Five stars for all Hyundai i20s

HYUNDAI’S new i20 hatchback now offers five-star safety across the range following the inclusion of side and curtain airbags on the entry-level 1.4-litre Active models.

Heralded at the Australian launch of the all-new Indian-built light-car in July, the move is reflected by a $500 price hike for the Active, which now comes with manufacturer’s list prices of $15,490 (three-door) and $16,490 (five-door).

Hyundai says the changes, which were announced late last week alongside an upgraded MY11 version of the i45 sedan (see separate story), make the i20 Australia’s least expensive five-star car.

Left: Hyundai i30cw. Below: Hyundai ix35.

Other MY11 i20 changes include blue (replacing amber) illumination for the instrument cluster, centre stack and climate controls, bringing the i20 in line with other Hyundais, plus a Bluetooth-compatible audio system.

Meantime, Hyundai’s new ix35 compact SUV – released in Australia in February – benefits from a MY11 upgrade following the fitment of a locally tuned electric power steering system to replace the original ix35’s hydraulic steering set-up.

The ix35’s steering is now claimed to offer reduced kickback and increased weight at the steering wheel, which now also comes with telescopic adjustment.

Rear parking sensors have also been included in the standard ix35 specification, making this safety feature common to all Hyundai SUVs, while Bluetooth audio is now also standard across the ix35 range, although the Active base model loses its electrically adjustable driver's seat.

Rounding out the ix35 changes is the addition of darker-tint privacy glass for the flagship Highlander AWD, and the fitment of the same Amplitude Selective Damping (ASD) system that have been applied across the MY11 i45 range to all AWD ix35s, including a new 2.4-litre petrol Highlander grade.

The result is a $500 price increase for both Elite and Highlander variants from November 10, when the newcomers go on sale, with ix35 prices opening at the same $26,990 (for the 2.0-litre petrol Active 2WD manual) and closing at $38,490 for the top-shelf 2.0-litre diesel Highlander AWD auto.

Reversing the trend established by its predecessor, the Tucson, all-wheel drive editions of the ix35 outsell their front-drive siblings, with HMCA “struggling for supplies” of AWD ix35s.

Finally, the MY11 version of Hyundai’s popular i30 hatchback, which was launched here in October 2007, gains black headlight bezels and a titanium finish for the SLX’s 16-inch alloys.

The i30cw wagon, launched here in March 2009, now features silver painted roof rails for more visual contrast, while a one-touch triple-signal lane-change feature is now standard on SLX, SR and Sportswagon variants, all of which also score a headlamp escort function.

All i30s now also feature integrated Bluetooth and the $19,990 drive-away deal remains for the base SX manual hatch, despite a rise of $200 on all variants bar the SR and Sportswagon.

2011Hyundai i20pricing:
Active 1.4 3-dr	$15,490 (up $500)
Active 1.4 3-dr (a)	$17,490 (up $500)
Active 1.4 5-dr	$16,490 (up $500)
Active 1.4 5-dr (a)	$18,490 (up $500)
Elite 1.6 5-dr	$18,490 (no change)
Elite 1.6 5-dr (a)	$20,490 (no change)
Premium 1.65-dr&nbsp	$21,490 (no change)
Premium 1.6 5-dr (a)	$23,490 (no change)
Optional metallic/micapaint	$375 (up $55)

2011 Hyundai i30pricing:
SX 1.6	$19,590 (up $200)
SX 1.6 (a)	$21,590 (up $200)
SX 2.0	$20,590 (up $200)
SX 2.0 (a)	$22,590 (up $200)
SX 1.6 CRDi	$23,090 (up $200)
SX 1.6 CRDi (a)	$25,090 (up $200)
SLX 2.0	$24,090 (up $200)
SLX 2.0 (a)	$26,090 (up $200)
SLX 1.6 CRDi	$26,590 (up $200)
SLX 1.6 CRDi (a)	$28,590 (up $200)
SR 2.0	$26,540 (no change)
SR 2.0 (a)	$28,540 (no change)
Optional metallic/micapaint	$375 (up $55)

2011 Hyundai i30cwpricing:
SX 2.0	$22,090 (up $200)
SX 2.0 (a)	$24,090 (up $200)
SX 1.6 CRDi	$24,590 (up $200)
SX 1.6 CRDi (a)	$26,590 (up $200)
SLX 2.0 (a)	$27,590 (up $200)
SLX 1.6 CRDi (a)	$30,090 (up $200)
Sportswagon 2.0	$28,990(no change)
Optional metallic/micapaint	$375 (up $55)

2011 Hyundai ix35pricing:
Active 2WD 2.0	$26,990 (no change)
Active 2WD 2.0 (a)	$28,990&nbsp (nochange)
Elite AWD 2.4 (a)	$32,490 (up $500)
Elite AWD 2.0 CRDi (a)	$35,490 (up $200)
Highlander AWD 2.4 (a)	$35,490 (new)
Highlander AWD 2.0 CRDi (a)	$38,490 (up $500)
Optional metallic/micapaint	$375 (up $55)