Hyundai GETZ 1.1-LITRE SE SPECIAL EDITION
Money Makes The World Go Round And
Hyundai Are Doing Their Best To Save You A Packet With Their Getz 1.1 SE Special Edition. Steve Walker Reports
So youve emptied the piggy bank, auctioned the family heirlooms and forced your grandmother into a particularly taxing morning paper round. Youve managed to accumulate the grand total of £6,000 to spend on a brand new car but the meagre collection of vehicles that fall within your budget arent quite what youd envisaged. For this kind of money, its a citycar or bust and although vehicles like SEATs Arosa and Kias Picanto have their strengths, they dont provide the space you get in a proper supermini. Hyundais Getz is a proper supermini but under normal circumstances, it comes at a supermini price.
The good news is that for a limited period, the Getz 1.1 SE is available for £5,995.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
 |
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
|
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
 |
| Styling |
|
| Value |
 |
The
Hyundai Getz was already one of the least expensive supermini products before the SE special edition model appeared on the horizon but for the paltry sum of £5,995, the SE can claim to be one of the cheapest new cars you can buy full stop. The SE model is based on the erstwhile entry-level GSi trim level which means that buyers benefit from an impressive specification for a car in this budget price range. A CD Stereo, electric front windows, central locking, driver and passenger airbags, 3-point rear
seat belts and ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution all feature. Moreover, the Getz SE actually adds to this GSi equipment list by packing in air-conditioning at no extra charge.
Then, when you take a step back and appreciate that the SEs £5,995 asking price is actually £1,000 lower than that of the GSi, you get a feeling for how strong this cars value proposition actually is. Unlike the majority of citycars, the Hyundai Getz supermini can seat four adults in relative comfort and offer a useful amount of boot space. Its dimensions are similar to those of Fords Fiesta with both cars featuring identical width measurements of 1,905 and the Hyundai having 3,810mm of length in comparison to the Fords 3,917mm. The Getz actually eclipses the Fiestas 284-litre luggage capacity with 289 litres of its own.
Compare the size of these two superminis with that of Fiats Panda citycar and youll soon appreciate the difference.
"The Getz SE models are unlikely to be hanging around at dealerships for long"
The Panda is just 3,538mm long and 1,598mm wide making it ideal for nipping through city traffic and eeking its way into tight parking bays but attempt a journey 4-up in a Panda and youll soon be getting an earful from the cramped rear-seat occupants. With a 206-litre boot capacity, the citycar is at a distinct disadvantage to the superminis as well, so you see that the extra pounds needed to step up between the two market sectors buys a sizable chunk of extra practicality. Its just that the Getz 1.1 SE manages to give you all that without the need for extra expenditure.
The 1.1-litre engine that powers the Getz SE generates a fizzing 62bhp and needs to be kept on the boil to extract meaningful performance. Derived from Hyundai's existing 1.0-litre engine, the 1.1-litre powerplant is good for 94Nm of torque, a sprint to 60mph in 16.1 seconds and a licence-friendly top speed of 93mph.
Of course a vehicle such as the Getz 1.1 is more orientated towards saving money than burning tarmac, and it performs that task impeccably. It's at a natural advantage straight out of the blocks, Hyundai's five-year warranty shrinking running costs to a pittance. Factor in an average fuel economy of 48.7mpg and it becomes clear that the Getz 1.1 is one of the most parsimonious superminis out there, Even around town, you can consider yourself unlucky should you travel less than 39 miles on a gallon, whilst out on the open road, figures the far side of 56mpg are realistically attainable.
At higher speeds, the engine can become a little noisy but most of the Getz SEs mileage will, presumably, be done around town. Although long distance work isn't the Getz's forte, it acquits itself reasonably well with a spacious cabin and comfortable seating. The steering is pleasantly weighty and cushions many road imperfections, as does the comfort-biased suspension set up that makes short work of surface irregularities. Over longer frequency crests, it can feel a little floaty but that's a small price to pay for a ride that can handle the urban environment's least wanted potholes, ruts and speed humps. Versatility is a big feature of the Getz. The rear seat is a case in point. As well as sliding to allow for more legroom or more boot space, the bench seat can recline and split in a conventional 60/40 fashion.
Unlike many rivals who only offer a split rear backrest, the Getz offers additional utility by splitting the cushion too, allowing for all sorts of novel configurations. Interior quality is on a par with rivals like the
Citroen C3, but a little way shy of class best. Some of the plastics are a little unyielding but given the keen pricing, few will grumble. We cant close without giving mention to what is the key factor that draws many motorists in the direction of their local Hyundai dealership.
The Getz SE, like all new Hyundai models, comes complete with the manufacturers market-leading 5-year unlimited mileage warranty as well as 3-years RAC cover. In a market where most marques stop their cover at 3-years, a 5-year warranty is a big selling point especially when it comes in conjunction with the £5,995 price tag thats attached to this Getz SE model. The Getz is a competent supermini product, attractively styled and practically designed, but even if it were less proficient, the prospect of acquiring one for under £6,000 would be too much for some to resist. As it is, Hyundai are making an offer thats even harder to refuse.
A full-blown supermini for sub-citycar prices? The Getz SE models are unlikely to be hanging around at dealerships for long.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Hyundai Getz 1.1 SE
PRICES: £5,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3
CO2 EMISSIONS: 138g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 93mph / 0-60mph 16.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Combined) 49mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, seatbelt pre-tensioners
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 3800/1600/1485
<< Back to Hyundai car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Hyundai Cars For Sale UK
