Hyundai ix20 (2010 - 2019) 1.4 CRDi Style 5d (2011/11) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I like practical cars at this stage in my life.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Everyone seems to like the look of it but I feel some are surprised we bought a Korean car.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No, we would definitely not buy a Hyundai IX20 again, or any other model in their range! The IX20 ticks all the boxes as it is a comfortable, easy to drive, practical small MPV with eye-catching style, but the spare parts support is terrible! There is no feedback to my questions asked of Hyundai Customer Service and the Hyundai dealer as to whether the brake caliper problem is being investigated and solved by Hyundai. So, what can I expect in the future? More failures I guess and long waits for parts? In fairness, my knowledge of the lack of spares is restricted to brake parts, but it does make you wonder what else you might have to wait ages for in the future. In conclusion - an excellent car which is blighted by a lack of spare parts back-up.

What are you likely to buy next?

Ford C-Max.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£14,000

When did you buy the car?

November 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Average deal because the IX20 was and probably still is in short supply in our area.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

We need a roomy practical car which would also be good for safely transporting grandchildren. The 5 year warranty and the looks had great appeal.

What was the dealer like?

Like any other franchised dealer I suppose.

What's it like to drive?

It is easy to drive with pleasantly weighted power steering and easy gear changing. The handling is good for an MPV. The 1.4, 90 BHP diesel engine provides adequate performance but can sound a little raucous if worked hard.

What's it like to park?

Parking is easy. The rear parking sensors work well and the alarm frequency increases as you approach an obstacle. The rear view is good and the wing mirrors are large.

Have you had any problems with the car?

After approximately 8500 miles, our car experienced a failure of the nearside rear caliper which jammed in the 'handbrake on' position. The wait for a new caliper is approximately 5 weeks! Even worse is the fact that Hyundai will only change the failed caliper not the rear set (both sides), so you could get your car fixed and have a repeat problem on the other side shortly afterwards. Follow-on caliper failures are reported on the Hyundai forums. The car is currently laid up at the dealers and we are driving a Chevrolet Spark hire car provided by the dealer. I have asked Hyundai Customer Service if the failures are being investigated by Hyundai and a permanent solution found, but they can't or won't give me an answer. There have been no recalls of the model that I am aware of.

What's most practical about your car?

Useful under-floor storage in the boot. Rear seat backrest can be be moved forward and locked in position, this provides more room in the boot without needing to fold the back seats right down.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The glass sunroof is good to use on sunny days if you prefer some contact with the outside world instead of using the air conditioning, but wind noise levels can be intrusive over 50 mph. There are blinds inside the car which can be drawn to prevent glare through the sunroof. The wing mirrors foldaway electrically, useful for car parks and parking roadside.