Rediscovering the roads with the Hyundai Getz

Editor‘s note: It took a while, but here we are with the second edition of Passenger’s Seat, the subsection in The Philippine STAR’s Business Motoring section that allows you, our readers, to play the role of motoring journalists, if only for a wee bit. This month, reader Christina del Mundo takes on the task of reviewing the practical and reliable Hyundai Getz. Christina is an IT consultant for The Bank of New York who’s been based in the Philippines for a little over a year. She’s a Filipina-Australian who’s made some pretty substantial waves in the local music scene, as well. Here are her thoughts on perhaps one of the most sensible cars available in the market today. Read on and try to learn something along the way. Who knows? Perhaps next time you can be on the Passenger’s Seat yourself.

Our thanks go out to the officers and staff of Hyundai Global City for facilitating the test drive/photo shoot. If you’re in the market for a Hyundai, we’d wager these guys will probably be the most accommodating sales folk you’ll ever come across.

I love driving. One thing I miss about living in Australia is being able to jump in my car at any moment and go wherever the wind takes me. And for the first time since moving back to Manila, I had the opportunity to do just that. With the help of Hyundai Global City and The Philippine STAR, I was able to take the Hyundai Getz for a spin.

Upon first sight, the first thing that came to mind was, “Cute. Fun. Chick. Car”. It’s the kind of car that I, as a teenager, would have begged my parents to buy for me as a graduation present. The Getz definitely fits the mould of the modern-day bubble car with its compact size, rounded front and small, cute behind. With its tinted windows and clean, contemporary shape, it’s no wonder that this little gem is an eye-catcher. But wait, there’s more. Once inside the car, I seriously felt like I had just sat down in a BMW 1 Series. Well, not exactly, but my point is, it felt good and it felt expensive. Of course, upon further inspection, little details such as the material used on the dash and the knobs, buttons and indicators, I felt, could have been more solid. Nonetheless, I liked the dashboard display and the simplicity of the console. It had all the stock-standard features we all love – central locking, power windows, power mirrors, air conditioning, heating and 4-speaker sound system, just to name a few. The sound system sounded great, but I noticed that the CD skipped a few times when I drove over bumpy roads. But it definitely wasn’t a bumpy ride. I immediately felt comfortable sitting in the driver’s seat. My passengers also felt comfortable, despite their above-average height and weight. You could easily fit two to three adults in the back, although I think the boot wasn’t as generous and for musicians like me, this is a huge advantage.

Here’s one for the boys. Above and beyond the pleasing aesthetics of the Hyundai Getz, is its performance on the road. In a nutshell, this baby goes! To fully test the capability and versatility of the Getz, I decided to drive all day and all night. From Makati to Tagaytay and back, then Makati to Subic Bay and back, I was able to test the Getz in different conditions – from chaotic EDSA traffic, to heavy rains in Tagaytay, to highway driving on the North Luzon Expressway, to the quiet suburban streets of Subic. The Getz turned out to be a lot zippier than I was expecting. It was easy to maneuver down the entire stretch of EDSA, although I personally prefer cars which have more grip on the road. It zoomed down the highways with ease and didn’t feel the car struggle reaching and maintaining high speeds. The brakes responded perfectly, unlike some cars with lazy brakes which force you to play a game of “Am I gonna make it?” in your head, or cars with overly excitable brakes which give you a huge jolt after stepping on the brakes a measly inch. No. It was just right. I felt safe. So safe, in fact, that I was probably a little too comfortable hooning down EDSA because I knew the little Getz had my back.

Another notable feature was the amount of engine noise (or lack thereof). In fact, while rolling along the traffic-stricken roads to Tagaytay, I had to turn down the music to check if the engine was still running – that’s how quiet it was. Even on the freeway, the wind and engine noise that’s normally more prevalent in small cars wasn’t so in the Getz. It felt solid and sturdy.

Lastly, with fuel prices soaring in recent months, a legitimate concern for most people is fuel consumption. Well, considering the amount of driving I did and the countless times I stepped on it to, er, “test” the acceleration on the Getz, I went through one full tank of gas. How’s that? Not bad, I’d say.

In conclusion, my initial reaction to the Getz was pretty much spot on – on the surface. Yes, it stereotypically appeals to young women because of its size and cuteness factor. First car owners will feel spoilt in this car because it has all the features one could ask for. However, after my driving experience, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there’s more to this pocket rocket than meets the eye. It’s perfect for city driving because it’s small and handles well. At the same time, it’s suitable for long road trips because it’s sturdy, quick, comfortable and quite simply, it’s fun to drive! There’s something for everyone in the Getz and for me, it brought back the familiar feeling of excitement from being able to escape and discovering where the open roads will take me.