2011 Hyundai i45 Active new 2.0-litre engine cuts price

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By Tim Beissmann | May 09th, 2011

Hyundai Australia has revised the entry-level end of the Hyundai i45 range with the introduction of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a $2600 price reduction.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will be available only in the base model Active trim, with prices starting at $26,990 for the six-speed manual and $28,590 for the six-speed automatic (excluding on-road costs).

The lower starting price makes the i45 one of the most affordable vehicles to buy in the medium segment.

The 2.4 Active manual has been discontinued, with the 2.4-litre engine to be offered only with the six-speed automatic, but still in all the three specification levels (Active, Elite, Premium).

The 2.0 MPI engine produces 121kW of power (at 6200rpm) and 198Nm of torque (at 4600rpm). Combined cycle fuel consumption is 7.9 litres/100km for the manual and 7.6 litres/100km for the auto.

The 2.4-litre GDI petrol engine is unchanged, with 148kW (at 6300rpm), 250Nm (4250rpm) and a combined cycle fuel consumption of 8.0 litres/100km for the manual and 7.9 litres/100km for the auto.

The 2.0-litre model has smaller brakes than the 2.4 – front: 280mm vs 300mm, rear: 262mm vs 284mm – and is around 30kg lighter.

The 2.0’s manual transmission has a slightly shorter final drive ratio, while the auto is unchanged.

Towing capacity is the same for both engines and transmissions at 1300kg braked and 650kg unbraked.

Hyundai Australia’s Ben Hershman wouldn’t be drawn on predicted sales percentages for the 2.0-litre compared with the 2.4-litre, but said the smaller engine and its lower price was sure to widen the appeal of the model for Australian consumers.

The i45 currently makes up 7.8 percent of the sub-$60K medium segment. So far this year, it trails the Toyota Camry, Ford Mondeo, Mazda6, Subaru Liberty and Honda Accord Euro in the segment, although in April it peaked at number two behind the Camry.

2011 Hyundai i45 manufacturer’s list prices:

2.0 Active six-speed manual – $26,990
2.0 Active six-speed automatic – $28,590
2.4 Active six-speed automatic – $31,090
2.4 Elite six-speed automatic – $34,990
2.4 Premium six-speed automatic – $37,490

Staggers

Not even 200Nm to move 1500kg? Sounds like slow moving.

vti07

Mazda’s upcoming Sky G engine is expected to produce around the same kw as the Hyundai but around 210 Nm (155 lb ft). I assume the Hyundai unit is direct injection as well?

Anyways, these figures compare favourably to a 2.0L engine fitted in a certain popular small car (102kw).

D

“The 2.4 Active manual has been discontinued, with the 2.4-litre engine to be offered only with the six-speed manual, but still in all the three specification levels (Active, Elite, Premium).”

This doesn’t make sense. Don’t you mean “the 2.4-litre engine to be offered only with the six-speed automatic…”

http://www.caradvice.com.au Tim Beissmann

Right you are D. Sorry about the typo. Story amended. Thanks.

Zandit

Where is the diesel model? Both this and the Kia Optima deserve to get their hands on the R series Diesel!

http://www.humble.com BP legacy 3.0RB

According to Korean newspaper, Hyundai/KIA’s 2.0 diesel “R series” has CO2 emission issue.
It’s only happened when Air-con is on.
And it might be easy to fix this problem with extra cost (replace parts or redesign engine? I don’t know).

So at this stage, new model might be used down sized 1.7L diesel just like i40.

http://www.humble.com BP legacy 3.0RB

I was wrong.
Problem was not CO2 emission.
It was a NOx level from exhaust gas.
And it might be serious problem of sales in Europe.

Roger Ramjet

This car is screaming for more torque not less!

MattW

They get a 2 litre turbo in other countries but apparently it hasn’t been engineered for RHD

Richo

Same amount of torque as a Mitsubishi Lancer, but only 8kw more power, to lug around an extra 200kg over a Lancer, and a 2.0L base Lancer is a pretty slow car in the first place!

Hmm this is a dilema for Hyundai… better pull some weight out of it to help performance! Yes thats the answer, lets make the brakes smaller (!) because samller brakes weigh less (!!) ~ facepalm….

This will not be a good car
Caluc

Mehh, I thought the current engine was underpowered, now they give 2.0l?? Come on.. What’s next 1.8? Then 1.6?
Orange

Tbh this car is the ugliest in it’s segment, Hyundai should of taken it easy with the design and maybe it would of actually looked like a car, not something that seems to have got an overdose of plastic surgery..

bangel

Typical asian design , overstyled , look tired very quickly , no class .

Yaheee

This car is starting to grow on the tooth quite fast actually..
darkone

price reduction dosent make it any better looking,this is a hideous car,like all the new hyundais!.give me the optima any day
nickdl

I thought the 2.4 DI engine was supposed to be the only good thing about this car. There certainly isn’t much else. The 2.0 will never achieve even a slight fuel saving due to the lack of torque. I’d actually rather a Camry over one of these.

QAZ

I second

Al Juraj

Hyundai may not have heard ‘turbo’ from the customers’ wish list and they instead brought an atmo 2.0 instead of the force-inducted one.

Heavy car with puny engine – poor performance and economy.
Drac

Don’t know why you would buy this over a Skoda Octavia 90TSI. I actually find this much uglier whereas the Skoda is simply plain. This car will look so out of date in just a few years.

Johnny

Skoda is not sold in a LOT of places. So if you live in one of the big cites your ok, live outside it and there are none.
Roger Ramjet

Add to the insult the Skoda with a better engine, handling and dynamics can be had currently for $24990 on road!
I was amazed at the value after a drive so I ordered a wagon! For a little over $2k more than a petrol I30 wagon( good car), it feels like a $10k better car!

anthony

Honda Accord Euro is still the best of the bunch,and stunning looking IMHO.

Richo

Very hard to dissagree anthony, the Honda is best in class followed closely by the Mazda 6, but if a Korean car is a must, KIA did a much better job executing the mid sized platform with their Optima then Hyundai has done with this car
crouchy

Agree but you must remember that price is the biggest driver for most buyers in this segment.

Sumpguard

With the i45 they needed to get the ride sorted from day one and Hyundai need to learn a valuable lesson. KIA did. I am now one of few people to have owned an ix35 (sold last Thursday) and Sportage (bought last Friday) and the ride is worlds apart.

Plenty of people read reviews before purchasing a car and then tell their friends. I know I do and I’m certain many posters on this forum do the same. I like the i45 but two things let it down imo. The reviews I read on the ride quality and that grille. This IS NOT America. They sent us the American ride and the American grille.

Sammo

Obviously these cars aren’t selling as well as Hyundai would have hoped, hence the price cut. I say bring on the i40!!
http://hotmail Irish Jim

Hi Guys, I’am waiting for the last 12 to buy a new i40 diesel only to find I have only a 1.7 not the new 2.0 litre I wanted, I have bought 4 new Hyundai back to back and if they don’t supply a engine I wan’t I be going somewhere else, simple all I wanted is a 2.0 diesel 135kw manual with all the trimmings.