Road Test: Image is everything - and Korean cars suffered from the perception that, while perfectly reliable and trustworthy, they lacked style, dash, oomph. The Hyundai Coupé began the fight-back. Andrew Hamilton road tests two new Hyundais with plenty of style
Korean car manufacturers are showing these days that they are adept at catching up. Their cars used to be perceived as lagging behind in style and appearance and overall appeal. But companies such as Hyundai have gone a long way to altering that view.
The shapely Coupé started the move to producing modern machines that drive well and look good. The latest version actually has something of Pininfarina's glorious Ferrari 456 in its lines - hardly surprising considering that Hyundai is a client of the famous Italian styling house.
Today we are looking at not one but two Korean cars, both Hyundai but both for different sorts of customers. One is the Matrix, a family MPV-type chariot, the other the Sonata, an executive saloon.
Matrix actually blurs the distinction between hatchbacks, estate cars and MPVs. Here is a car that is a bit of each. The journey from Korea was via Turin, where as with the Coupe, it was designed by Pininfarina in a studio that's better known for its Ferraris and Alfa Romeos.
The five-door, five-seater Matrix is shorter than the new crop of tall hatchbacks such as the Peugeot 307, Fiat Stilo and Honda Civic but it raises its roof almost to the height of the Renault Scenic. It is said to have more room inside than the Scenic, the original compact family MPV, but whether that is usable space is debatable. It is certainly not as adaptable: although the rear seats slide and fold, they cannot be removed.
Still, Hyundai has found a useful niche. Pininfarina has given the Matrix a distinctive style with deep side windows dropping below the car's belt-line and a tidy cabin , which has many useful storage compartments and tables that fold down aircraft-style from the front seats. The extra height means that there is more space than in the average hatchback and being able to move the rear seats over a 4-inch range provides an unusual amount of legroom in the back.
The consider the price: €20,050 ex-works for the 1.6 litre GLS is less than what's charged for most similarly-engined family MPVs like the Scenic which is €25,950. The Citroen Xsara Picasso in 1.6 litre form, comes in at €22,050 and the 1.6 Opel Zafira starts at €23,696. It's another Korean product that is the Matrix's most formidable competitor. The Daewoo Tacuma 1.6SE retails at €20,995 ex works and it offers air conditioning as standard.
That's an extra on the Matrix.
The Matrix has two front and two side airbags and anti-lock brakes as standard equipment but provides only a lap belt for the centre seat at the rear. The general appearance inside is smart although partly at the expense of function.
Four overlapping dials are housed in a tunnel at the centre of the fascia which doesn't make for easy viewing. We found the seats somewhat firm but still supportive and comfortable and the driver's seat is height adjustable .
The 1.6 litre twin-cam 16-valve engine delivers 101bhp. It's willing and enthusiastic if a little louder than some of the aforementioned rivals. The less-than-vital statistics are that it will -or should-attain a top speed of 106mph and sprint from 0 to 60mph in 12.7 seconds. More importantly, we found a useful residue of pulling power through the gears for overtaking. On the road and at speed the Matrix is composed while it feels slightly uncomfortable on rutted and rough surfaces.
We didn't during our test ever drive with a full load and thus exploit its people-carrying potential. That could be one explanation for the reasonably impressive fuel consumption, 39mpg on as long run. It was an easy drive with little or no traffic, allowing us to stay in fifth for most of the driving time.
Matrix comes with a high level of specification. Air conditioning may not be standard but there's an electric tilt-and-slide sunroof as well as electric windows all round. It's an attractive vehicle to look at: Pininfarina has done a good job.
However, there's surely a case for making it more versatile. If it is really meant to be a challenger in the MPV segment, then removable seats should be part of the inventory.
On then to another Hyundai that was in our recent test programme, the Sonata. It's actually Hyundai's best-selling car in the US and in clinics there, buyers have rated it as above even America's best-selling model, the Toyota Camry.
Now it has new sheet metal, engines and gearboxes and the word is that it's making further inroads into the hearts and minds of middle America.
We drove the 2.0 litre four-cylinder version with 131bhp and an ex-works price of €25,700. There's also the bigger-engined 2.7 litre V6 that retails at €35,200 ex-works.
We were intrigued by the styling which wasn't done in Italy but in Korea. The front twin peanut-shaped headlamps gave us a touch of deja-vu and indeed so did the sloping tail. The frontal reminder was of Mercedes, the rear of Jaguar. It's styling that presumably is meant to pander to European tastes.
We have no crib with the car's looks though. The Sonata has a sleek appearance in spite of the apparent Mercedes and Jaguar influences and it drives well in the quiet and hushed fashion of a luxury car at two or three times its price.
We liked its refined manners although we couldn't match the massive hype of some of the promotional material that came to us with the car: "It's a shape so sensual that it moves heart and soul. But be advised.
The moment you turn the key, it will instantly ignite your passion for driving and send you searching for a stretch of long open road."
We ignited the passion and found a ride that was comfortable and handling that was surefooted. The real appeal, we think, lies in the Sonata's opulent and very spacious interior. Virtually every accessory of luxury motoring including the wood and the leather, is there and there's a thoughtful array of storage places for oddments and sunglasses along with the ubiquitous cup holders.
Our test car came with the optional Porsche-designed four-speed automatic which meant smooth and imperceptible shifts. Fuel consumption worked out at 26mpg after we searched and found "a stretch of long open road."
Who or what are the Sonata's competitors? In its pricing, it's close to big volume family and fleet cars such as the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, Nissan Primera, Opel Vectra and Citroën C5. Buyers looking for a car that's less "everyday" might just slip into the driver's seat, turn the key and see if their passion is ignited!
FACTFILES
Hyundai Matrix 1.6GLS
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 1,599cc 16-valve twin-cam unit developing 101bhp at 5,800rpm. Five-speed manual gearbox.
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 106mph, 0 to 60mph in 12.7 seconds.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 39mpg as tested.
SPECIFICATION: Electric tilt-and-slide sunroof, electric windows all round.
PRICE: €20,050 ex works.
THE OPPOSITION
DAEWOO Tacuma 1.6SE..............€20,995
RENAULT Scenic 1.6 Dynamique.....€25,950
OPEL Zafira 1.6 EX Club..........€23,696
CITROEN Xsara Picasso 1.6........€22,050
Hundai Sonata 2.0GLSi
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION: 1,997 DOHC unit developing 131bhp at 6,000rpm. Five-spped manual gearbox. 4-speed H-matic Porsche-designed automatic is an optional extra
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 121mph, 0 to 62mph (100kph) 13.2 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 26mpg as tested.
SPECIFICATION: Leather uphostery, wood trim console, climate control etc
PRICE: €25,700 ex works
THE OPPOSITION
FORD Mondeo 2.0 Executive...........€31,608
TOYOTA Avensis 1,8WTiSol............€27.930
CITROEN C5 2.0......................€27,320