium model then adds 18-inch alloy wheels, leather trim and Xenon headlamps, while the top-of-the-range Premium Panorama nets you a panoramic sunroof.

The verdict

If you really are on a budget, or all you want is an off-roader that’s cheap, dependable and spacious, the ix35 fits the bill. Lots of toys and an excellent warranty are juicy bonuses that only make it even better value. Just keep in mind its prodigious fuel consumption, and steer well clear of the automatic.

Article source: https://carcraziness.postach.io/post/hyundai-ix35-review