The new, bigger, Hyundai People Mover will easily accommodate a large family with room to carry their luggage. Hyundai hopes to shake up the Australian MPV market with the launch of its new iMax Shuttle. This bulky, eight-seater was launched in March 2008 along side the iLoad, Hyundai's commercial van that's available as a three or six seater.
Hyundai is now competing head-to-head with the well-established commercial ranges from Toyota, Volkswagen and Kia.
Value for money
Pricing
At $36,990 the iMax petrol 2.4 with four-speed automatic transmission is the cheaper of the two variants available. The iMax 2.5 litre CRDi turbo diesel starts at $39,990 and is only available as a five-speed manual.
Standard features
Standard features on the petrol iMax include dual zone airconditioning with pollen filters and independent rear seat airconditioning controls, power rear vision mirrors and front windows, dual sliding doors, 60/40 split rear seats and sliding second row seat, AM/FM radio with MP3/WMA/CD player and six speakers including two tweeters, factory tinted glass, two tone paint (grey lower body mouldings and bumper bars) and fake aluminium trim including centre console facia, A/C controls, gear knob, interior door handles and steering wheel inserts.
Design & function
Space & practicality
One of the iMax Shuttle's greatest attributes is its huge amount of space - nowhere in the vehicle do you feel cramped or closed in. Even the space between the driver and front passenger seats is enormous - you can easily access the second row seats from here.
There is also ample storage in the car including bottle bulges and storage compartments for third row passengers, door pockets with bottle bulges in the sliding doors, dual door pockets in both front doors, dual glove box compartments in the dash, a retractable sun glass compartment in the roof, retractable twin width-adjustable cup holders in the centre console and a rubber lined storage compartment on top on the dashboard.
Comfort
The iMax Shuttle will accommodate up to eight occupants. The driver's has a height adjustable seat and tilt adjustable steering but unfortunately there are no front seat armrests. The padding and support on all seats is good however the seating adjustment levers are stiff and hard to operate. Unfortunately the single seat access to the third row is on the right hand side of the vehicle, so parents will need to manoeuvre the larger and heavier double second row seat to access this row from the safer footpath side.
Ergonomics
The dashboard layout is straightforward and all controls are user friendly. The only concern is the long reach to radio and heater controls. All the other switches and controls are very basic and located conveniently close to the driver. As in many modern cars the iMax's "A" pillars and broad mirrors can cause a slight blind spot. Parking this large van may be another issue although its reverse parking sensors help a little.
Safety
Driver and passenger front airbags and Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) are standard across the two models. The iMax is also fitted with auto door unlocking on impact.
Unlike many People Movers it has three point retractable seat belts for every occupant in the vehicle - something even the class-leading Honda Odyssey doesn't provide. The only disappointment is that Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Traction Control System (TCS) is only standard on the diesel version and is not even an option on the petrol iMax.
The vehicle has not yet been tested by EuroNCAP or ANCAP.
Build quality & finish
The build quality and finish, both inside and out, is good. Seat trims and some internal hard plastic trims may look and feel a little commercial but the durable material ensures it will stand the test of time.
Korean vehicles are often criticised for their build quality and exterior finish but over the past couple of years Hyundai has changed this perception with vast improvements starting with the 2005 Sonata then the i30. Improvements have continued with the iMax Shuttle which displayed top quality, consistent paint finish, tight body opening margins and good overall attention to detail.
Security
To date, NRMA Insurance has not assessed the iMax's security. Standard security features include central locking, engine immobiliser and keyless entry with burglar alarm.
On the road
Fuel
The 2.4 litre four-cylinder 129kW engine achieved an average fuel consumption of 13.9 litres per 100km during our test which was recorded both on the highway and in the city. Our figure was well above the ADR81/01 figure of 10.6L/100km.
Performance
The petrol engine fitted to the iMax develops 129kW of power @ 6000rpm and 228Nm of torque @ 4200rpm. Considering this, acceleration was poor and overall power during the test was disappointing. The gear ratios of the four speed automatic transmission were a poor match to the engine. When travelling with a full complement of passengers the engine struggled to get the vehicle up to speed and when cruising between 70-100 km/h the transmission was unable to settle into a suitable gear and quickly jumped back to third and even second when confronted with even a slight incline.
Ride
The high profile 215/70 R16 tyres helped suppress all but the worst bumps, contributing to a smooth and comfortable ride, either in the country or city. However at low speed or in car parks the suspension struggles to isolate bumps and rear passengers will bear the brunt if speed humps or driveways are attempted more quickly than at walking pace.
Handling & steering
The iMax Shuttle has MacPherson struts with coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers up front and a five-link coil spring system with gas-filled shock absorbers in the rear. It is capable of handling a large load while maintaining its comfortable ride and handling characteristics. The steering is hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion that was accurate, responsive and relayed good feed back to the driver.
Braking
Four-wheel disc brakes are standard across the range. Up front, the iMax is fitted with 300mm ventilated discs; the rear has 324mm ventilated discs. Anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution are standard. The iMax achieved an average braking distance of 26 metres during our testing.
Smoothness & quietness
Engine noise in the iMax can be intrusive especially when the transmission jumps back through the gears under load. The continual searching for a suitable gear can make for an unpleasant journey. This was most evident when the iMax had to handle mountainous highway conditions. In addition, an exhaust vibration on acceleration was felt by third row passengers.
Summary
There's no disputing that Australia's MPV market is very competitive so it's going to take some time to see if Hyundai's new iMax Shuttle finds a place. Coming up against well established vehicles such as the Kia Carnival, Toyota Tarago and Honda Odyssey will be a challenge and the key areas of pricing, comfort and performance will be critical.
Overall the iMax Shuttle ticked most of the boxes, but the drive-line combination in the petrol variant will need some refinement if it is to make any kind of impact on the local market. There is no doubt a more capable engine would make the iMax more attractive.
The 2.5 litre 125kW CRDi turbo diesel engine, that produces 392Nm of torque, may suit some buyers, but it's only available as a five-speed manual.
Hyundai has produced a stylish, modern passenger van that is versalile and user-friendly. The iMax Shuttle offers new levels of refinement and practicality, while still maintaining Hyundai's reputation for excellent value and low operating costs. This latest player in the large MPV market may be something to consider in the future for your family or business motoring requirements.
Test vehicle supplied by Hyundai Australia.
