Hyundai ix35 – Hyundai is reacting to our criticisms of the engine’s noise under acceleration. Our main criticism of a highly capable newcomer
Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog
IT’S NOT often a car manufacturer contacts you for help. And for Business Car Manager this is a first. But I received a flattering email from Hyundai HQ in Korea.
It was from Mr C G Nam, head of NVH at Hyundai. NVH stands for Noise, Vibration and Harshness – three elements that car makers are always keen to dial out from their cars. If they don’t, you notice it.
Mr Nam was concerned about our criticisms of the level of engine noise under acceleration in our road test of the Hyunda ix35 – Hyundai puts the X-factor into its 4×4 – and wanted additional information on our criticisms. Well, delighted to help with constructive comment.
So I called our road tester, Paul Bailey, to get further info. This was what Paul said: “Overall, the ix35 is a very good car. But under acceleration, whether gentle or hard, I thought the level of noise from the engine was too high in comparison to say, a Nissan Qashqai. It’s possibly a question of noise insulation,” ventured Paul. “On the motorway it is very quiet,” he added.
I passed Paul’s comments on to Mr Nam as we were glad to help. I’m looking forward to driving the car myself. And to see when, and if, Mr Nam and his team act on our constructive criticisism. I hope so. The Hyundai ix35 seems a highly capable car.
Another car I can’t wait to drive is the new Audi RS5.
I really do like the A5 coupe anyway, but this version with the R8’s 4.2-litre V8 under the bonnet sounds – well, just mouhtwatering. And I found out a neat little extra detail about it yesterday: you can adjust the volume of deep basso V8 exhaust noise via the Audi Drive Select function – it adjusts two flaps in the exhaust system. So when you’re in the mood for a bit more of the rumble, choose the function, and off you growl! Fab.
It’s sort of the very opposite of our criticism of the ix35. But I guess that’s the difference between noise we like (V8 petrol) and noise we don’t (four-cylinder diesel).
