2005 Hyundai XG350

The top-of-the-line model in Hyundai’s passenger-car line-up, the XG350 received a minor facelift in 2004 and so enters 2005 virtually unchanged. The biggest difference is its warranty: the 7-year/120,000 km powertrain added in 2004 has been quietly dropped back to 5-year/100,000 km for 2005. There is no price change from 2004.

The XG350 comes in a single trim line, powered by a 3.5-litre engine. Standard features include side-impact air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, automatic climate control, traction control, heated leather seats, 8-way power driver’s seat with memory, cruise control, leather-wrapped wheel and shifter knob, power windows, power sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels and fog lamps.

Perhaps in keeping with its target older audience, the XG350’s CD stereo has six speakers but does not offer the MP3 capability that’s standard on every other Hyundai model save for the very cheapest Accent.

The XG350 is a compromise car; although it’s stuffed with luxury features, its soft ride and less-than-precise handling detract from the package. It’s a better deal than the Kia Amanti, with which it shares its engine and an extended version of its platform. But the cheaper Sonata, even with its smaller engine and more compact size, seems like more bang-for-the-buck – and the freshly-unveiled, all-new 2006 Sonata may be even more so.

The XG350 is built in Asan, South Korea.