2006 Hyundai Grandeur (replacement for XG350)

[Corey Bit Spank]

Hyundai showed its new Grandeur sedan at the Geneva show. It will be equipped with a new 3.3 liter V6 producing 233 hp, mated to a new 5-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift feature. Hyundai is moving engine development forward and catching up with the power levels of its Japanese rivals. The Grandeur is basically Hyundai's attempt to offer a Toyota Avalon at Camry V6 prices, so with engine output at least on paper equal to the Camry SE V6 Hyundai seems to be right on track. The Grandeur's suspension is actually--and rather unexpectedly--quite sophisticated. Up front it uses double wishbones and in the rear it uses a multilink setup. Overall dimensions are up in every category, while Hyundai claims that weight has not been increased over the XG350.



With the Grandeur, Hyundai is continuing its practice of offering lots of standard equipment at each price point. Dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seats, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/55-17 tires, dual exhaust and LED taillights are all standard. So are a total of eight airbags (front, front and rear side, curtain), active head restraints, and ESP stability control.



One bit of uncertainty is whether or not the car will actually be called Grandeur in the United States. The current XG is badged as the Grandeur in some international markets, so it remains to be seen which name will be used here.



Look for the Grandeur (or maybe XG?) to hit showrooms in July, 2005.



Text copyright © 2005 Michael Atlas.

 

[01bluecls]

Wow, Hyundai designs have come a long way. They dont have the greatest reputation for reliability and resale, but they are improving i noticed.

 

[LightngSVT]

I see notes of Honda Accord, VW Passat and Infiniti in this car. I kind of hate to admit it, but Im impressed. They sure have come a long way, I think Ford and GM should take a chapter from their book.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Corey, what are you, the Autopia auto show correspondent?

 

[imported_Larry A]

Wow, Hyundai designs have come a long way. They dont have the greatest reputation for reliability and resale, but they are improving i noticed.

According to Consumer Reports Hyundai makes one of the most reliabile cars.

 

[Corey Bit Spank]

Corey, what are you, the Autopia auto show correspondent?

lol, hey...it's the internet: I have no use for purchasing car magazines for new-car-news anymore.

 

[Kanchou]

not only that, how can you talk about reliability with a warranty like that?

 

[grimmster]

I currently own a 2000 Sonata, not a single problem with it, and I bought it used.



I like the updated looks of the XG a lot better then the new looks of the Sonata (2006), just the opposite of what I think of each car now.

 

[GoodnClean]

Ehhhhh I don't know. I see too many shapes and forms from other vehicles coming into play here, I think I like the style of the XG better.



Hyundai has come a LONG way though...

 

[Corey Bit Spank]

steviepoo, you're just sad that you didn't get your car hospital blue with a boring gray interior...



I mean come on, out of all the colors to pick, they take pictures of the "safe" combination. argh. That interior would look so much better in black. Or even a tan...gray just reminds me of 90s chrysler...

 

[04Runner]

Big improvement over the XG350, although I hate those wheels. Looks good on paper, but based on the Hyundai's I have driven, there's just something about them that is lacking. They don't have that solid feel of a Honda or Toyota. Can't pinpoint what it is, but they just feel a little subpar when behind the wheel.

 

[ntoddalbert]

They have come a long way, in the past few years if GM and Ford made the same advances they wouldnt be in the mess they are currently in.



I looked at the SUV from Hyudai and was inpressed for the money. I think the warranty is very overstated though, not much was covered or at least not what would you would expect to be replacing and even then there was a lot of wiggle room for the dealer to get out of it.



Of course nothing is free, my BMW warranty covered damn near everything including wipers while my Girls Honda warranty woud not cover a lot of things I would have expected be covered such as adjustments to doors to eliminate sqeaks and rattles.

 

[thinksnow]

I don't believe we will see Hyundai stock falling anytime soon. Their designs have gone from tin can in the Excel to stick-on luxury in the late 90's to genuine styling in that model you posted. I want to dislike Hyundai so much, but one of my classmates has an Elantra GT five door with manual tranny. Believe it or not, it's actually a lot of fun to drive, feels bolted together very tightly, and is truly a ton of car for the money.



If I'm not mistaken (I couldn't find it in a cursory Google search), Hyundai placed second only to Lexus in a J. D. Power initial build flaws survey.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I think the warranty is very overstated though, not much was covered or at least not what would you would expect to be replacing and even then there was a lot of wiggle room for the dealer to get out of it.

I dunno...my friend has a Sonata...and it seems to me they had the usual long warranty sliding scale...some stuff was covered for 1 year (like brakes), some 3 years, some for 5, and only the powertrain covered in years 5 to 10. I guess that's "overstated" if you really think everything in the car is going to be covered for 10 years...but nobody ever did that. When GM had the 6 year warranties...it was the same kind of sliding scale.

 

[f1guy68]

I don't believe we will see Hyundai stock falling anytime soon. Their designs have gone from tin can in the Excel to stick-on luxury in the late 90's to genuine styling in that model you posted. I want to dislike Hyundai so much, but one of my classmates has an Elantra GT five door with manual tranny. Believe it or not, it's actually a lot of fun to drive, feels bolted together very tightly, and is truly a ton of car for the money.



If I'm not mistaken (I couldn't find it in a cursory Google search), Hyundai placed second only to Lexus in a J. D. Power initial build flaws survey.

You are correct!



It also beat Honda and tied first with Toyota for 2 problems per 100 vehicles!



I own a 2003 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatchback. I bought it new!



I have had zero problems and the car is a great little vehicle! Nice ride, quick enough for me, no rattles or noises, a super warranty, comes fully loaded with leather and sunroof for around $20,000.00 CDN! You can't beat the value!



And the best part is Hyundai has stepped up to the plate and is now offering via the dealer network performance items such as:



Turbos (Stage 1 & 2)

Swaybars & Strut Bars

Rims

CAI's

Performance Chips

Headers & Exhaust

And a load of other goodies!



And they can and will be installed by your dealer as well! No ill effect on the warranty! They are all factory approved!



Anyway..Sorry to go off topic! I'm still stoked after 2 years with my car!



The new TG is the sum of styles from other cars, but that's OK! It's working for them, and it works for me. They are on the up and up, and are going places fast!



Follow the leaders, get better and faster, then pass them! Go Hyundai Go....lol

 

[SilverLexus]

Very interesting...looks like an Infinity to me.

 

[TW85 HHI]

Looks like some of the previous Audis and VWs.



One thing I do not like about Hyundai and Kia is the way they market their warranty. Read the fine print and it is not nearly as impressive as it first sounds.

 

[6Speed]

Now that is MUCH better looking that the XG350. I personally didn't like the XG350 very much.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

One thing I do not like about Hyundai and Kia is the way they market their warranty. Read the fine print and it is not nearly as impressive as it first sounds.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I don't think I have ever read a warranty that was as impressive as it first sounds. They are all full of legalese and weasel words. Not sure if this is still the case (although I'm pretty sure it is), Dell business computer warranties allowed them to install reconditioned (used) parts under warranty...that's not very impressive (especially after the batch of bad memory chips...)...and it was some car warranty that only covered certain replacement parts for 1 year...meaning if you had a 6 year warranty, and a widget failed at 3 years, and you had it replaced, if it failed again at 5 years, it wasn't covered.

 

[grimmster]

Does anyone give bumper-to-bumper warranty's over 3/36? I know my Chrysler is 3/36 b-t-b, but powertrain only is 7/70. I figured all the car companies warranties were like that anyway, anything over 3/36 is powertrain only??