Hyundai is now the world’s fastest growing car company and each new model represents a significant step forward from its predecessor. The ix35 hardly resembles the old Tucson and who could identify the stylish i45 medium sedan as the immediate successor to the rather slab-sided Sonata
? Where that last generation mid-sizer was lacking in style, the i45 is clearly the result of careful design. You won’t confuse it with a Toyota Camry or Holden Cruze! Audacious looks are backed by evident quality, a high level of safety and a surprisingly comprehensive list of standard features across all three models in the range. The i45 is selling more rapidly than any previous Hyundai in the key markets of Korea and the US.
What You Get
Two variants are available from launch with the third to follow within months. Significantly, those two are the higher-spec i45s, in keeping with how Hyundai Australia intends to market its new medium sedan.
Indeed, the term entry level hardly applies to the $29,490 Active five-speed manual sedan which will fill that role when it arrives. A six-speed automatic transmission takes the price to $30,990. For now we get the $34,990 Elite and the fully loaded $39,990 Premium. Elite and Premium have the six-speed automatic transmission.All three levels set a high standard with alloy wheels (including a full-size alloy spare), cruise control (Active manual excepted), fog lamps, chrome door handles and the imposing new ‘smoked chrome’ grille and a full complement of safety equipment.
The Active has cloth/leather trim, 16-inch alloys, a trip computer and more, while the Elite adds 17s, full leather trim, pushbutton start/stop, automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, rain sensing wipers and iPod connectivity. The Premium is easily distinguished by its panoramic sunroof and 18-inch alloys. It also boasts electric seats, premium sound and numerous other niceties not expected in the segment. Hyundai Australia spokespeople predict a five-star safety rating when the i45 is tested later in the year.
The Engine
Surprisingly, no diesel engine is on offer, despite Hyundai’s great success with the i30. Instead all variants are powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit that produces 148 kW of power, 250 Nm of torque, has comparatively low emissions of 188 g/km and, in automatic per 100 kilometres. (The Active manual is rated at 8.0.)
Given the i45’s lack of any sporting pretensions, this powertrain does a satisfactory job. There is a fair degree of engine noise under full throttle acceleration. The transmission shifts smoothly and the paddle shifts (Elite and Premium only) are a neat feature in this class. Hyundai Australia stopped offering V6 variants of its outgoing Sonata due to slow sales and such a unit would certainly have added some zing to the more upmarket i45. There is the strong likelihood that a petrol/electric hybrid model waits in the calendar’s wings.
The Interior
The interior is suggestive of a rather more expensive car. Full leather in the mid-range Elite model is a great feature. The Lexus-like vacuum-fluorescent instrument display, stylish piano black gloss details and the integrated centre console design provide an upmarket ambience.
The interior design harmonises well with the exterior with rounded, sensual elements predominating. All materials are of high quality. There is good space front and rear and the generous boot swallows 523 litres of luggage, even without folding the 60/40 split rear seat (released from the boot).
Exterior & Styling
The appearance of the i45 is the car’s most outstanding attribute. It was styled in Irvine, California. Simply, this mid-size Hyundai sedan, as well as looking absolutely brand new, has an expensive appearance that belies a car with prices opening below the $30K mark. First impressions bring the BMW X6 to mind, so aggressively coupe-like is the roofline, and so bold the curvature of the flanks. Light plays off its complex curves to great effect.
Just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable that such a car could have (proudly) worn its Hyundai badges. You only have to look at the early design sketches to see that the i45 would respond magnificently to the lowered suspension and 20-inch wheels treatment, but unfortunately a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine does not encourage such sporting fantasies. For a mainstream family sedan, this is one very handsome machine. A number of very upmarket colours, such as a bold new metallic red and Espresso (a very dark metallic brown), show the complex curves of the i45 to maximum advantage.
On The Road
There is little evidence that many buyers care whether their new car is front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, although the latter is increasingly rare unless you choose a Falcon or Commodore. The i45 mostly does not make the driver aware that the wheels that do the steering also put the power to the ground, although when driven very hard on twisty roads, the expert will be aware of the configuration. There is quite a degree of vibration through the steering wheel under these conditions, especially on the Premium model with its larger alloys.
There is also some torque steer. For most drivers, this will never make itself felt. But the point is the i45 was not designed for enthusiasts, who would ask for more feel through the steering (but without the vibrations in hard cornering). The ride quality is mostly good. The i45 does not display unseemly body roll and understeer is very mild. Performance is quite reasonable and target buyers will be well satisfied with the new Hyundai’s behaviour under all driving conditions. But while the styling is exciting, the drive is anodyne.
Challenges
The steering gives little sense of being connected to the road, lacking ‘feel’, although there is a little more weight on the Premium model thanks to its 18-inch wheels. But this model also suffers more when mid-corner bumps tug the wheel in the driver’s hands. A foot-operated parking brake serves no advantage compared with either a judiciously placed handbrake or an electric one.
Verdict
For buyers looking for maximum style, safety and value in this price range the i45 is a leading contender, provided it is not seen as a sporty vehicle to reward the enthusiast driver.
The Competition
This sector is quite diverse and includes established favourites such as the Toyota Camry, Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty, as well as the top selling Holden Cruze. The newly launched Suzuki Kizashi is potentially among the Hyundai i45’s most formidable rivals, although Suzuki has never previously fielded a vehicle in the medium segment.
Likes:
Rakish styling, great value
Dislikes:
Steering lacks feel, foot-operated parking brake
