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2004 Hyundai XG 350
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| Noticeably restyled and subtly refined |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:25:52 |
| Rating |
 92 ( -14 -15.21% ) | | Author | Sue Mead |
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Description:
2004 Hyundai XG350
Writer's Notes
2004 Hyundai XG350
Base Price: $24, 999
Engine: 3.5-liter DOHC V6 (194 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 216 lb.-ft. @3,500 rpm)
Transmission: Five-speed automatic with Shiftronic and manual shift overdrive
Wheelbase: 108.3 in.
Length: 191.9 in.
Width: 71.9 in.
Height: 55.9 in.
Weight: 3,651 lbs.
Fuel economy (estimated): 17/26 mpg city/highway
Standard safety equipment: ISOFIX child seat tethers, front airbags, front passenger side airbags, ABS with EBD and traction control
Major standard equipment: AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo, power locks, windows and mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, adjustable tilt steering wheel, halogen headlamps, electrochromatic rearview mirror, power heated outside mirrors, power adjustable front passenger and driver seats, power outlets, Homelink transponder system, leather seating
Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain; five years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper
5 questions about the 2004 Hyundai XG350
Where is the XG 350 built and when does the new model go on sale? Built in South Korea, the new model goes on sale in July.
What are its best features? What's most appealing about this upgraded sedan is its competitive pricing and great warranty. It's also attractively-styled with many luxury appointments, and has a roomy and bright interior.
Any complaints? Road noise from tires was a bit more obvious than preferable in our test drive.
How does it handle and how many does it hold? This mid-sized sedan, built to carry five, weighs over 3,600 lbs. and has a wheelbase of 108 inches. While it doesn't have the luxury ride of some other upscale mid-sized competitors, it does have competent handling with strong ABS brakes, linear power-assist steering, ample power, and a Shiftronic system that allows for up and down shifting manually.
Who are its competitors? Hyundai considers its primary competitors the Toyota Camry V6, Honda Accord V6, Nissan Altima V6, along with the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima and Chrysler 300M.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
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Hyundai's flagship sedan, the XG350, has been noticeably restyled and subtly refined for the 2004 model year. Serving as the leader for a pack of Hyundai offerings that offer value for the dollar, the sedan has a new exterior, an updated interior and improved ride and handling.
The foundation for Hyundai's value proposition is its 'Best in America' 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, launched in 1998. On this guarantee, this Korean automaker has brought to North America a fleet of vehicles that have clearly exceeded customer expectations during the past five years. Once thought of as a second-rate car company, Hyundai has emerged in the new millenium as a legitimate contender in the North American market.
A depressed economy has not hurt the brand's prospects, either. Even the top-of-the-line XG350 starts around $25,000 - and when the model was introduced in 2000, the industry wasn't convinced drivers would pay that much for a Hyundai when the same price would buy them a Honda.
As the numbers prove, car customers would and they have. Sales of the bargain-priced luxury sedan are up 22 percent in 2003, and this model is a significant contributor to the expected growth of Hyundai dealerships from 607 to 630 by the end of the year. Overall, the company's sales were up 8 percent for the year as of April, while the industry is down by 4 percent.
Model overview
The 2004 XG350 is available in two trim levels: the base XG350 and the up-level XG350L. Both versions come with a 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual shift. Cruise control, ABS and traction control are standard.
XG350 features include halogen headlamps, fog lights, heated body color outside mirrors, 10-spoke alloy wheels, automatic temperature control, AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo, leather seats and power locks, windows and front seats.
XG350L adds outside mirrors with tilt reverse and memory functions, power moonroof, 12-spoke alloy wheels, premium Infinity speakers, leather-and-woodgrain trimmed steering wheel and heat and memory functions to seats.
Only a couple of options, most notably an 8-disc CC changer, are available on the XG lineup.
Hyundai boosted the engine's displacement from 3.0 liters to 3.5 liters for the 2003 model year (thus changing the car's name from the XG300 to the XG350), and the motor has not been updated in the two years since.
Outside view
Hyundai's flagship has a completely revamped exterior. The front grille is restyled, as are headlamps and a new front bumper with integrated fog lights. The bumper also holds an updated horizontal air dam, which helps give a wider stance to the car.
Wider molding along the beltline draws the eye to the rear of the car, where the decklid has been revised to include a license plate mount (located in the bumper for the previous model year). The bumper has been refashioned with new taillamps and a new LED-type rear center brakelight, which gives a brighter, stronger lights.
Inside the cabin
The interior has not been completely overhauled. Rather, it has been notably improved thanks to many small adjustments and refinements throughout the cabin. Leather seats are now accented by updated woodgrain trim and better lighting. In addition to illumination overhead, in vanity mirrors, in the cargo area, glovebox, footwell and front ashtray, the XG now includes C-pillar-mounted rear reading lights. An electrochromatic rearview mirror with HomeLink transponder system is now standard.
The dashboard is more user-friendly for 2004, with an improved instrument cluster and trip computer display. Other details include a leather cover on the center armrest tray, which had been an unattractive plastic top in previous model years. Buttons for cruise control have been revised for a better feel and easier use, as have hood release, trunk pull-down and tilt steering wheel levers. Trunk lifters are now gas-operated and child seat tethers are neatly covered when not in use.
Under the hood
Although the inside and outside have undergone cosmetic surgery, the powertrain for the XG350 remains largely the same. Hyundai boosted the engine's displacement from 3.0 liters to 3.5 liters for the 2003 model year (thus changing the car's name from the XG300 to the XG350), and the motor has not been updated in the two years since. The transversely mounted powerplant delivers 194 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 216 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm.
The 5-speed automatic transmission features the Shiftronic system with manual shift overdrive. Drive is front-wheel drive and traction control is standard.
On the road
XG350 delivers a smooth ride on front independent double wishbone and rear multilink suspension system, mated with nitrogen gas-filled shocks. Four-wheel discs with ABS are standard on all models, and the front brake rotor has been increased from 10.9 inches to 12.1 inches for better stopping power. The brake system is boosted by EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution).
Safety equipment includes front dual front airbags and front-seat side-impact airbags. ISOFIX child seat tethers are standard, as is keyless entry with alarm system.
Overall, the XG350 delivers on its promise of great value for the money. It won't compete, performance and style-wise, with the heavy hitters from Germany, Japan and the U.S., but the Korean flagship offers a premium-level alternative to the Accord for a smaller price and a better guarantee.
--Photos Courtesy of Hyundai North America
--Story by Sue Mead
Sue Mead works as a photojournalist and features writer for more than two dozen publications. She has written for Parade, Popular Science, Open Road, the Road & Track Buyers Guide, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics and Diversion and she has worked as an auto editor for CNN/fn. Sue has co-driven in two of the world's toughest off-road races, the Baja 1000 and the Paris-Dakar Raid. She attended four Camel Trophy adventures for Land Rover North America and has participated in several long-distance adventure drives. She recently completed her first book, "Monster Trucks and Tractors" published by Chelsea House. Sue lives in New England. |
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