Before we get on with the review proper, it's only right that we all join hands (virtually of course) and rejoice that Hyundai Singapore told me that they won't be filtering down their i45s to a single taxi operator like they did the last time round.
Now on to the next thing you should know about the i45.
It's really the Sonata but in a different name.
But is there any surprise why they've renamed the poor car? Obviously in a bid to help the product in its rehabilitation from the backlash of its people ferrying days. And that's great news because naturally, as long as it's not a taxi it'll probably sell much more than it would if it was painted in City Cab yellow or Comfort blue.
Another thing you should know about the i45 is that, apart from keeping up with the company's new nomenclature style, the new car looks nothing like the last one.
Exterior
I'm not sure if that's a good thing though.
The last Sonata was handsome to say the least, with the very safe and unadventurous lines and rectangular lamps all around.
The i45 however reverses that approach and throws in sharp and pointy edges, steep and deeply scaring belt and aggressive lines and light clusters that seem to have been taken from some of the German cars.
Now on to the next thing you should know about the i45.
It's really the Sonata but in a different name.
But is there any surprise why they've renamed the poor car? Obviously in a bid to help the product in its rehabilitation from the backlash of its people ferrying days. And that's great news because naturally, as long as it's not a taxi it'll probably sell much more than it would if it was painted in City Cab yellow or Comfort blue.
Another thing you should know about the i45 is that, apart from keeping up with the company's new nomenclature style, the new car looks nothing like the last one.
Exterior
I'm not sure if that's a good thing though.
The last Sonata was handsome to say the least, with the very safe and unadventurous lines and rectangular lamps all around.
The i45 however reverses that approach and throws in sharp and pointy edges, steep and deeply scaring belt and aggressive lines and light clusters that seem to have been taken from some of the German cars.
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From the side though you notice the efforts of the designers to make this bulk of metal seem more streamlined and closer to the ground than it really is.
So you've got that pronounced belt line that cuts upwards along the handles and ends off at the rear lamps, deeply scaring everything in its path. For many years now manufacturers have slapped that piece of over-used and underappreciated line that not only adds some depth to the car's design but also some speed when at standstill.
At the rear things aren't as adventurous as the front, and the light cluster has been kept pretty neat and flat.
Overall the design seems to be a bold step into making the brand more prominent. Not sure if it's inspiring but what it has done is that it has clearly divided people's opinions about whether it looks good or not.
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Interior
Inside the car, exterior cues find their way in frown lines that carves itself into the dashboard area and steering wheel, partitioning the air conditioning vents from the buttons that really matter.
Even the button on the steering wheel have been given a sharper edge than in their other vehicles, clearly indicating to the driver that this isn't a mere copy of another car but rather a definite direction the company is backing up with effort.
Gauges are clear to read even in direct sunlight situations with that portion recessed deep into the dash.
Buttons on the steering include the volume controls and station selections with the right side button cluster containing the reset, trip and mute. Notice that this base model lacks the very useful cruise control system and sun roof.
Moving on to the central control system of the car, the first thing to catch your eye is the Volvo style air-conditioning mode selection that actually looks very much in place in the i45. All the buttons feel really solid to the touch and the constant prodding around the dash area revealed the plastic fittings on the driver door panels to be a tad on the cheaper side with the unmistakable hollow sound resonating from your knocks.
Plenty of useful cubby holes decorate this car in all the right places.
The leather seats are very comfortable and it's even more comfortable with the steering reaching and tilting and the seats electronically adjustable on the driver's side. Front passenger has to resort to manual methods of adjustments though.
Inside the car, exterior cues find their way in frown lines that carves itself into the dashboard area and steering wheel, partitioning the air conditioning vents from the buttons that really matter.
Even the button on the steering wheel have been given a sharper edge than in their other vehicles, clearly indicating to the driver that this isn't a mere copy of another car but rather a definite direction the company is backing up with effort.
Gauges are clear to read even in direct sunlight situations with that portion recessed deep into the dash.
Buttons on the steering include the volume controls and station selections with the right side button cluster containing the reset, trip and mute. Notice that this base model lacks the very useful cruise control system and sun roof.
Moving on to the central control system of the car, the first thing to catch your eye is the Volvo style air-conditioning mode selection that actually looks very much in place in the i45. All the buttons feel really solid to the touch and the constant prodding around the dash area revealed the plastic fittings on the driver door panels to be a tad on the cheaper side with the unmistakable hollow sound resonating from your knocks.
Plenty of useful cubby holes decorate this car in all the right places.
The leather seats are very comfortable and it's even more comfortable with the steering reaching and tilting and the seats electronically adjustable on the driver's side. Front passenger has to resort to manual methods of adjustments though.
Another interesting fact about the car which would get most people excited is the inclusion of a reverse camera that has been integrated into the left side of the rear-view mirror. Best thing is when you're not in reverse, not many will even notice the faded black rectangle that sits behind a reflective cover.
Driving Impressions
Alright so this is a comfort sedan so no one should be expecting a driving experience of a lifetime here.
But with that said, the i45 manages to hold its own over rougher terrain like undulating areas on the ECP. The suspension can be considered a little on the firm side but that's only when you're travelling pretty fast and you don't slow down for humps and obvious large changes in the road's terrain.
Steering is numb with some unnatural resistance from the hydraulic system that, although not lending a livelier feel for the road, adds some life to the otherwise dead steering which isn't really a bad thing. It just means you can negotiate tight bends in car parks easily but still feel good when turning fast into a corner.
And that's another place where the car surprises you.
Once you get going, the 2.0-litre Theta 2 engine grunts hard to work all of its 165bhp out at a high 6,200 rpm and with torque at 197Nm, the car gets going through its 6-speed tiptronic gearbox.
Not the slickest of the lot but with the power in, getting the car to dive into corners is a refreshingly confident affair with the car screeching less than a Camry.
Driving Impressions
Alright so this is a comfort sedan so no one should be expecting a driving experience of a lifetime here.
But with that said, the i45 manages to hold its own over rougher terrain like undulating areas on the ECP. The suspension can be considered a little on the firm side but that's only when you're travelling pretty fast and you don't slow down for humps and obvious large changes in the road's terrain.
Steering is numb with some unnatural resistance from the hydraulic system that, although not lending a livelier feel for the road, adds some life to the otherwise dead steering which isn't really a bad thing. It just means you can negotiate tight bends in car parks easily but still feel good when turning fast into a corner.
And that's another place where the car surprises you.
Once you get going, the 2.0-litre Theta 2 engine grunts hard to work all of its 165bhp out at a high 6,200 rpm and with torque at 197Nm, the car gets going through its 6-speed tiptronic gearbox.
Not the slickest of the lot but with the power in, getting the car to dive into corners is a refreshingly confident affair with the car screeching less than a Camry.
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Should you buy it?
Of course!
This should be a no brainer to most but, like me, this car wouldn't be on my list of cars to buy owing to how the car looks.
The lines just go a tad too far in making the car stand out and somehow doesn't excite me more than turn me off.
At $95,999 though, the Hyundai i45 is probably the most affordable mid-sized sedan on the market at the moment, undercutting the Toyota Camry at $119,988 and the Honda Accord at $115,800.
If you're looking for something sporty and handles better, I'd strongly recommend the Accord. The engine in either guise is punchy and the handling is probably the best of the lot.
All prices quoted are correct as of 5 May 2010.
Of course!
This should be a no brainer to most but, like me, this car wouldn't be on my list of cars to buy owing to how the car looks.
The lines just go a tad too far in making the car stand out and somehow doesn't excite me more than turn me off.
At $95,999 though, the Hyundai i45 is probably the most affordable mid-sized sedan on the market at the moment, undercutting the Toyota Camry at $119,988 and the Honda Accord at $115,800.
If you're looking for something sporty and handles better, I'd strongly recommend the Accord. The engine in either guise is punchy and the handling is probably the best of the lot.
All prices quoted are correct as of 5 May 2010.
