April 26, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Amid growing rivalry between mid-sized hybrid vehicles, Hyundai Motor is hoping to create a premier image with a hybrid version of its luxury Grandeur brand.

The 2017 Grandeur Hybrid retains the basic design of its gasoline model, but falls behind the original version in terms of performance. Of course, the hybrid version is meant to be more energy efficient than the conventional ones. But its acceleration felt less responsive during a 40 kilometer test drive April 5. 

The 2017 Grandeur Hybrid (Hyundai Motor)

When pressing down the accelerator to the fullest, the RPM rapidly increased, but the car did not breach 160 kilometers per hour.

Another drawback was that the brake pedal was less stiff and responsive than I would have liked.

But the sedan excelled in fuel efficiency as it completed the driving with an efficiency of 16.2 kilometer per liter, significantly higher than its gasoline model with 11.2 kilometer per liter on official average.

Also, a key advantage of driving the Grandeur Hybrid was its silence. It remained silent regardless of its speed, keeping the driving experience comfortable at 140 kph as it was at 80 kph.

The secret behind the silence is that the model has triple seals on all its doors and soundproof glazing, the company said.

The Grandeur Hybrid is also equipped with a slew of Hyundai Smart Sense functions for a safer ride.

A noticeable function was the Lane Keep Assist System, installed to make sure the car stays within the given lane by warning drivers in case of a lane departure.

It functions via a camera attached on the upper part of the windshield that identifies the white road markings.

The smart system worked about half of the time. Although still imperfect, the LKAS gave the driver a sense of security.

As for the interior, a door trim completed with light-brown colored real cork wood garnish, the first-ever among existing automobiles, added a refreshing and classy touch to the overall interior.

The 4.2-inch color LCD cluster designed for hybrid cars has a simple layout with a sky blue and light green design

Clever storage rooms also stood out while test driving the Grandeur Hybrid.

A CD player has been installed in the console box, a thoughtful design for old-school drivers.

A convenient storage space has also been made on the left side of the passenger seat’s legroom, where drivers can place books, makeup or other goods that are not too thick.

The model also comes with a 426 liter trunk, enough to store four golf bags, an essential feature for the sports loving Korean motorists.

The price of the Grandeur Hybrid ranges from 36.83 million won to 41.13 million won. But with tax benefit offered for hybrids, the final prices are 4.3 million won lower.

By Kim Bo-gyung/The Korea Herald (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)