Car Test
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R0286 | |
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December 2002 |
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| Hyundai Getz | ||
| Printer Friendly Page | Featured model: 1.3 CDX 5door | |
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The Getz is Hyundai’s first attempt at a supermini- sized rival to the likes of Fiesta, Corsa and Polo. In fact, it’s a bit shorter than some of the latest rival entrants, but it shares their tendency to be taller than was customary a few years ago. Hyundais’s even smaller Atoz/Amica citycar pursued this tactic, as well, and it certainly facilitates easy entrance and egress; with front cushions over 50cm off the ground, there’s a lot less stooping and heaving called for.
When it comes to choice of seating, however, it’s the front that’s definitely the place to be; the back seat lacks both the leg-stretching space of a Fabia and it offers poor location as well - despite having a useful seat back rake adjustment and a standard split/fold facility. In fairness, you also notice a non-intrusive centre floor tunnel and proper rear footwell warmth, piped under the front seats- just a bit more cosy support would do the trick. This seat does a double-flip to provide a flat, fully trimmed, extended load floor, abuts at both ends, the luggage buts on to sharp projections. We generally approved of the driving position and especially liked the twin (front and rear) cushion height adjustment on our CDX. This posher trim included both air-con and an electric sunroof, whereas the still well-endowed GSI version, mechanically identical, offers neither (even as an option.) With a price difference of £1640, this is a real poser. Yet there’s no denying that this CDX is excellent value, if you want all the features on offer. For instance, a Fiesta’s cost would rise to nearly £11,000, if you add on the ABS, alloys, sunroof and airbags that come as standard on the Getz CDX- for £9650. Fine feathers don’t necessarily make for fine manners, though, and the Getz doesn’t quite make the front rank in terms of mechanical refinement, ride comfort, overtaking ability or fuel economy. It’s not really seriously flawed in any of these aspects, but when the statistics come together and one draws impartial comparisons, in terms of general road manners, the Getz doesn’t go as well as it looks in the brochure. Not that it doesn’t make a prudent buy for the private owner, using his or her own money. Both in terms of reliability and low risk, this latest Hyundai, backed with a 5 year, unlimited mileage warranty, looks like a shrewd investment. There’s something pleasantly old-fashioned about the Hyundai mentality - for example, you get an alloy spare wheel under the load mat, the speedo is invariably well-nigh accurate, and the handbook contains copious information about how to check this and that; indeed, its strictures about what to check under-bonnet everyday before venturing forth, is enough to deter the faint-hearted! |
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