The runaway success of sports utility vehicles is a never-ending curiosity to those who point out, much like the little kid who once quipped that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes, that these bundu bashers seldom, if ever, see the bundu.
I guess it's much like cellphones and their rarely-played-with toys; hardly anyone uses video calling but it's cool to tell people your fancy new phone has it.
Hyundai's new ix35, which replaces the Tucson as Hyundai's mid-sized SUV, is equipped with a few of the necessary brag toys but stops short of being a full-blown off-roader.
Part-time all-wheel drive ensures that in normal driving the vehicle stays in two-wheel drive mode which saves fuel and ensures a tight turning circle. It's only when the road turns slippery that all-wheel drive chimes in to provide some extra traction.
The ix35 is capable of some mild-to-medium off-roading. There's no low range - which isn't too much of a problem because of the turbodiesel engine's gutsy torque - but a more limiting factor is that there's no rear differential-lock, which leaves this Hyundai scrabbling for grip in deeply rutted turf.
If one of the front wheels and a diagonally opposite rear wheel happen to be in the air (known in off-road lingo as an axle-twister), you're going no further forward. I ended up in this situation on our 4x4 test course and had to make an eight-point turn in a narrow donga to turn back.
However, this gave me the chance to test the prowess of the reversing camera built into the rear-view mirror, which proved to be very handy indeed.
Gradient control limits speed on steep descents to walking pace while hill hold uses electronic control of the brakes to ensure slip-free pullaways.
The ix35 comes in four petrol and two diesel versions; we drove the flagship 2.0 CRDi all-wheel drive automatic. Its 130kW and 392Nm are very impressive for a two-litre turbodiesel and its fuel consumption averaged a creditable 9.4 litres/100km.
The turbodiesel/automatic combination delivers good get-up-and-go in average commuting with effortless open road cruising but, if you're in a hurry and in a block-taxi-drivers-from-stealing-your-lane kind of mood, the instant response you seek isn't there.
Mash the accelerator pedal into the floor and it takes a couple of moments for the turbo to spool up and deliver the required thrust, by which time Temba the taxi driver and two of his buddies have already stolen the gap in front of you.
If this is likely to bug you, rather opt for the six-speed manual version of the iX35, though bear in mind that it's only available in two-wheel drive. All-wheel drive comes only with the two-pedal option.
'COMMAND' DRIVING POSITION
The ix35's handling is relatively neat for an SUV if not quite car-like. The big Hyundai's not as nippy through the corners as some German SUVs and has a fair measure of body roll and early understeer.
But then you do get the "command" driving position that so many South Africans seem to love and the ride quality's quite comfortable.
The ix35 is longer and wider but slightly lower than the Tucson it replaces, comfortably accomodating four adults. The boot's grown and 591 litres of space is now available (even with a full-sized spare), increasing to 1436 with the rear backrests folded flat.
I liked the solid feel of this Hyundai; Korea's leading brand continues to make great strides in build quality. The interior's spacious and welcoming with a fairly expensive feel that either matches or beats anything in its price category.
GENEROUS EQUIPMENT LEVELS
The fascia's covered in hard plastic instead of the soft-touch stuff adorning today's most expensive SUVs, but has an expensive-looking grain. If you like blue lighting you're in luck, as the ix35's instrument panel and radio is none-too-subtly backlit at night - you feel like you're staring into the illuminated waters of some tropical island.
Equipment levels are generous in this the top-of-the-range ix35, including a multi-function steering wheel, radio/CD with auxillary slots for USB sticks and MP3 players, cruise control, front and rear 12V power sockets, power-adjustable driver's seat and a huge glass sunroof, among others.
Six crash bags and antilock brakes are also standard. A keyless feature allows you to keep the remote control in your pocket and start the engine by thumbing a button on the dash.
Pity reach-adjustable steering didn't sneak its way into the spec sheet though; only the height can be fiddled with.
VERDICT
In most respects Hyundai's replacement for the Tucson equals or surpasses rivals in its class, except that the Renault Koleos has slightly superior off-road ability. Striking good looks sweeten the ix35 deal, as do the competitive R369 900 price, class-leading five-year or 150 000km warranty and five-year or 100 000km service plan.