Hyundai iLoad 2016 new van review

The re-release of the Hyundai iLoad has had a bit of a tickle up in the specification department.

While it's a great safety feature making the vehicle more visible, I can't help but feel instead that Hyundai could have employed some proper LED daytime running lights, and also given the iLoad a bit of a cosmetic makeover upfront at the same time. Others might argue that maintaining the exact same look from 2008 to 2016 is a good thing for resale and residual values.

The iLoad arrived with dealer fitted options including the Tanay 18" Alloys ($2,950), tow-bar ($975), a monsoon shield on the driver’s door ($150), a set of rubber mats ($125) and a plywood floor for the rear cargo bay ($640). 

The Hyundai genuine accessory three bar roof rack system was also fitted ($1300) plus the black front nudge bar with ladder rack ($1610) and to finish the look but also provide load security were the dark privacy tint for the side and rear window glass ($475).

Just because a van is a working vehicle and often a mobile office, doesn’t mean it should look and feel utilitarian, and this particular example looked smart as well as purposeful. 

I liked the choice of seat fabric on the driver’s and passenger’s bench seat, also replicated on the door trims, and while the good old fashioned urethane steering wheel remains, at least it has an attractive look and feel to it.

If you don’t have an iPhone or an Android, you can still sync up to the Bluetooth hands-free telephony system in the iLoad, but I rejoiced in being able to call people and send texts using the Apple Car Play system, which also allows you to use your phone's mapping and navigation software.

The iLoad is a friendly vehicle to drive and live with on a daily basis. Despite its generous internal and external dimensions, it is easily placed and parked in narrow urban streets. 

Even though our vehicle was brand spanking new with fewer than 100km on the odometer when we picked it up, it was still quite sprightly off the mark from a standstill. The manual box has a pleasant feel to the shift with shortish throws in between the gears.

Even when empty, this iLoad is relatively quiet, possibly due to the addition of the wooden flooring in the rear cargo compartment, but the roof rails did create some rusting harmonics when the van was cruising at motorway speeds.

There is only one small fly in the ointment which relegates the iLoad from being a great van to a good one, and that is the lap belt for the middle passenger in the front bench seat.