Home | News | Road Tests ROAD TEST:   Hyundai Getz SX  (manual) by Stephen Walker 31st July, 2009 Home > Road Tests > Hyundai The little Hyundai Getz is a guest in many an aussie's garage. The tiny South Korean car is so popular it has sold an amazing 115,000 units (approximately) since its local release in August 2002. More amazing is the fact that close to 10% of Getz production has landed here in Australia, whilst Australia's allocation of new car production as a whole is well under 5%. Globally, the Hyundai Getz has now racked up 1,141,460 sales. The origin of the Getz goes back to October 2001 when a Getz Concept Car was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan. The production version made its debut just month's later at Switzerland's Geneva Motor Show in March 2002. Whatever way you look at it, the Hyundai Getz has been around for some time. In fact, since Hyundai introduced the Getz, Ford has released two Fiesta models. That has to make you suspect the Hyundai Getz will get its marching orders soon. But not just yet though! Whilst Hyundai has plans for numerous new models, the Getz is set to continue for a while yet. And why wouldn't it? Especially when you consider that Hyundai has already sold over 9,500 units in Australia this year. Yes, the Hyundai Getz is a popular car. We drove the Hyundai Getz SX 5 door hatchback with manual transmission around suburban Melbourne to get a fresh view of this well established model. Mechanically, the little Getz is strictly conventional. Front transversely mounted 1.6 litre engine drives the front wheels through a 5 speed manual gearbox. Interestingly, the top two gears are overdrive. At approximately 1,100 kg, the little Hyundai Getz is very easy to manoeuvre. At just 3.825 metres long you can park it just about anywhere. On the road, this little car gets on with doing the job of motoring along efficiently. Fuel usage is rated at just 6.2 litres per 100 kms on the often quoted "combined cycle". The performance is quite suitable, as you would expect from 1,600 cc in such a light car. The Getz is a compliant type of car, nothing exciting and nothing wrong. Accordingly, the Hyundai Getz is quite suitable for a wide variety of buyers. Maybe that's why there are so many of them! Although tiny on the outside, adults can be accommodated quite well inside, especially in the front. Further, the boot space is quite reasonable for such a small package. Standard equipment on all Getz models include independent suspension (front and rear), 14" steel wheels with wheels covers, two airbags upfront, engine immobiliser, central locking/keyless entry, AM/FM radio with CD player (single disc)/MP3, power windows (auto down on driver's door), cloth seat surfaces, digital clock, air conditioning and centre console. Additionally, the Getz SX features electronic stability programme (ESP), 4 wheel disc brakes, traction control (TC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and leather wrapped steering wheel/gear knob. Side airbags for the front occupants are optionally available for the Getz SX. Another option is a four speed automatic transmission. Being an older design, the Hyundai Getz misses out on some newer features that are found on today's cars. But that doesn't mean poverty. In fact, we found the Getz an easy car to live with for the week we had possession. Our report looks only at the Hyundai Getz SX 5 door hatchback. However, a more basic version of the Getz is available. It is known as Getz S and it is without many of the features of our Getz SX test car. The Hyundai Getz SX is a car that satisfies the budget of many car owners. That's because it is economical to buy and to operate. It isn't a sophisticated design, yet as a city car it is ideal in many ways for that regular commute that many of us face daily. There will always be a demand for a car like the Hyundai Getz. That is, no doubt, why it is still with us today! Hear Chris Goodsell Talk Motoring On Radio & Internet ..... more More Hyundai News ..... here About | Car Clubs | Home | News | Road Ramblings | Road Tests | Subscribe | Top Drive ©   2009   All rights reserved.   Next Car Pty. Ltd.