Powerful presentation

STEVE ROBERTSON * photos@semissourian.com

The XG350 L has the eye-catching lines of a luxury automobile, yet carries the price tag of a family sedan. It is shown here in front of the Massey House, built in 1869, in Marble Hill. The new Hyundai XG350 L is loaded with amenities and top-of- the-line presentation

In real estate, the three key words are location, location and location. May I suggest that in the automotive world, the three words are presentation, presentation and presentation?

When it comes to presentation, the Hyundai XG350 scores very well. There's not much to dislike about the top-of-the-line Hyundai. Its combination of price, size and features makes it an appealing alternative to more expensive cars.

When I picked up my test vehicle from Wieser Hyundai, it was stocked with sales literature, gas and perfect tire pressure in all four wheels.

It's always a good idea to check tire pressures before heading out on the highway in an unknown vehicle, not only for safety reasons, but to insure that your vehicle will handle and ride the way the engineers intended. Recommended pressures are located on a sticker either on the driver's doorjam or the inside of the glove box.

I scanned the fancy brochure and imagined I could be looking at something from BMW or Lexus ... the photography was high-ticket Madison Avenue stuff, and it was printed on heavy, expensive paper. Pretty fancy stuff for a company known for producing value-priced products. Would the car measure up to its promotional literature?

Established in 1967, Hyundai Automotive employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide, and sells vehicles in 166 countries through more than 4,500 dealerships.

The XG350 was first introduced in 2001 as the XG300 -- a larger 3.5-liter V-6 made it the XG350 starting in 2002. The XG is attracting consumers who aren't necessarily limited by a strict budget and might be considering a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Bigger than both, the XG seats five comfortably, is loaded with many standard features, but costs significantly less, and has a significantly longer warranty, than comparably equipped Japanese cars. The Korean manufacturer is doing to the Japanese manufacturers what the Japanese did to the Americans -- giving more car for less money. There are two XG350 models, the "Standard" and the "L." I tested the L.

How it compares

In overall length, the XG is 2 inches longer than both the Accord and Camry. It's a 1/2 inch wider than the Accord and about 1 1/2 inches wider than the Camry. Its wheelbase, the all-important distance between the front and rear wheels that has a tremendous effect on ride comfort, is also longer than the competition, beating the Accord by a 1/2 inch, and the Camry by more than an inch. But when your goal is to get that big-car feel and ride, nothing beats sheer weight, and here the XG350 wins hands-down. It is nearly 300 pounds heavier than the competition. Weight, however has its drawbacks, such as fuel mileage and performance. The XG gives up its bragging rights in both these categories, although 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway is nothing to be ashamed of.

Not that the XG350 is a slouch in the acceleration department -- it's just that everything is relative, and the Japanese can, and do, wring more horsepower from their engines, even though the Hyundai has a larger displacement engine. But as every enthusiast knows, "there's no replacement for displacement," and the XG's smooth V-6 has gobs of torque that you can feel when you accelerate from a stop. Standard traction control prevents wheel spin, but lets enough power flow to the front-wheel-drive to get you up to cruising speed in short order.

And that's where the XG350 shines -- out on the highway. I gave the keys to Pat, office manager at my studio, who drives a new Avalon, the top-of-the-line Toyota, and she was impressed. According to her, the XG350 holds the road as well or better than the Avalon, especially when meeting approaching trucks, and rides about as smoothly and quietly. That's high praise for a car at this price point! And she also praised all the luxury amenities that come standard on the XG that you usually see only on luxury cars. A former Lincoln and Buick driver, she noted the heated leather seats with power and memory features, the power moonroof, premium sound system, leather wrapped steering wheel with cruise control buttons, HomeLink garage door opener, trip computer, rear reading lamps and arm rest, automatic climate control, wood trim accents and many other features.

"It's an eye-catcher," she said. "People were definitely looking at it. It's a very pretty car. The chrome accents, the wheels, and especially that color really make it stand out."

Although the titanium color is a standout, most test drivers' comments centered on the ride, which is plush and quiet. Tar strips on concrete streets seemed to disappear, as did engine sounds and wind noise at cruise speed. This is a car for drivers who want to enjoy the sound system and luxurious appointments, while the suspension and automatic climate control take care of driving annoyances. The XG350L has price of $26,278.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at srobertson@semissourian.com.