The appeal of the Hyundai ix35 is obvious: it’s a smart-looking SUV, with the option of four-wheel drive, for a lot less money than most rivals.
On the outside, the ix35 looks like a cross between a Ford Kuga and a Nissan Qashqai but, like for like, it’s far cheaper than either.
You get a lot for your money, too, because most versions come with dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, and heated front and rear seats.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine in entry-level S trim is a fine budget choice, but we'd go for one of the diesels. The 1.7-litre diesel model is a little short of punch at low revs; we prefer the quicker 2.0-litre version, which comes with four-wheel drive (the others are two-wheel drive only).
An automatic gearbox is available only on the 2.0-litre diesel model; all the other versions have a six-speed manual gearbox.