Midsize car; Built in South Korea
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $2,300 – $6,000*


2001 Hyundai XG350


2001 Hyundai XG300


2001 Hyundai XG300 interior


2003 Hyundai XG350


2003 Hyundai XG350

Pros:
  • Front-seat room/comfort
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Road noise

The XG350 isn’t as solidly built as the leading midsize cars, specifically the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It isn’t as sporty as the Nissan Altima, either. Nevertheless, an XG350 does deliver perfectly adequate performance; quiet, comfort-oriented road manners; and good interior room. The main lure has been a long warranty and plenty of features for the money, though those assets might not fully offset Hyundai’s unproven track record and low resale values. Low resale, on the other hand, translates to more appealing prices on the used-car market.

Overview

South Korea’s biggest automaker moved upscale for 2001, with a new U.S. flagship sedan positioned above the compact Sonata in size, price, and features. Essentially a stretched Sonata with different styling, the XG300 held a 192-horsepower, 3.0-liter version of the compact’s 2.5-liter V6. The sole transmission was a five-speed automatic with a manual shift gate.

Dimensionally, the XG300 was similar to the midsize Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, with a base price close to those rivals’ V6 sedans. Nissan’s Altima was another competitor.

Standard equipment included front side airbags, antilock all-disc brakes, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a CD stereo, cruise control, and 15-inch alloy wheels. An option package transformed the XG300 into an XG300L, adding a power moonroof, heated front seats, CD/cassette stereo, leather/wood steering wheel, and auto-dimming inside mirror.

The XG300 had gone on sale several years earlier in South Korea, and more recently in Europe. By introducing this model, Hyundai hoped to attract new customers while improving its stature and striving to boost resale values. Hyundai’s basic warranty was among the industry’s longest: 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, and 10/100,000 powertrain.

Yearly Updates

2002 XG350
Hyundai’s flagship sedan gained a larger engine for 2002, a change reflected in its new model name: XG350 rather than XG300. The XG350 had a 3.5-liter V6, versus the 3.0 used in the XG300. The new engine produced only 2 more horsepower, but delivered 38 more pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate again was the sole transmission.
Standard equipment included front side airbags, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, traction control, and leather upholstery. The XG350L sedan included a sunroof and seat/mirror memory.
2003 XG350
Except for a revised instrument cluster, little was new for 2003.
2004 XG350
The XG350 got revised front and rear styling and lighter-tone woodgrain interior trim for 2004.
2005 XG350
For 2005, an 8-disc CD changer becomes standard in the L model. XG350 is to be replaced in 2006 by a new model called Azera.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Hyundai started out by giving its upscale sedan a 3.0-liter V6 engine, but switched to a 3.5-liter V6 in the second season. That modification was accompanied by a name change, to XG350. A five-speed automatic has been the sole transmission.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 192
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 178
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

NA

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.5/221
Engine HP 194
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 216
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic

18/26

16.8

Road Test

Performance and ride comfort are strong points. The V6 engine feels strong, and is capable of 0-60 mph acceleration in about 8.3 seconds. Low-end torque is quite good, though one test model tended to leap forward at low speed with light application of the throttle. The automatic transmission generally shifts smoothly and promptly. An XG350L averaged 16.8 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving, using regular fuel.

Comfort-oriented suspension settings smooth out broken pavement with little harshness, though the front end jounces over seriously rough surfaces. Highway stability is good even in gusty conditions. Body lean is evident, but not severe. Tires demonstrate only modest grip in swift turns, so the nose is likely to plow in aggressive driving. Braking takes place in a stable manner, with good brake-pedal feel.

Despite the XG’s frameless door glass, wind noise is modest. Tire roar is not noticeable, and occupants can expect a generally hushed experience. The V6 engine emits a muted whine under full-throttle acceleration.

Dashboards are straightforward, with sensibly-sized controls. Lanky adults get fine leg space and good head room, even beneath the available sunroof. Ordinary-looking seats are comfortable and power-adjustable. Rear corners are invisible to the driver, but sight lines are good elsewhere.

Space is sufficient in back for two medium adults, and possibly a small child, on a reasonably supportive seat. Space-robbing sickle-shaped trunklid hinges impinge on an otherwise roomy cargo hold, which has a flat floor. Split rear seatbacks fold easily but not quite flat, revealing a pass-through that’s not full-width, either.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2001 Hyundai XG300

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 6
60%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 4
40%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 55

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.3 191.5 71.9 55.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.5 18.5 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.7 38.0 43.4 37.2
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Engine noise
Description: The XG300 3.0-liter engine’s hydraulic lash adjusters, although functional, may be too noisy for some people and quieter replacements are available with larger oil holes. (2001)
Engine stalling
Description: The lockup torque converter may not work at highway speeds or may cause stalling when coming to a stop and the problem may require replacement of the torque converter, the transmission or the radiator in which the trans cooler is plugged up. (2001)
Poor transmission shift
Description: The shift from park to reverse or drive is harsh in many models, but if it is extremely harsh, a revised transmission control module may be required. Likewise, harsh shifts in other gears may also require a new module. (2001-02)
Poor transmission shift
Description: The transmission may not shift when the “D” mode is selected or may not upshift or downshift when the “sport” mode is selected due to a faulty switch in the console shifter housing. (2001-02)

Recall History

2001 XG300
Description: Shorting side airbag wiring harness could cause dashboard airbag light to come on and possibly prevent airbag from deploying in an impact. Dealers will securely fasten harness and connectors.
2001 XG300
Description: Faulty powertrain control modules were installed in some vehicles, which could result in engine stalling. Dealers will inspect the affected parts and replace if necessary.
2001 XG300
Description: Some vehicles do not have the correct tire pressure placard attached. Owners will be provided with a correct placard and installation instructions.
2001-04
Description: (vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.) Road salt applied during the winter months may result in progressive, internal corrosion of the front sub-frame, and may result in thinning or perforation of the sub-frame steel. The corrosion is frequently visible and often discovered during inspection or routine maintenance, and owners may also hear noises or notice tire misalignment and steering pull. Dealers will measure the thickness of the front sub-frame and inspect the front sub-frame for corrosion damage and, if necessary, the front sub-frame will be replaced with a new sub-frame that incorporates additional holes in the upper and lower panels.
2002-03
Description: Fuel tank assembly vales on some vehicles may not close properly, causing possible spillage. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

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