Hyundai Grandeur Reviews

While it began with small cars it was always Hyundai's aim to expand into more segments as it grew in this market and the Grandeur was its entry into the family car segment. Sales have been slow to be brutally honest. When it was first introduced the Hyundai brand was still finding its way with local buyers and cars like the Commodore and Falcon were the dominant players in the segment the Grandeur was in. Today, Hyundai is well and truly established with a strong reputation, which makes revisiting the Grandeur a worthwhile exercise.In 2009, Hyundai revised the specifications of the Grandeur and reduced the price in the hope of getting sales moving. There were some minor cosmetic changes in the form of a new grille, new flashers on the sides, and new alloy wheels. The features list was revised, with the sunroof, xenon low-beam headlights and pop-up rear headrests all deleted, while rain-sensitive wipers, heated front seats, and new trim was added. But perhaps the biggest news was under the bonnet where Hyundai offered a turbo-diesel engine option alongside the existing V6.The 3.8-litre V6 was unchanged with 194kW and 348Nm and delivered decent punch on the road. The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, the same engine that powered the Santa Fe SUV, developed 114kW and 343Nm.Both engines were linked to a five-speed auto transmission that offered a manual shift option.On the road the Grandeur offered good ride quality, light steering, while the cabin was impressively roomy.IN THE SHOPFrom small beginnings the Hyundai brand has blossomed into a well- respected one with a suite of well-built, well-specced and overall reliable models.Where once CarsGuide would regularly receive complaints from Hyundai owners they are few and far between these days, which is a sure sign of improved design and production quality.Check for a service record to confirm vital maintenance has been carried out in accordance with Hyundai's service schedule, and also inspect bodywork looking for dodgy panel repairs.IN A CRASHANCAP doesn't give a rating for the Grandeur, but with ABS braking, emergency brake assistance, electronic brakeforce distribution, and electronic stability control, overlaid by front, head and side airbags it's fair to say that the Grandeur was well equipped with safety features.UNDER THE PUMPThe new turbo-diesel engine was the fuel economy star in the Grandeur range, with the company claiming 7.9L/100km as an average.The V6 petrol, which required at least 91-octane regular unleaded but would happily run on E10 blend, would average 10.8L/100km according to Hyundai.HYUNDAI GRANDEUR - 2008-2010Price new: $39,990 to $41,990Engines: 3.8-litre V6 petrol; 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed autoEconomy: 10.8 L/100 km (V6), 7.9 L/100 km (diesel)Body: 4-door sedanVariants: V6 and CRDiVERDICT Smooth driving, good-looking, comfortable prestige sedan but lacks in chassis refinement

Hyundai today is a very different outfit from the brand that corporate rogue Allan Bond introduced to the market back in the 1980s.  Then it was simply a cheap-and-cheerful brand selling a range of modest small cars at very affordable prices aimed squarely at buyers who were struggling to find enough cash to get into the market.Today it's a full factory operation and a much more sophisticated brand that has won the acceptance of the local market with its range of unpretentious but solid cars that promise not only value-for- money, but also reliability and comfort with a level of refinement Bond and his band could only dream about 20 or more years ago.Cars like the Sonata sedan, and Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs have stretched Hyundai's boundaries and the company is now represented in virtually all the mainstream segments.The Grandeur was the icing on the cake and again expanded the Korean brands penetration of the local market, this time into the prestige segment.MODEL WATCH An earlier attempt to launch a luxury model, also called the Grandeur, into the prestige segment was a dismal failure.  The car was pulled from the market and it was three years before it was willing to have another crack.  In that time Hyundai's evolution into a mainstream, accepted brand had progressed and the time was felt right to re-release the Grandeur nameplate.Luxury buyers weren't necessarily looking for badge credibility, Hyundai claimed at the time of the Grandeur's launch, but they wanted refinement, elegance, comfort and safety at a price that wouldn't break the bank.The Grandeur had the elegance they wanted; it was a handsome car with clean uncluttered lines enhanced with sporty alloy wheels and other touches associated with the image of a prestige model. The interior was restrained, but refined and stylish. There were the usual touches of woodgrain, but it wasn't over the top as it can be with some Asian brands that are over-reaching in the market.Most impressive was the low level of noise, vibration and harshness under most driving conditions. It all added up to a refined drive of the sort expected by the luxury club.Under the bonnet lay a 3.8-litre double overhead camshaft V6 engine with variable intake valve timing and boasting 194 kW at 6000 revs and 348 Nm at 4500 revs.  A five-speed auto transmission was standard, but it had sequential manual shifting for a bit of fun, and the final drive was through the front wheels.The suspension was independent double wishbone at the front and multi- link at the rear; the brakes were a combination of ventilated front discs and solid rears, with standard ABS anti-lock and EBD brakeforce distribution.The earlier Grandeur was heavily criticised for its unruly suspension on local roads, but Hyundai's chassis engineers had taken note of the complaints and worked hard to ensure the new model wouldn't be canned for the same reasons.  As a result the ride and handling were much better suited to Australian roads, although the steering was still thought a little vague.The two-model Grandeur range was made up of the V6 entry level and the Limited.  The V6 came well equipped with standard air, cruise, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, alarm, leather trim, power seats, parking sensors, eight-speaker CD sound.  Step up to the Limited and you also got heated front seats, a power sunroof and Xenon headlamps.IN THE SHOP With the earliest TG Grandeurs having clocked up just 60,000 km or so it's early days for the luxury Hyundai and few problems of a serious nature have cropped up.  While Hyundai has in the past been thought of as a cheap-and-cheerful brand plagued by the Excel problem of the early 1990s, but it shouldn't be considered so today.The fit and finish of the cars is of a high standard, the equal or any in the price segments it is represented in, and that reflects in the reliability of its cars.  At this early stage of its life the focus of any pre-purchase inspection should be on possible crash damage and subsequent dodgey repairs or a lack of servicing.Check for poor panel fit, drooping doors, scratched or chipped paint, and scarred alloy wheels.  Also check the service record to make sure it has seen the inside of a workshop since it left the showroom when new.IN A CRASH The Grandeur was packed with an impressive array of electronic features that provided a safety net when all turned nasty on the road; there was ABS braking with EBD brakeforce distribution, traction control and stability control.  If all of that wasn't enough to avoid a crash then there were dual front airbags, head airbags and side airbags to provide protection.AT THE PUMP A relatively large V6 engine in a car of generous dimensions the Grandeur is no fuel miser, but Hyundai claimed it would average 10.8 L/100 km, which is competitive in its segment.LOOK FOR . Elegant looks. Refined, roomy interior. Fully equipped. Smooth V6 performance. Comfortable rideTHE BOTTOM LINE Refined, reliable, comfortable and competent, the Grandeur is a real prestige contender.RATING 78/100

The name is a give-away to Hyundai’s grand aim for the Grandeur. It was to be an upmarket car packed with heaps of standard features, but at a Korean price. The question was whether a Korean company, best known for its low cost cars could actually build a prestige model that would compete against established models from long established and highly respected carmakers.MODEL WATCHWhile Hyundai has been selling cars on the local market for some time the company had a reputation for building cheap and cheerful small cars at a price that cash-strapped buyers couldn’t resist.They were so cheap, comparatively speaking, that you could afford to take a gamble on things like build quality and reliability.But when the company inevitably changed direction and began to look further upmarket where there were greater profits in the offing they began to appeal to a more demanding and discerning buyer.Someone who pays $40,000-plus for a car has much higher expectations than someone who forks out $13,000.The challenge for Hyundai was to meet those demands; the challenge for the buyer was to take the plunge and gamble the company would deliver.The Grandeur was Hyundai’s deepest plunge into the local market. It was a medium-sized sedan with pretensions of grandeur; a car that would compete with both locally produced and imported prestige models.Styling was very Asian, a little contrived, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as the saying goes.Splashes of chrome on the grille, rear garnish mould and door handles provided some sparkle to the exterior, while wood grain touches gave the interior an air of opulence.A spring loaded bonnet badge, ala Mercedes-Benz, was added in 2002 in a further boost to prestige.Power was provided by a competent 3.0-litre fuel-injected double overhead camshaft V6 engine that produced a useable 141 kW at 6000 revs and gave the 1554 kg Grandeur quite zippy performance.The V6 worked in tandem with a five-speed electronically controlled auto trans driving the front wheels.Power steering was standard, along with four-wheel disc brakes, ABS and alloy wheels.As it should be when competing in the prestige market segment the Grandeur was packed with features. It had just about everything you could imagine, which underpinned its value-for-money appeal.The base sedan came standard with air-conditioning, full instrumentation, power windows and mirrors, dual vanity mirrors, remote boot lid and fuel cap releases, six-speaker sound, power antenna, central locking and cloth seats.Step up to the XG and you also received leather trim, keyless entry and alarm, climate control air-con, cruise, traction control, and memory settings on the driver’s seat.It was the Korean formula applied to the prestige segment of the market; that is to deliver plenty of value at a competitive price.IN THE SHOPThe basics of the Grandeur are reliable enough, but mechanics shudder when they arrive at the shop door, as they’re likely to have problems that can be hard to trace and sort out.Korean-built cars in general have a poor reputation for electrics and the Grandeur is packed with systems that rely on good connections and wiring.It’s quite common for owners to report warning lights coming on at random, which makes it difficult for mechanics to trace the cause of the problem. Often it’s found to be a poor connection in the wiring loom and that can take quite some time to locate.Sensors, such as the speed and timing sensors on the engine, can also be a problem.Spark plug leads are also troublesome, and changing them means removing the inlet manifold to get to the rear ones.Signs of trouble are rough running of the engine, and sometimes random stalling while driving along, while problems with the transmission input and output speed sensors are signalled by erratic shifting, sometimes shifting up or down for no apparent reason, or simply refusing to shift.Major service is at 90,000 km and that includes changing the cam timing belt. It also means changing spark plugs, and with long life platinum-tipped plugs that can be a costly exercise.The keyless entry on the XG can be frustrating when it quits and leaves you stranded on the roadside. There’s no roadside solution, the car needs to be towed back to a dealer for correction.IN A CRASHWith ABS standard on both models, and traction control standard on the XG, the Grandeur has the primary systems to get you out of trouble, and dual front airbags and seat belt pretensioners to protect you if you do get into trouble.OWNERS SAYRay Clausen has driven his 2001 Grandeur XG in all conditions, urban and rural and has found it gives him with a sense of safety and ease of comfort. The interior is very well appointed and comfortably seats four adults, while boot space is ample. The battery had to be changed after 18 months, and the ‘Speed Sensor’ and ‘Check Engine’ sensor have also been replaced.Merv Cramer says he has owned many cars over the years, including Holdens and Fords, and rates the Grandeur superior in all aspects, including build quality, attention to detail, and safety. His only gripe is poor resale value.Don Russell loves his 2001 Grandeur. It is luxurious and comfortable, a lot of car for the money. He says it does everything very well and is economical, returning fuel consumption of 8.8 L/100 km. The only trouble has been with the remote locking.The Grandeur’s price was enough to tempt Maurizio to buy one four years ago, but it hasn’t worked out such a good buy. It has been in the workshop more than it has been on the road, he says, with one problem after another. He now wishes he never bought this car; it’s a luxurious lemon with plenty of hidden costs.Jeffrey Gillard has driven Statesmans, Volvos, LTDs, Saabs, and Jaguars, but now drives a 2000 Grandeur XG, which he says is the most reliable and best appointed car he’s have ever owned, and represents great value for money.LOOK FOR• Long list of standard features• Economical on fuel• Very comfortable for four adults• Dual airbags for crash protection• ABS standard• Prone to minor faults, particularly electrics• Poor resale valueTHE BOTTOM LINEGreat value for money, but be aware that electrics are troublesome, and likely to be more so as age and kilometres catch up with the Grandeur.RATING50/100

That’s Hyundai’s revised focus on the premium Grandeur.With sales of the Korean manufacturer's top-end offering averaging just 10 a month to the end of September, the price `adjustment’ and new powerplant are sorely needed."How the segment will take to a diesel is a bit of a mystery as there isn't one at the moment," Hyundai's product planning manager Manuel Tyras says. "There should be an attraction for people who drive considerable distances ... people who commute from semi-rural communities."The revised Grandeur was revealed this week along with a gentle cosmetic makeover for the Santa Fe SUV.Tyras says Hyundai hopes the refreshed model can lift sales to around 40 a month, taking the Grandeur back to the level of popularity it enjoyed when the current shape was first launched in 2006.The new pricing structure will see the Grandeur available in a single specification level with the choice of the current 3.8-litre V6 and the new 2.2-litre turbo diesel.The base price for the petrol model drops $3000 to $39,990 while the diesel is a $2000 premium at $41,990."There is no longer a Limited trim level and there has been a re-think on standard equipment with the sunroof, Xenon low-beam headlights and the pop-up rear headrests deleted," Hyundai's Ben Hershman explains."The car gains rain sensitive wipers, heated front seats along with a more stylish interior trim. Overall the value adjustment is an extra $4500-$5000 over the old model."The diesel, shared with the Santa Fe SUV, develops 114kW of power at 4000rpm and 343Nm of torque from 1800rpm to 2500rpm. Drive is through a 5-speed automatic with the option of manual selection.The petrol V6 is a carry-over from the current range with the same 194kW at 6000rpm and 348Nm at 4500rpm. It shares the 5-speed auto with the new diesel.Styling changes are minor with the exterior highlighted by a new chrome grille treatment, the addition of indicator flashers on the side mirrors and a new style of 17-inch alloy wheel.For the interiors the biggest visual changes are a revision of the beige leather option with a more subtle treatment of the wood trim.As far as equipment is concerned there is an upgraded eight speaker JBL audio system with an USB audio input with iPod compatibility, new subtle blue interior illumination and an auto-lock system that locks all doors above 45km/h and unlocks them when the ignition key is removed.Electronic stability control is standard — the life-saving safety feature is standard on more than 80 per cent of all Hyundai's sold — as are eight airbags, active headrests and pre-tensioning front seatbelts.On the road it quickly becomes obvious that the transition from SUV to large family car has not fazed the diesel.Apart from a little rattle on start-up the Grandeur offers noise isolation levels that should be the envy of more than a couple of other luxury pretenders.There is a slight hesitation under initial hard acceleration but once the engine gets down to business it pulls strongly right through highway overtaking.The only real noise intrusion into the cabin is from the tyres over rough and broken surfaces.Steering feel is still light — not of itself a major issue — and quite vague on turn-in. It is not something that will concern an average driver but it is also not a car that lends itself to any real enthusiasm through the twists.Ride quality is good — on the plush side but without any uncomfortable floundering — and interior space and comfort in the cabin are unchanged from the previous impressive levels.For the mid-sized Santa Fe the spit-and-polish makeover for 2009 really is a case of pick it if you can.The exterior upgrades mirror those for the Grandeur with a chrome grille treatment and indicators in the wing mirrors while on the inside there are some fresh interior trims, an upgrade to the sound system and integration of i-Pod and MP3 compatibility.Prices remain unchanged with the base 138kW/248Nm 2.7-litre V6 petrol starts at $33,990 with the 114kW/343Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder CRDi turbo-diesel from $36,990.The gearbox options are a 5-speed manual or auto for the diesel while the petrol drives through a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual.Gone — at least for the time being — is the 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine but Hyundai plan a similar capacity replacement early next year, but only in a front-wheel drive model.The Santa Fe continues its three-trim strategy — SX, SLX and Elite — with five or seven-seats in both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.If you are planning to take the Santa Fe off the beaten track — and it is quite capable of moderate bush bashing — the new Trek 'n' Tow kit is a useful addition offering an extra 20mm in ground clearance, a slight increase in towball load (to 180kg) and better towing balance.All Santa Fe models come standard with ESP, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, active head restraints for the two front occupants, and six airbags including curtain bags extending to the third row. 

That it carries a Hyundai badge may be the biggest obstacle in buyers signing the cheque for this large luxury sedan. Not that it's shoddy or poorly engineered. On the contrary; Korean-built cars are now of a much higher standard than before and often hard to pick from Japanese or European vehicles.Yet Hyundai must earn badge credibility. It's taken Mercedes-Benz, BMW and other desirable and coveted marques decades of producing better than average cars to climb to a position of respect.But the advantage a buyer gets with the Hyundai Grandeur is price – the comparatively low $42,990 for the Grandeur and $46,990 for Grandeur Limited compensating for any worry about depreciation of a brand not (yet) deemed as desirable as the more famous traditional marques. Grandeur is a large four-door sedan with good interior space. Certainly the back seat feels more relaxing than a Ford Fairmont or Holden Berlina/Calais.Look at what you get for the price on Grandeur: A 3.8-litre V6 engine giving a claimed 194kW of power, which is more than its rivals, although its 348Nm of torue is bettered by the four-litre Ford Fairmont. Grandeur has a five-speed sequential shift automatic (Fairmont and Berlina still haveonly four-speed auto). Equipment would take a couple of pages to list but a selection includes dual-zone climate-control airconditioning, cruise control, steering wheel controls for the audio system which has a six-stack CD and eight speakers (and a tape player), power windows, remote central locking, trip computer, leather interior power adjustable front seats, boot cargo net, 60/40 fold-down rear seat backrest, front and rear fog lamps, 17in-diameter alloy wheels, reverse sensing warning, electronic stability control, ABS brakes, dual front airbags, front and rear side (thorax) airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags. That's for $42,990.Spend another $4000 for the Grandeur Limited and you'll also get memory settings for seats, steering wheel and mirrors, heated front seats, automatic day-night mirror, power up-down rear windscreen sunshade, power sunroof, solar glass plus xenon headlights with washers. Steering has electric ad justment, too, including reach. It has a foot-pedal park brake and day-illuminated instruments.Slip it into reverse and the outside mirrors dip to show the rearwheels and the rear windscreen sunshade automatically lowers. Put it back into drive and they return to normal.The Grandeur is best at low to medium speeds – very quiet, comfortable, composed and able to return 10 litres/100km in rural and Hills driving.The lusty V6 responds with a purposeful distant growl when you put the foot down. The big 1645kg Grandeur is no sports sedan. Press hard and understeer is evident on the front-wheel-drive chassis and the body leans. Put a bit more air pressure in the front tyres and the 235/55 x 17 tyres hang on better yet it's not as composed on bumpy corners as the Aussie-made rivals.But the point is this: the people who buy Grandeur probably won't seek a sports sedan or pin-sharp steering. They'll want a luxury feel, lots of comfort and convenience equipment and smooth power.

This was the same ambition the company held for the previous Grandeur, which languished in showrooms for almost four years before a new management team removed it late in 2003. Blame was apportioned to a lack of promotional funds, a sullied brand image (still tied with the discount-fuelled "Excel era") and a sales force unused to selling cars on their merit.But there was more to it than that. Hyundai's first attempt at "grandeur" relied more on large dimensions and a high level of standard features than any sense that engineering excellence and driving finesse were integral to its development.To this end, not a great deal has changed with the new model. Hyundai might have more marketing dollars, a better reputation and smarter-trained salespeople, but its greatest vehicle still has marked deficiencies deeper than the state of suspension tune.As before, the Grandeur has a muscular V6 engine (now out to 3.8 litres), a silken automatic transmission and a comfortable ride when the road surface is billiard-table smooth. There is some numbness in the steering, but overtaking out on the open road is a cinch, road and wind noise are well suppressed and the brakes have no trouble hauling in the 1645kg sedan.Indeed, settling back into the soft leather-faced seats, and slotting some music into the tape deck or CD/MP3 slot, the driver can be lulled into thinking that the Grandeur is more like a grand tourer.But, truth be told, it is not.In more demanding conditions, character flaws are soon revealed. At night the headlights lack effectiveness on high beam. In hillier terrain the five-speed auto tends to hunt around for the appropriate gear, while the sequential-manual shift mode places limits on the amount of driver control (shifting up a cog of its own volition, for example).Under hard acceleration the front wheels tend to scrabble for grip, the transmission can sometimes hesitate between first and second gear and, on uneven roads, torque-steer is evident as the steering wheel tugs at the hands. On rougher surfaces the ride quality deteriorates and noise and vibration rise through the steering column — reaching a crescendo in corners. Tighter bends cause the Kumho tyres to howl in protest, while a mid-corner bump can move the car off course.There might be a trifle more poise, and a bit more balance, than in the previous model, but this new version falls well short of the standards expected in this class of vehicle. It does little to inspire driver confidence, its behaviour deteriorates in accordance with the road conditions and it relies heavily on its electronic stability control system to keep its untidiness in check.It also consumes more than the government fuel consumption standard indicates, returning an unremarkable 16.3 litres 100km on our test.There are other aspects of the all-new Grandeur that leave it behind. Most disconcerting on our Limited test car was the buckled plastic trim on the lower dash section in front of the driver, overshadowing the excellent work done in creating a high-class interior ambience.The exterior doorhandles feel cheap and the doors themselves feel insubstantial. The rear headrests are restricted to a single position when raised from their hunker-down position. The centre-rear seatbelt has an awkward twin-buckle mechanism and none of the rear seats has an automatic belt locking mechanism for better securing child restraints.Otherwise, the facilities and features in the Grandeur are up to the knocker.The Limited tested here has eight airbags, reverse-parking radars, front and rear foglights, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, high-intensity discharge headlights (for low beam), an alarm, sunroof and "solar controlled" windows that alter as the external light conditions change.The driver is furnished with comfortable seats (with heating), electric steering wheel and seat adjustment (including lumbar and two-position memory), stereo and cruise control switches on the tiller, an auto-dipping rearview mirror, illuminated footwell, backlit instruments, a trip computer (with large screen) and simple-to-fathom controls for the powerful eight-speaker stereo and dual-zone climate-control airconditioning.Hyundai's interior designers have shown great restraint in the use of chrome and fake wood veneer, creating instead an attractive and elegant cockpit. There is a good range of storage and two power outlets up front.The back seat has plenty of room in all directions and useful amenities including air vents, door bins, maplights, a power outlet, rear sunshade, pull-down centre armrest with cup holders, and two grab-handles at each window-seat position. The centre position is hard and rather uncomfortable.The boot is huge, fully lined and contains a full-size spare under the floor. Smaller items can be held with a cargo net or within a small recess, while larger items can be accommodated via the 60/40 split-fold backrests.On paper, and from the showroom floor, the all-new Grandeur looks like a true prestige contender — and hard to beat. But as our drive illustrates, Hyundai still has plenty of work to do before threatening more established members of the big league. 

I mean, it wasn't just quiet, it was quiet enough to do the reading room at the local library justice – and that must say something about the car.The new model is nothing like and has nothing in common with the original Grandeur that Hyundai released several years ago.Most motor noters have has vivid memories of that car's soft, floaty ride – it was enough to make your sea sick.New Grandeur builds on the growing reputation of the recently released Sonata and takes the company into as yet untapped territory as it pushes towards the $50,000 mark.In fact, it could find a competitor in Sonata itself as the two cars are similar in size and appearance, although Sonata is significantly cheaper.At the end of the day, however, the question remains, just what are people prepared to pay for a Korean car?The other factor to consider is resale, because Grandeur is not likely to retain as much value as some competitors.Putting aside the badge and price for a moment, it would be interesting to gauge the reaction of drivers if they were put behind the wheel – unaware of what car they were driving.I'm guessing the reaction would be very favourable because there's not much to dislike with this one.It looks as good as anything from the Japanese, there's plenty of power from the big V6 and it ticks all the boxes in terms of safety and equipment.Our vehicle was the top of the line Grandeur Limited priced from $46,990. The base model is $42,990 while a top of the line Sonata will cost you $34,990.Powered by a larger version of Hyundai's Lambda V6 from Sonata, the 3.8-litre V6 delivers 194 kW of power at 6000rpm and 348Nm of torque at 4500rpm.It's enough mumbo to push the car from 0 to 100km/h in a rapid 7.2 seconds.Fuel economy is a claimed 10.8L/100km but we averaged 11.4L/100km during testing.Some people have found the ride too soft, but we reckons it befits the car's role as a prestige vehicle.Traction and stability control are standard while safety is taken care of by ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, eight airbags and active front head restraints.The eight-speaker Infinity sound system ranks with the best of them.Minor quibbles include the grey unpainted apron that laps the bottom of the paintwork around the car.The rear park sensors also remain unpainted and stand out like the proverbials.On top of an already long equipment list the Limited adds: a power operated sunroof, reactive solar glass electrically operated rear window sunshade heated front seats electric steering wheel adjustment automatic, self-levelling xenon headlights with washers rain and road speed sensitive wipers, two-setting driver seat memory, for door mirrors and steering wheel adjustment pos- itions, auto dimming rear view mirror. In the end, no matter how good the car is, it is its price that will ultimately count against it – because for less money you can buy a Nissan Maxima.It may not be as well equipped as the Grandeur, but Maxima has a formidable reputation and its engine is world renowned.

This was borne out when the world's motoring press got to briefly drive the XT on Hyundai's Namyang R&D proving ground in Korea recently.The focus was specifically on improvements made to the suspension (too soft), an aspect of the previous model that Australian motor noters took issue with.In fact, the XG – which was last here about two years ago – had some commendable qualities, including being the first car in its segment to have a five speed auto with tiptronic.The steering was said to be "lifeless" with noticeable kickback mid corner whenever a succession of bumps was encountered.Mind you, this happened when pushed and pushed darn hard as test cars invariably are.But good news for anyone thinking of buying a new Grandeur is that Hyundai has heeded criticism in coming up with its commendable XT effort.To prove this, we got to drive both the Euro version back-to-back with the softer "dom- estic" (i.e., Asian and US) version.Not that the latter is shoddy either, as we found out circulating the 3.2km banked test track pulling 180km/h through the turns and touching 200km/h along the straights.You could hear and feel the rear suspension working, but the car never moved off line and no vibration was sensed through the wood trim steering wheel.But punted hard through a slalom of witches' hats, the stiffer suspension of the Euro spec car outshone its domestic spec sibling noticeably, with an impressive absence of body roll and responsive, sure change of direction.Expect the Aussie version to be even better – stiffer again, said HMC Australia's PR man, Richard Power who was there to drive the cars too.And the XT will come with Hyundai's 3.3-litre V6 power plant, as opposed to 3.0-litre motivation in the XG.The interior of the new car impressed in being a little less pretentious than the XG.Styling, as always, is a personal taste thing, but Grandeur has an attractive shape – particularly to the rear three-quarter – without being a standout in the crowd.No price has yet been announced for the Australian market, but it would need to be competitive with the likes of Nissan's Maxima.Before the XT gets here in 2006, HMC Australia will have other new and revised offerings to its range.Hot on the heels of the recently introduced and very successful 2.9-litre Common Rail Direct injection turbo charged diesel Terracan comes the new mid-range Sonata sedan in June.This will be followed by a major upgrade to the award winning Getz in September-October.Sonata also gets a choice of the 3.3-litre V6 along with the usual 2.4-litre four-cylinder.

The rear end looked odd, the interior appeared cramped and the styling, well, it was interesting to say the least.But the opportunity to test the car on a road proved that first impressions are not always the best.From the side the Granduer looks almost like the BMW 6 Series with a fast-back style rear end that, at first glance, appears unfinished. The front is rather unassuming, if not a little bland compared to the particularly bold rear end with slightly less pronounced front guards and smallish grille.Inside the Grandeur is very comfortable and, quite stylish.The wood grain is minimal, almost understated, which is a refreshing change to some of the lesser-priced luxury cars which over-use wood grain and end up looking cheap and nasty.The centre console area is finished in a silver (almost dappled chrome-like) finish which is actually funky.The test drive involved accelerating up and down a huge concrete strip. The suspension and handling was tested through a slalom course.There was an opportunity to test both the domestic and European suspension packages. Australia, thank goodness, was not getting the softer, almost pillowy, domestic setting. The European setting was noticeably firmer, and the car handled better around the slalom with a lot less kickback through the steering when cornering hard.The brake pedal is a little spongy but does the job when pushed hard at speed while the new Lambda engine gives a throaty note not previously experienced in most Hyundais. In automatic the gear changes are smooth. Using the manual shifter, the gear is not held at redline but the box does allow it to reach the 6500rpm before automatically changing for the driver. It appears to be a good package, but final judgment will be made with a longer test on some Aussie roads.