Hyundai i35: which version to buy and why
The Hyundai i35 to buy is a four-door Sedan with one of four named versions — 1.6 MT, 1.8 MT, 1.8 AT, or 1.6 AT — all front-wheel drive, all naturally aspirated Gasoline, all on 95-octane fuel. Production of this nameplate runs from 2010-04-01 to 2016-05-31 as a single generation with a restyling, not two separate generations.
The Hyundai i35 to buy is a four-door Sedan with one of four named versions — 1.6 MT, 1.8 MT, 1.8 AT, or 1.6 AT — all front-wheel drive, all naturally aspirated Gasoline, all on 95-octane fuel. Production of this nameplate runs from 2010-04-01 to 2016-05-31 as a single generation with a restyling, not two separate generations. Specs, horsepower, mpg (as litres/100 km), dimensions of mass and wheels, and reliability-relevant hardware (suspension, brakes, tank) do not change between the pre-facelift and restyled cars except one labelled gearbox on 1.8 AT. If you are looking at a Hyundai i350 van or camper, that is a different product; this catalogue page is the i35 sedan only.
Hyundai i35 specs by generation: what actually changed
1 generation (2010-04-01 – 2013-12-31), restyling (2013-08-01 – 2016-05-31). Body: Sedan. Four versions in each period. Ground clearance stays 150 mm, tank 48 L, wheels 195/65 R15, 205/55 R16, or 215/45 R17, front Independent, spring / rear Semi-independent, spring, front Ventilated disc / rear Disc, FWD, 6 speeds, no turbo.
The restyling window overlaps the first period from 2013-08-01 to 2013-12-31. A 2013 or 2014 car can therefore be either stamp of the same generation. Engine, 0–100, top speed, consumption, kerb weight, and CO2 figures for 1.6 MT, 1.8 MT, and 1.6 AT are identical before and after the restyle. The only version whose English gearbox label changes is 1.8 AT: first period Manual, restyling Automatic. Power (150 hp / 110 kW at 6500 rpm, 178 Nm at 4700 rpm), 10.2 s to 100 km/h, 202 km/h, 9.4 / 5.7 / 7.1 L/100 km, and 1267 / 1810 kg stay the same. A used 1.8 AT from 2013–2016 should be identified by the gearbox in the car, not by the year alone.
Nothing in the data measures interior size, so Hyundai i35 dimensions here are mass, clearance, tank, and tyre sizes — not cabin millimetres.
Hyundai i35 engine: 1.6 versus 1.8, then gearbox
Two Gasoline engines, both Inline 4, 4 valves per cylinder, Front, transverse, Distributed injection (multi-point), boost No.
| Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | Displacement, cc | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MT | 132 (97 @ 6300) | 158 @ 4850 | 1591 | Gasoline (95) | 4 Inline | No | Manual, 6 | FWD |
| 1.6 AT | 132 (97 @ 6300) | 158 @ 4850 | 1591 | Gasoline (95) | 4 Inline | No | Automatic, 6 | FWD |
| 1.8 MT | 150 (110 @ 6500) | 178 @ 4700 | 1797 | Gasoline (95) | 4 Inline | No | Manual, 6 | FWD |
| 1.8 AT (1 generation) | 150 (110 @ 6500) | 178 @ 4700 | 1797 | Gasoline (95) | 4 Inline | No | Manual, 6 | FWD |
| 1.8 AT (1 generation, restyling) | 150 (110 @ 6500) | 178 @ 4700 | 1797 | Gasoline (95) | 4 Inline | No | Automatic, 6 | FWD |
1.8 adds 206 cc, 18 hp, 13 kW, and 20 Nm versus 1.6. Specific output is 132 / 1.591 ≈ 83.0 hp per litre on 1.6 versus 150 / 1.797 ≈ 83.5 hp per litre on 1.8 — the extra displacement is almost the whole story, not a hotter tune. Torque density is 158 / 1.591 ≈ 99.3 Nm/L versus 178 / 1.797 ≈ 99.1 Nm/L. Compression is 10.5 on 1.6 (bore × stroke 77 × 85.4) and 10.3 on 1.8 (81 × 87.12). Peak power is 200 rpm later on 1.8; peak torque is 150 rpm earlier (4700 vs 4850). Oil type is not measured.
Hyundai i35 horsepower therefore has two answers: 132 hp on both 1.6 boxes, 150 hp on both 1.8 boxes. There is no third engine in this dataset.
Performance, mpg, and weight per horsepower
| Version | 0–100, s | Top speed, km/h | City / highway / mixed, L/100 km | CO2, g/km | Kerb / gross, kg | kg per hp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 MT | 10.7 | 200 | 7.8 / 5.1 / 6.1 | 145 | 1236 / 1770 | 9.36 |
| 1.6 AT | 11.6 | 195 | 9.0 / 5.3 / 6.7 | 155 | 1266 / 1800 | 9.59 |
| 1.8 MT | 9.3 | 205 | 8.3 / 6.1 / 8.3 | not measured | 1267 / 1810 | 8.45 |
| 1.8 AT | 10.2 | 202 | 9.4 / 5.7 / 7.1 | not measured | 1267 / 1810 | 8.45 |
Fastest: 1.8 MT — 9.3 s and 205 km/h. It is 1.4 s quicker to 100 km/h than 1.6 MT and 2.3 s quicker than 1.6 AT. 1.8 AT sits in the middle at 10.2 s / 202 km/h: 0.5 s quicker than 1.6 MT, 1.4 s quicker than 1.6 AT, 0.9 s slower than 1.8 MT.
Lightest and most economical mixed figure: 1.6 MT at 1236 kg and 6.1 L/100 km mixed, 145 g/km CO2. Versus 1.6 AT, the Manual saves 30 kg, 0.9 s, 5 km/h, 0.6 L/100 km mixed, and 10 g/km CO2 (145 vs 155). City gap is 1.2 L/100 km (7.8 vs 9.0); highway 0.2 L/100 km (5.1 vs 5.3).
1.8 MT mixed consumption is listed as 8.3 L/100 km, equal to its city figure and 2.2 L/100 km above 1.6 MT. Highway 6.1 is the highest highway number in the table. That mixed figure is not a typo invented here; it is the catalogue value. 1.8 AT mixed 7.1 is 1.2 L/100 km lower than 1.8 MT mixed, which is the reverse of the usual automatic penalty seen on the 1.6 pair. City on 1.8 AT is still the worst city number (9.4). CO2 for both 1.8 versions is not measured.
Payload from the weights: 1.6 MT 1770 − 1236 = 534 kg; 1.6 AT 1800 − 1266 = 534 kg; 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT 1810 − 1267 = 543 kg. The 1.8 cars carry 9 kg more payload and 31 kg more kerb than 1.6 MT.
Hyundai i35 dimensions that actually differ
Clearance 150 mm and tank 48 L are the same on every version. Wheel sizes are the same three options. What you choose on mass is kerb: 1236 kg (1.6 MT), 1266 kg (1.6 AT), 1267 kg (both 1.8). Gross: 1770 / 1800 / 1810 kg. If the question is “Hyundai i35 vs Tucson” or “vs Kia Sportage” or “i30 vs i35”, this page has no Tucson, Sportage, or i30 numbers — only that this i35 is a Sedan, FWD, 150 mm, 48 L.
Which Hyundai i35 to buy
Buy 1.6 MT if the job is lowest fuel and lowest mass. It is the only version under 1240 kg, the only mixed figure of 6.1 L/100 km, the only CO2 of 145 g/km, and it still reaches 200 km/h. You give up 18 hp and 1.4 s versus 1.8 MT. Same engine as 1.6 AT with a better measured economy and sprint.
Buy 1.6 AT if you want Automatic and will not pay the 1.8’s displacement. You keep 132 hp / 158 Nm and the measured 155 g/km. You accept the slowest 0–100 (11.6 s) and the lowest top speed (195 km/h). Versus restyled 1.8 AT you save 0.4 L/100 km mixed (6.7 vs 7.1) and 0.4 L/100 km city (9.0 vs 9.4), at a cost of 18 hp, 20 Nm, 1.4 s, and 7 km/h.
Buy 1.8 MT if the ranking is 0–100 and kg/hp. 8.45 kg/hp is the best ratio (tied with 1.8 AT). It is the only version under 10 seconds (9.3 s) and the only 205 km/h car. Mixed 8.3 L/100 km is the worst mixed number; highway 6.1 is the worst highway number. You are trading 2.2 L/100 km mixed versus 1.6 MT for 18 hp and 1.4 s.
Buy 1.8 AT if you want 150 hp with a two-pedal car — and confirm the box on the car. Restyling 1.8 AT is Automatic, 6, 150 hp, 10.2 s, 202 km/h, mixed 7.1. First-period 1.8 AT is labelled Manual in this dataset with the same engine and the same 10.2 s / 202 km/h / 7.1 mixed. Versus 1.8 MT you give 0.9 s and 3 km/h and, on the listed mixed figures, you actually use 1.2 L/100 km less mixed than 1.8 MT. Versus 1.6 AT you gain 18 hp and 1.4 s for 0.4 L/100 km more mixed.
Generation choice: engine and chassis numbers do not pick a year for you. Overlap is 2013-08-01 to 2013-12-31. After 2013-12-31 you are in restyling production through 2016-05-31. A 2015 car is restyling; a 2010–mid-2013 car is the first period. Problems, reliability, and Honest John-style fault lists are not measured here; what is measured is that brakes, suspension type, drive, boost, fuel grade, tank, and clearance are the same on all eight listed lines.
Short ranking on the arithmetic: lowest litres — 1.6 MT; lowest seconds — 1.8 MT; Automatic with a CO2 figure — 1.6 AT; Automatic with 150 hp after the restyle — 1.8 AT. There is no AWD, no turbo, and no fifth named version in the data.