Hyundai XG350

And you thought Hyundai was just a good college-grad car. As Hyundai's reputation and respectability grew, so did its cars and standard features. The midsize Hyundai XG350 represented the Korean automaker's foray into luxury sedans, offering many of the same features (if not more) available on the more highbrow Mercedes and BMWs of the world. It first appeared on the scene as the XG300, when it had a 192-hp, 3.0-liter Sigma V6, but in 2002 changed its name to the XG350, with an engine upgrade to a 194-hp, 3.5-liter V6.

What made the XG350 stand out for consumers was its ability to offer first-class creature comforts at economy-class prices, coupled with Hyundai's innovative 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Comparable in size to the Maxima, the XG350 came as either a base model or more luxurious L. For a lot less than its German counterparts, the XG350 packed in leather seats, power front seats, a CD player, and front and rear climate controls. Moving up to the L added a sunroof, heated seats, and memory settings. There were few changes to the front-wheel-drive sedan over the years until its demise in 2005, the most significant of which was the addition of a CD changer. With plenty of legroom and actually more headroom than its competition, the XG350 seated five passengers comfortably in two roomy rows, with an average-sized trunk.

Consumers were impressed with the XG350's luxury trappings, but its smooth performance and V6 power were equally surprising. By bringing a bit of upscale comfort to the masses, Hyundai expanded its customer base, added more cachet to its name, and started to give the bigger boys something to think about. In 2006, the XG350 name was dropped and the sedan was repackaged as the Hyundai Azera.