Hyundai Getz   Women's view

A Modern Supermini At a Realistic Price? There Arent Too Many Of Those About But Hyundais Getz Qualifies. June Neary Tries It

Is it just me or does the current breed of modern superminis seem to be just a bit too pricey? Around £8,500-£9,000 seems to be the starting price for cars like the latest Ford Fiesta or the SEAT Ibiza. Yes, of course you can buy cheaper but youll also be buying a design thats older or nastier or both. All of which has meant that the arrival of Hyundais Getz into this marketplace has come as something of a breath of fresh air. Here is a supermini that is as up to date and modern as you could want, looks good and is priced from a far more reasonable £7,517.

The prospects look good.

I certainly found it versatile. The rear seat slides to allow for more legroom or more boot space and the bench seat can recline and split in a conventional 60/40 fashion. Some rivals only offer a split rear backrest but the Getz offers additional utility by splitting the cushion too, allowing for all sorts of novel configurations. That should be useful on really heavy supermarket shops.

I wondered whether one of the downsides of such a system might be a compromise on safety, but all three rear seats are fitted with proper three point belts. Up front, the seat belts are fitted with pretensioners and are adjustable for height. Twin front and side airbags are a welcome feature and its worth bearing in mind that there are plenty of cars that cost twice the Getzs asking price that dont offer such a provision. Electronic brakeforce distribution and anti-lock brakes are also standard on every model.

Given that its just 3,800mm long, it was no surprise that the Getz was simplicity itself to park and the 1,660mm width makes it easy to slot through gaps in city traffic. Despite these compact dimensions, its realistic transport for five, as long as the five in question arent rugby league players. As well as being spacious, the Getz is also easy on your conscience. Around 89% of the car is said to be recyclable, which may well be a record in this class.

Getz buyers get to choose between 87bhp and 109bhp versions of the 1.5-litre diesel engine thats mated to a five-speed manual transmission, offering a far sweeter shift than the somewhat scratchy gearbox fitted to the old car. Also helping the perception of quality is excellent refinement, the 110bhp version making its peak torque of 173lb/ft as low as 1,900rpm. This means that you wont need to rag the engine to within an inch of its life in order to make swift progress.

If you decide to give it everything in the cause of statistical research, you could try to replicate Hyundais claimed 11.1 second sprint from rest to 60mph and if you find enough derestricted tarmac, 112 mph should be attainable. Both diesel engines will average more than 60mpg. The 66bhp 1.

1-litre petrol engine is carried over but gets a few tweaks to help meet Euro IV emissions standards. Most customers will prefer to spend a little more to get hold of the impressive 1.4-litre unit which replaces the old 1.3-litre powerplant.

Also Euro IV-compliant, this engine features four valves per cylinder and continuously variable valve timing to punch out a very creditable 96bhp. In a car as light as the Getz, this translates to punchy sprinting ability and also means more than 47mpg on the combined fuel cycle. This engine also has the power to run nicely with a four-speed automatic option.

Of course a vehicle such as the Getz is more orientated towards saving money than burning tarmac, and it performs that task impeccably. Its at a natural advantage straight out of the blocks, Hyundais five-year warranty shrinking running costs to a pittance. Factor in an average fuel economy of 49mpg in the 1.1-litre car I tried and it becomes clear that the Getz, especially in 1.

1-litre GSi guise, is one of the most parsimonious superminis out there, Even around town, you can consider yourself unlucky should you travel less than 40 miles on a gallon, whilst out on the open road, figures the far side of 55mpg are realistically attainable. If thats not enough, the 1.5-litre CRTD diesel units also offered in the Getz can average 60mpg. Whatever model you choose, the basic price includes that five-year unlimited mileage warranty, as well as roadside assistance, a 24-hour help line and recovery package and six-year anti-perforation bodywork warranty.



For the money, the Getzs charms are hard to ignore. If youre shopping in the supermini sector, this is a car that deserves a place on your list.