Hyundai’s compact SUV ix25 unveiled at Beijing Auto Show
Hyundai’s 5-seater compact SUV Tucson was ahead of its time when the company had launched the car in India. Although the car sold fairly well, its high price kept potential customers away who were looking for the practicality of a hatchback with added space and capabilities of a soft-roader. What this did was carve a path for a new segment which has now come to be known as Compact Utility Vehicles (CUV) or Compact SUVs. With competition brewing up in this category and manufacturers like Ford (Ecosport), Renault (Duster), Nissan (Terrano) and Skoda (Yeti) already selling their own versions of these cars successfully; Hyundai had to revive this segment. The ix25 is Hyundai’s answer and the CUV recently made its world debut at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show.
The ix25 is based on the current generation i20 platform and measures 4270mm in length, 1780mm in width and 1630mm in height with a wheelbase of 2590mm. To put the ix25’s size into perspective, the Renault Duster measures 4315mm in length, is 1822mm wide and 1695mm tall. The more compact dimensions slots Hyundai’s offering in the middle of the rather smaller Ecosport and the Duster/Terrano. The ix25 uses Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy and Hyundai claims to have developed the car ‘strategically’ for China. The styling is surely reminiscent of the new Santa Fe and looks properly sporty in these compact dimensions. LED/fibre-optic DRLs as eyebrows to the projector headlamps, a compact Hyundai family grille finished in chrome, sporty air dams flanked on either sides of the front bumper make up the front facade. Fibre body cladding along with skid plates give the ix25 a purposeful look too.
Since Hyundai is missing a compact SUV in its line-up we do expect the ix25 to make it to India in the near future. The Tucson was imported as a CBU attributing to its high price thus Hyundai would have learnt their lesson and should bring the CUV at a competitive price and through the more affordable CKD route or even consider local manufacturing. In China, the ix25 will get Hyundai’s Nu 2-litre engine but since this engine isn’t available on any of their models in India, they could make use of their 1.6-litre diesel unit doing duty in the Elantra and Verna, albeit in a different state of tune. Using the existing i20 platform would also help reduce manufacturing costs and allow for easier production with the added benefit of a reduced price tag on the final product.
