2016 Hyundai ix35

Hyundai ix35

Hyundai’s ix35 used to be the step-up for anyone tired of squeezing themselves and family into a Polo or Corolla, but unwilling to cough up for the sheer size (and price) of a Fortuner. On paper at least, it squared up nicely against the Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, and Toyota RAV4, with its 2.0 petrol engine drawing the biggest crowd, while the 1.7 CRDi diesel quietly wooed the long-distance brigade. Manual or automatic, take your pick. Yet in 2024, if you’re after one, good luck — there are just 6 active listings, all between R139,500 and R209,995. This isn’t a market you browse; it’s a market you hunt, and you’d better know exactly what you want before you start. Every ix35 on offer is a 2010 to 2015 build, and they’ve all lived a life — average mileage is 146,496 km, so you can absolutely count on factoring in a proper mechanical check. The 2.0 Premium A/T sits at the top for R209,995, while the base 2.0 GL/Premium manual starts at R139,500, which means a R70k swing across just six cars. There’s no rhyme or reason to the pricing, really. What always nudged buyers toward the ix35 was its more settled ride and a smidge more space than the Qashqai, plus the 2.0 CRDi GLS/Elite (AWD, R179,500) actually gives you a fighting chance in a Highveld downpour. If you pack smart, it’s still a solid buy — but make no mistake, this is a value play and nothing more.