2001 Hyundai XG300 (Grandeur/Azera) - MotorWeek Review

"HIGH BROW HYUNDAI BOWS"
The third-generation Grandeur is marketed as the Grandeur XG, mirroring its internal development code. In North America and Japan, it was marketed as the Hyundai XG. The first two generations were essentially rebadged Mitsubishi Debonairs, with the third generation developed entirely by Hyundai, with technical experience learned from the first two generations. The Kia Opirus (Amanti in North America) shared a modified variant of the Grandeur/XG platform. After this generation, Hyundai developed the next generation on their own from the ground up with technology accumulated through past generations, enabling export of the XG outside South Korea without legal complications.
Leveraging its luxurious image, the XG moniker later was also applied to the domestic market Hyundai Trajet which uses the same platform with the Grandeur XG
XG300
The XG300 debuted in 1999 with a 3.0 L Sigma V6.
It was manufactured from 2001 to 2003 and marketed as the XG30 in Europe and in Asian countries. A 2.5-liter model, called XG25, was also marketed in some countries, including as France.
In the United States, the XG300 equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 engine was available for the 2001 model year only. The "L" model included heated front seats, rear seat reading lamps, two-position driver's side memory seat and outside mirrors, power moonroof, 6-speaker Infinity AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo system, wood-tone accented steering wheel, electrochromic rearview mirror with a built-in three-channel HomeLink-compatible garage door opener, and a parking aid feature that automatically tilted the dual exterior mirrors downward when the transmission is in reverse. Automatic electronic climate control was available option, along with a power moonroof on the base model, and a trunk-mounted eight-disc CD changer for the L model.
Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 214 km/h (133 mph)
Power: 181 bhp (135 kW)
SIGMA V6
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RETRO CAR REVIEW'S & ROAD TEST'S

[@directreply350]

I’ve owned from new the XG350 (updated version of this), the Azera and the first Genesis sedan in order. This was my favourite. Owned it for roughly 6 years. Was a great car, incredibly comfortable and good looking, always got tons of confused looks and compliments from people who didn’t know what it was. Of the dozens of cars I’ve owned over the years this is one of the few I really miss

[@kevinftw16]

How did the Azera treat you? I recently bought a 2006 and love it

[@eliumizumi4894]

i had an 05 xg350 and got tboned at 60mph by a van and left without a scratch on me. i got the car for free and it wasnt my first choice, but it was a great car. i own a lexus now and i still find myself missing my hyundai at times. its a gorgeous car

[@patricknedz]

@@kevinftw16Azeras are great cars. I checked out a few before. I wanted one but ended up getting a sonata limited which is still very nice.

[@kevinftw16]

@patricknedz Haha thanks for replying to a old post. I LOVE my Azera still. A little over a year and 55k miles later since I bought it. You get a sonata with the 3.3? I love the Azera so much I bought a 2008 Kia Amanti to

[@patricknedz]

@@kevinftw16 my 2013 sonata has a 2.4 four cylinder. They quit making the sonata with a V6 after 2010 I think. My friend has a 2005 Volvo S80 which reminds me of the XG350 I had, pretty similar.

[@brianwong745]

I remember seeing this car for the first time at the 2000 CNE and everyone was like 'That's a Hyundai?!'

[@RetroCarReviews]

DID YOU JUST SAY THE "CNE" AS IN THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXIBITION... OMG

[@RetroCarReviews]

ARE YOU FROM THE T-DOT???

[@brianwong745]

@@RetroCarReviews Yes lol

[@RetroCarReviews]

RIGHT ON👍

[@matthewbowen5841]

Crazy to think there was less time between the Excel and Pony era and the XG, than there is between the XG and now. This has lots of engineering shared with the Mitsubishi Diamante/Magna/Verada.

[@munshimubarak]

I owned it from 2016 to 2022, it's a amazing car

[@Sagifer1]

Tengo uno, y esta bien bueno corre bien y hasta mejor que muchos autos nuevos

[@karinkatt7893]

still having it....xg250...not a garbage for me.....still silent ride...engine & gearbox still fine ...with regular servicing....tlc....so called garbage ..worst...shitty cars will serve u well...mine is 2003 model and yet only the abs, tcs is not functioning...the rest still in good shape even to its original paint...its very rare now in my country so driving it daily is a pleasure comparing to other normal boring looking car that u see daily...

[@thracorr9687]

My new car. I get it tomorrow. It replaced my mercedes w211. 🤗

[@avonnorris]

My aunt bought one brand new and remember my dad saying when he saw it he says, you know you just wasted your money on a Temporary Polished POS🤣🤣🤣.. She admitted not even 2 months later that he was right and the car was a Turd.. Lost like 20,000 but traded it for a 1 year pre owned Lexus ES 300 she still has.

[@RetroCarReviews]

As I Said Before, TOTAL PIECE OF 💩

[@gsxellence]

And now today you all dream of a Genesis

[@MrHeem94]

"Until now that is" Oh no John. No no no no no no.

[@gsxellence]

Much needed power upgrade with the 350

[@danwatne4481]

Actually not really, The 300 if I remember right was a premium fuel for max performance vehicle and the 350 didn't perform any better from 0-60.Ive driven both and the 3.5 ran out of steam earlier in the rev band than the 3.0 liter.The only reason It was switched to the 3.5 was because they had to put there 3.5 engine in everything Hyundai had, Sedona minivan Etc.The 3.0 had a more performance oriented feel then the 3.5 ever did

[@user-cj4sm8hv9y]

Azera XG

[@air-headedaviator1805]

The start of American market Korean luxury

[@CoolHandJames]

I love how this guy thinks every car is the best thing ever made, despite it being being a pile of garbage lol

[@hakeemsd70m]

These cars were great, what do you mean garbage? Have you owned one? We had an '03 XG350L and we absolutely loved it for the 5 years we owned it. Too bad the accident took out our baby...

[@GeeEm1313]

​@@hakeemsd70m He probably likes Civics.

[@hakeemsd70m]

@@GeeEm1313 More so than likely. No body's high horse is as high as a Civic owner's 😂

[@vwR32mja]

This car is junk just like new Hyundais still are!

[@hakeemsd70m]

The new Hyundais with their standard barbecued engines are truly garbage. These old Hyundais had some redeeming qualities.

[@eliumizumi4894]

have u owned one of these?

[@mattwolf7698]

Nah, I know someone with a 2019 Santa Fe with 70,000 miles on it. Literally no issues yet.

[@StevesModernReviews]

this car was junk

[@RetroCarReviews]

TOTAL PIECE OF SHIT... 👎

[@gsxellence]

@@RetroCarReviews 😨

[@hakeemsd70m]

How was it junk? Explain.

[@hakeemsd70m]

Let's see...excellent fit and finish, smooth ride quality, loaded with every feature under the sun including a sunroof, climate control, and multi disc in-trunk CD player, velvety smooth 3.5L Sigma V6, nice 5 speed auto box. The XG was Hyundai's first truly quality car in the US.

[@vwR32mja]

What a pile of shit

[@gedaman]

One of the worst knockoff luxury sedans along with the Kia Amanti. This thing is just embarrassing.

[@hakeemsd70m]

Until you own one. Out of all the cars my family owned in days past, including a 2012 Chevy Malibu, I miss the '03 XG350L the most. A lovely car.

[@gedaman]

@@hakeemsd70m I’d take the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ any day over the Korean garbage that Hyundai and Kia were churning out 20 years ago. For a similar price you could’ve gotten a nicely equipped Nissan Maxima or Toyota Avalon. To each their own.

[@carlasghost656]

A friend had one he bought used, I think 3-4 years old. He called it a knockoff Camry. Which seemed right. It was good, but not great. Kind of a generic Asian family sedan. In some places felt like there could have been just a little more, but a huge jump in quality over Hyundais from a few years earlier.