As its reputation for reliability and performance grows, Hyundai tries its hand at the full-size luxury car segment with the 2004 Hyundai XG350. Hyundai's largest car, the front-wheel drive sedan offers more standard features than comparably priced cars in its class, such as the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Altima. Base trims start with full power features, power front seats, leather upholstery, a CD player, and cruise control, while the more upscale L trim adds memory settings, wood interior accents, heated seats, a sunroof, and upgraded Infinity audio system.
There are few changes to the sedan, popular for Hyundai's long-term warranty and low price tag. The grille, foglights, air dam, and rear bumper and license plate location are revised slightly, with more chrome added. A full-size 16-inch spare is now standard on both trims, and front brakes are larger by an inch. The wood trim comes in a lighter, more subtle shade for 2004. Another big draw for drivers are the standard safety features, which include ABS brakes and traction control, automatic headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, as well as dual front and front-side airbags. The result is four and five-star crash test ratings. A 3.5-liter, 194-hp DOHC V6 sits under the hood, paired with a 5-speed automatic with manual mode. Rear seats split-fold 60/40, and the trunk holds an adequate 15 cubic feet of space. Legroom is plentiful, though not quite as spacious as the Avalon.
Not only does the 2005 XG350 represent a good bargain for luxury-minded drivers with middle-class wallets, but owners say the ride is smooth, legroom comfortable, and the dash controls ergonomically pleasing. Front headroom could be improved, along with the disappointing 17/29 mpg and an unresponsive transmission works hard to find gears. Owners also wish for even more standard features, such as wheel-mounted radio controls.
