Hyundai Getz serious

Following in the footsteps of Mazda's impressive revival, what with it's classy Mazda6, upcoming Mazda2 and RX-8, Hyundai is also looking for a return to form.

But when was Hyundai in form - you ask? Think back to 1998. The Excel was launched and it sold like hotcakes. It was, without exaggeration, a sales success. Some say it was the stylised advertisements, complete with Tony Barber, but we disagree.

Hyundai had a good overall package, and a very good price - under $15,000, and thus the car sold well.

So, with Hyundai's Getz just around the corner, with entry-level models starting at that magic sub-$15k price point, will history repeat?

Hyundai is quick to tout the virtues of the Getz' European styling, but Euro or not, the new small car will provide healthy competition for Holden's slightly more expensive Barina in the looks department.

Described by Hyundai as "Pert yet purposeful," strangely, this sums up the new look quite well. It has a rather high roof line, which gives it a distinct look, and also yields more interior head room.

The sharply raked windscreen, along with the flared wheel-arches and short front and rear overhangs add purpose, which is key to attracting young male buyers, say Hyundai.

As such, expect to see many modified Getz' in future, with fat wheels and hot-dog exhaust pipes prowling the trendy areas of Australia's bigger cities.

While personally we don't agree with the new tail-light cluster - neither high-mounted nor low - it's at least it's better than a lot of other hatches currently doing the rounds.

The headlight and front end in general, however, are much more pleasing: the two-slot grille treatement and stretched lower air dam add all-important charm.

The Getz also receives a no fuss interior, with easy-to-read circular tachometre and speedo. The centre console is particularly nice, putting smart-looking large rectangular vents and circular dials to good use.

The new super-mini first broke cover at the Geneva Auto Salon in March of 2002, then launched in Europe not long after.

Using an all-new platform, the Getz gets (sorry, couldn't resist) the same 1.5-litre twin-cam, 16-valve four banger of its larger sibling, the Accent, albeit with smoother shifts in the 5-speed manual version (thanks largely to improved synchromesh and reprofiled gears). A four-speed automatic is also available.

The new Getz, with its zippy 1.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, makes the 0-100km/h in 10.3 seconds - on par with Toyota's more expensive (to the tune of $25k) Echo Sportivo. Obviously the Korean auto is coming of age.

It complete the quarter-mile sprint (0-400m) in roughly 17 and-a-half seconds, while the auto is expected to reach 175km/h. The manual will more than likely touch on 180 kays.

Power from the twin-cam engine is 74kW @ 5800rpm, meaning you won't have to rev the guts out of it for spirited driving. But more importantly, peak torque is an impressive 133Nm at a low 3200rpm.

Furthermore, economy is claimed by Hyundai as 5-litres of fuel to 100km of travel on the highway cycle and 7.0-litres per 100km on the city cycle in the manual. The automatic uses 5.2 and 7.8-litres/100km in the respective cycles.

City driving, where the Getz is most-oft to be used, will be a doddle thanks to power steering and a tight 2.9 turns of the steering wheel, lock-to-lock. It's turning circle is bang on 10 metres, while Hyundai says ride and handling is tuned for driving enjoyment.

The suspension setup consists of coil springs all round, with MacPherson struts and an anti-roll stabiliser bar up the front, while a semi-independent torsion axle with in-built anti-roll function, plus gas shock absorbers, make the cut at the back. Brakes are power-assisted ventilated discs up front and drums on the rear, with discs for the rear due later in 2003.

Getz models are exclusively hatchbacks and include three and five-door GL and a sporty-look FX three-door with front fog lights and lower body kit. All share the same overall length and wheelbase as well as manual and automatic drivetrains.

Rear seating mimics its bigger stablemate, the Elantra LaVita, with a 60/40 split backrest bench seat, which tumble folds forward to afford a low, spacious, flat load floor.

Model Features:

Getz GL

- power steering
- driver’s airbag
- engine immobilizer
- tachometer
- a four-speaker CD/FM/AM audio
- vanity mirrors and ticket holders in both sun visors
- heater ducting to the rear foot wells
- a flat load floor underneath the rear seat and level with the boot floor
- 14-inch wheels with 175/65 tyres

Storage features include:

- retractable left front seatback bag hook (perfect for takeaway)
- centre console with a slot and three cupholders - one of which is accessed via a removeable ashtray
- seatback pockets and one on the inboard side of the left front seat backrest
- an umbrella holder shelf pocket under the steering column
- front door pockets
- glovebox
- a centre dash recess with a lipped rubber grip mat

Getz FX

- 15-inch spoked alloy wheels with fatter, lower profile 185/55 tyres
- body-colour rear roof spoiler with integrated brake light
- front fog lights
- body-colour door handles and mirror backs
- red FX badging side and rear

Subtle FX extras include:

- air-conditioning with pollen and particle filters
- remote central locking with alarm
- power windows and door mirrors
- audio tweeters (additional small speakers)
- battery-saving auto headlights-off with key removed
- adjustment for driver seat cushion tilt and height and backrest lumbar support

Interior Getz FX features include:

- leather steering wheel rim and gearshifter
- carbon fibre-look centre dash panel and door armrest switch panels
- roof-mounted sunglasses case with damped-action closing
- cloth door trim inserts
- charcoal toned interior fabric design (vs GL's mid grey, with subtle colour cubes)

Also, a full range of Hyundai's Astrel brand accessories is available for the new Getz, including two-tone full leather seat trim, body kit all round, various sports equipment carriers, 14-inch alloy wheels for the GL and a 700kg tow-bar kit. The Hyundai Getz will be in dealerships by the time you read this.

Getz is the car with which Hyundai expects to reclaim the youth market in new cars, according to Hyundai Automotive Distributors Australia CEO, Mr C. K. Liew.

"Getz is a much younger-appealing design with a more contemporary, short hatch configuration. So our marketing will unashamedly aim at 18 to 29-year-old single urban types and their fast-paced lifestyles. Older buyers typically looking for a second family car or empty-nesters downsizing will also warm to the car's youthful aura.

"Importantly for younger buyers, Getz is as sharply priced as Hyundai's benchmark value-for-money would suggest. As ever, they will especially appreciate the driveaway-no-more-to-pay element of Getz pricing, saving them up to $2000 or more depending on location and greatly simplifying their car purchase process."

So there you have it - the new Getz in all its glory. But can it re-capture the success of the Excel? Hyundai says yes, aiming to sell between roughly 18,000 and 24,000 units per year. While we're going to wait and see, the $14,990 drive-away price will go a long way in making this goal a reality, along with the Getz' good looks, standard features, fuel economy, twin-cam engine, cup-holders...