Doing the weekly shop the other day I parked up in the extra wide bays available in Brecon town centre. Every second person in this neck of the woods has a 4*4, presumably because of the hills and the rain and the numbers of farming folks!

When I came back out there was a stunning white Thingy iX35 parked alongside! By its incredibly shineyness, both of the paintwork and the bits of suspension that i could see, I reckoned it was on its way home from the showroom!

What struck me from behind was the similarities of the dimensions to the (dirty) Yeti beside it. It was the same height and width, and when I got closer, the same length. However there the similarities ended. The vision out of the back three-quarters must have been awful, taken up by a stupendously thick C pillar, and a sloping tailgate. There would be very little space in the boot of it, and anything tall would just not fit.

Being a nosy sort of a chap I peered in all the windows and was struck by the sheer glamour of all the brightwork visible. i reckon they must be aiming for the hairdresser market, so full of bling and chaviness was it. It also seemed to me that the central instrument/gear/radio binnacle occupied all that space at the front.

Cheap and cheerful, I thought! And, what is more, it didn't win the Auto Express Car of the Year either.

George

It reminds me a bit of the Ford KUGA, very chunky and top heavy. The spec has similarities with the Yeti, but, if I've read it right, four wheel drive is an optional extra. This is reinforced by the specification claiming that the off-road information is not applicable to the two wheel drive model but only to the 4x4 option. (clearance, approach angles etc.)

Power is similar to the 140 TDI.

Relieved that I am still not disappointed with my choice.

If the one you saw had HUGE C-pillars was it not perhaps a and not an iX35? I saw a copper Kia Sportage the other day as I was cycling through London. Lovely colour but the wheels were just too big! And instantly I knew who would buy them: the same people that bought those awful Dodge Nitro 4x4s. Wannabe drug dealers that have not sold quite enough yet to afford a pimped Range Rover Sport. I agree with you George: it will become very chavy very quickly.

....................................And still the SM rules

Long may tha continue

... was struck by the sheer glamour of all the brightwork visible. i reckon they must be aiming for the hairdresser market, so full of bling and chaviness was it. ...

More likely the US market

I have yet to see a iX35. I hate the Kuga with a passion, the only time I've ever seen one on the road was being driven my a salesman for Ford. I felt sorry for him.

Before buying our Yeti, our shortlist was down to IX35 or Yeti. I preferred the Yeti, however my wife favoured the IX35.

We had a long test drive in both - the performance of the IX35 was better then the 140 Yeti (which was the variant we were going for), but what really swung things in my favour was the seating. I have back problems and my wife is 5' 3" - the Yeti's seat immediately felt much more supportive and despite playing with the IX35 seating for about quarter of an hour, I just couldn't get it "right". The IX35 doesn't have a height adjustable passengers seat either, so all my wife could see was the dashboard. I also found the IX35 much noisier than the Yeti.

We now have a Yeti - but not the 140 as we weren't prepared to wait the 23 weeks delivery we were quoted!

Edited 9 August, 201015 yr by Jock

I have yet to see a iX35. I hate the Kuga with a passion, the only time I've ever seen one on the road was being driven my a salesman for Ford. I felt sorry for him.

I really like the external styling of the Kuga but that's where it stops. Interior is awful, no versatility with rear seats, no real off-road capability, engine choice is dreadfully restrictive, narrow choice of options and it's bl##dy expensive!!! No contest!

I really like the external styling of the Kuga but that's where it stops. Interior is awful, no versatility with rear seats, no real off-road capability, engine choice is dreadfully restrictive, narrow choice of options and it's bl##dy expensive!!! No contest!

Indeed. I don't get why Ford is sticking to that awful silver-paint-on-everything interior scheme? It makes all their car interiors look like cheap boombox radios from the 80s.

Indeed. I don't get why Ford is sticking to that awful silver-paint-on-everything interior scheme? It makes all their car interiors look like cheap boombox radios from the 80s.

Absolutely! That oh so tacky silver central console just kills it dead. About as quality looking as Katy Price first thing in a morning without any make-up (... or with make-up come to think about it!).

Edited 9 August, 201015 yr by davecarter

Whilst I did seriously consider an iIX35 (one poke around in a showroom soon put me off) the Kuga never even made it on to the radar. Autocar/CAR/Top Gear etc keep telling me they make great cars but all Fords remind me of is blokes called 'Darren', white socks and Essex. Kind of put me off.

I couldn't bring myself to look at a BMW X1 at all. It's so ugly it should have a curfew. Still, beauty is in the eye of the Beerholder as they say.

but all Fords remind me of is blokes called 'Darren', white socks and Essex. Kind of put me off.

I live in Essex and wouldn't touch a Kuga with a bargepole. There are about 20 in my village, talk about wanting to blend in. :wonder:

There are about 20 in my village, talk about wanting to blend in. :wonder:

and you're the only gay (yeti) in the village?

I live in Essex and wouldn't touch a Kuga with a bargepole. There are about 20 in my village, talk about wanting to blend in. :wonder:

Ditto.

If it isn'r Kuga's then they drive round in BMW X's or Audi Q's. I feel quite 'un' Essex in my Yeti!

Don't get me wrong, it's a nice part of the country despite all of the stereotypes, it's just that there seems to be a lot of 'bling' on our roads.

and you're the only gay (yeti) in the village?

Not until 1st September.

Just got the Range Rover, Camel Defender and a silver Fabia at the moment... Locals call it the "Land Rover house".

Not seen a Yeti within 10 miles of here!

Edited 9 August, 201015 yr by CT17

Full road test of the new Sportage in todays Autocar. Gets 3.5 stars generally favourable, but what is quite plain is that it handles just like you would expect an SUV to handle - i.e not that good, a bit woolly. Gets none of the plaudits the SM seems to get.

Oh and the small matter of an average fuel consumption of 34.9mpg with only 39.2 on the touring route - and this from the 135bhp Diesel. Can't see many on here being very impressed with that.

Can't see many on here being very impressed with that.

Indeed. All show and no substance. As I said before a worthy replacement for the woeful Dodge Nitro.