30 May 2011
With bulky styling, large lamp clusters front and rear and an abundance of chrome embellishments to the exterior, to some eyes the styling of the XG is not as appealing as its competitors, each to their own as they say, and taken as a whole the vehicle starts to offer greater appeal.
The spacious interior projects a classic elegance of many British luxury vehicles with wood grain trim finisher panels, chrome door handles and leather covered seats, door trims and steering wheel. Front seats are well shaped for good support and comfort with all adjustments being taken care of electrically and only the driver's seat having height lift.
Steering wheel position is height adjustable as are the front seat belt top pillar mounts.
Passive safety features include front and side air bags which work in conjunction with the seat belt pretensioners and load limiters to assist in absorbing the violent forces in an accident.
Controls and switches are well placed for easy definition and reach. Creature comforts include climate control air conditioning; a superb stereo system with 8 stack CD unit in the boot, cruise control electric, electric window operation and electric adjust exterior mirrors.
Two very handy features are an interior mirror which electronically adjusts its tint to ambient light changes and the left exterior mirror adjusting downwards when reverse gear is selected to assist in sighting the edge of the road or kerb when reversing into a parking space.
Rear passengers are well catered for in leg and head room and all three seat belts are lap diagonal inertia locking reels. An abundance of storage cubbies are positioned around the cabin and a large boot area offer plenty of luggage capacity. Although the rear seat backs fold forward there is only a small aperture through the rear support panel.
The 3.0 litre V6 engine originates from Mitsubishi however Hyundai have carried out many upgrades and modifications to improve noise, harshness and vibration and included the latest electronic engine management systems for smooth responsive and clean burning performance.
The XG does not purport to be a performance model, that said, it is no slug either.
Coupled to a 5 speed electronic controlled automatic transmission the two units work well together for very smooth gearshifts when driven on light throttle openings for executive passenger comfort.
2000 GranduerFor the times when performance is needed the transmission has a sequential sport shift operation where gear changing can be operated manually.
The soft suspension provides a smooth ride over even road surfaces however it is easily unsettled and becomes noisy on broken and undulating surfaces or twisty road sections.
Active safety features include anti lock braking {ABS} electronic brake force distribution {EBD} which applies brake pressure to wheels which have the most grip, and electronic traction control {ETC} which controls torque through the driving wheels to reduce wheel spin during acceleration.
For buyers looking for a vehicle with a spacious, comfortable and well appointed cabin, smooth driving ability and soft ride the Hyundai XG stands out by offering value for money as well.
Note: This review is derived from the AA's original road test report conducted when the vehicle was new.