Hyundai XG Test drive 1999 - 2003 sedan
Full -fledged at half price
People say - you see a black cruiser with chrome nostrils or an eye, take to the right or cross - these poor karma have. In the case of Hyundai XG, the rule does not work: the Big Black Korean Limo Bratkov and the bourgeois establishment will not be interested. For them, it costs too cheap. Why buy a tie for $ 200 if the boutique sells them at $ 500 across the road? Is it worth it to lay out $ 25,000 for an incomprehensible Hyundai XG, if you can throw another quarter and take the right bomb or eye gelding, like everyone else? In general, the trouble with these cars is status.
In white pants
Hyundai XG - the car is prominent. It is difficult to say whether Nuchchio Burton would have choked with Oil, seeing this car on the streets of Turin, but one thing is clear - this Korean wants to be important. In front of the future owner is met by a decomposed chrome grille, which is part of a large and embossed hood. On both sides of it there are block factories that hide two round light elements under their carbon glass. This is a pretty repeated-significant move, introducing an element of garage bushes into the appearance of the machine. He is not so striking if the car is painted with silver metallic, but we got a black car, like a miner in the face. Against this background, multiple chrome details - inserts in bumpers, moldings, stylish door handles were made to stand out. Practicing policies will evaluate another attribute of the Russian government - yellow fog, integrated in the front bumper.
I don’t know how long the Korean designers smoked before you decide to install such original separate mirrors instead of ordinary bursts, but this move clearly adds individuality to the car. Finally, they undermined their health, most likely on the frameless doors, but, believe me, it cost them spent nerves and heated pencils. Similar - a little not from this life. We must see - lower the glass, open the door and feel how a heavy car turns into a beautiful one. It was made in Korea, but in the air the aroma of a real Dolce Vita. The wide rear racks flowing into the trunk line form the back of the car, organic and not overloaded. Red reflectors spoil the impression a bit - we argued for a long time whether the hand of a stylist fluttered, or just the requirements of traffic rules in Korea are so intolerant of appearance. We agreed on the second. We note such an inconspicuous detail as the XG nameplate on the trunk cover. Even he has his own character and is made of metal, unlike ordinary plastic, which competitors spend on this. 
Where the legs grow from Since most Korean cars are relatively young, their pedigree is easily traced. So in the Hyundai XG, the features of the licensed Japanese Mitsubishi Debonair are guessed, however, thoroughly turned over. Having already experienced one restyling, XG also responds to the name Grandeur. Among the machines for the Korean elite produced by Hyundai, she is the most modest. In any case, compared to Hyundai Dynasty and Hyundai Centennial. The premiere of the Hyundai XG as a prototype took place in 1998 in Paris, and the serial car lit up a few months later at the Seoul Motor Show. The car was created on the Hyundai Sonata platform with a 50 mm base and 165 mm in overall length.
Life inside
A large outside, huge inside XG allows you to feel like a full-fledged master of the kingdom of comfort from light cream leather and exquisite wooden panels. Wly, sitting in the seat and finding new adjustments, I really want to exclaim: God, bless Korea with her generous marketers! Truly, not a single car manufacturers, except the local, will allow you to feel richer than you are.
Close the door, and in the usual place to the left of you will appear a windows control unit, rear -view mirrors and memory of the driver's seat. The adjustments of the front seats themselves represent a wide scope for creativity - there are three provisions of lumbar backup! A armrest is placed between the driver and the passenger, inside of which, thanks to the double bottom, you can place a lot of any little things. Perhaps only he, and the cover of the glove box are devoid of microlyffs, many of which will help you open the veil of secrets over other hidden containers in the wide central console. The design of the driver’s workplace is carefully thought out and pleased with the presence of air - free places that are not occupied by individual buttons and levers. All control of climate control and stereo system is arranged in one large block in the center of the panel. Finding a common language with him is quite simple, since all the symbols are easily read and understandable. It was possible to identify only one drawback - in sunny weather, the screen easily lights up and becomes almost blind. The on -board computer is located slightly above the same disadvantage, but the interface with it is even more simple and
Friendly. It works in three main modes: Distance (traveled path), Kilometers to Empty (number of kilometers until the tank is completely devastated), Average Speed \u200b\u200b(average speed), Drive Time (travel time). The display is so convenient that the eyes without any rush themselves find the necessary information. Under the smooth line of the visor of the instrument panel - large numerals of the speedometer and tachometer, on the sides - the indicator of the temperature of the coolant and the amount of gasoline. After the motor revives and numerous additional symbols will light up, the transmission mode indicators will appear exactly in the middle. Instead of the usual digital, she has a LED mode of operation - a diode is lit next to the number - and this is at first a little unusual. Thanks to adjustment, the steering wheel will adjust its position under you, and, in addition to its usual functions, will control the operation of the on -board computer.
In addition to the air conditioner included in the climatic installation, the hatch in the roof, operating in two standard modes, will help to set the desired temperature. Life was a success! - The passenger who has been sitting in the rear seat of the Hyundai XG will be excessed with full right. After all, he probably did not sit so freely, even if he is the happy owner of the BMW 523i or MB E-Class. Subjective sensations are confirmed by mean facts - XG and wider and longer than their classmates. And in terms of comfort, it does not lag behind eminent Germans - a convenient rear seat is obedient for two, although it has three head restraints. The middle part is not much adapted for long distances - in its back a convenient armrest, in which both the container for things and the dummy on the microlyphone are hidden.
In height, XG loses both BMW and MB, but thanks to the thoughtful landing of the front passengers and a special wave -like ledge in the rear of the ceiling, even tall passengers should not be afraid to save their tops. Equipment - Koreans!
Under the hood of the Korean, a 2.5-liter V-shaped six with a capacity of 163 liters borrowed from the Hyundai Sonata. With. Losing to its competitors at maximum speed, the car takes a good torque - 230 nm at 3750 rpm. But the main advantage of this car is not in the motor, but in the stunning 5-band automatic transmission from ZF. Designed together with Porsche AG specialists, this sequential machine captures the lack of thoughtfulness during switching, allowing the motor to fully realize its power. This is also confirmed by the data of speakers: up to a hundred car accelerates in just 9.1 seconds! Hyundai XG - a front -wheel drive car, with excellent handling for such a heavy car, which is facilitated by a completely independent suspension with springs as elastic elements.
The turns are overcome with moderate rolls, small and medium irregularities are overcome softly, but large ones already make the body sensitively tremble. A heavy steering wheel equipped with a hydraulic wrap has a good return effort, although not perfect. In addition, the machine in the standard is equipped with disconnected tracsh and cruise control, and the first system also performs a mission of dynamic stabilization. To stop the car in time without losing connection with the road, disc brakes on all wheels, ABS and wide Kumho PowerMax 205/65 R15 tires will help.
A source: Wheel magazine [No. 49/2001]
