Hyundai catering for a crowd

Hyundai's 'Trajet' is the latest people-mover to arrive on the New Zealand market, reports DAVID LINKLATER.

Is there room for another people-mover in an already crowded marketplace? Hyundai says yes.

The Korean carmaker has just launched its first-ever full-size MPV in New Zealand. The Trajet, which takes its name from the French word for journey, promises V6 power, a generous level of equipment and seating for seven in a package no longer than the Sonata sedan.

The Trajet first appeared as a Seoul Motor Show concept last year, wearing aggressive frontal styling and flared wheel arches. The finished version is a good deal more conservative than the muscular-looking original, but retains the same basic profile and packaging.

The front-wheel-drive Trajet is powered by a 2.7-litre V6 engine producing 127kW at 6000rpm and 250Nm at 4000rpm. It drives through a four-speed automatic transmission with a column-mounted shift lever.

The Trajet shares some basic floorpan components with the Sonata, but its 2830mm wheelbase is 130mm longer than its sedan sibling, and is conceptually similar to cars such as the Honda Odyssey and Mazda MPV.

However, minimal overhangs front and rear mean that the Hyundai is 140mm shorter overall than the Honda, and finishes 55mm earlier than the Mazda.

Like its Sonata cousin, the Trajet is suspended on double wishbones at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear, both with stabiliser bars.

The Trajet is available in a variety of seating configurations. Local importer Hyundai Automotive New Zealand has elected to take a seven-seat version, which features a spring-loaded walk-in device on the second-row seats for access to the rear, and removable seats in both the second and third rows.

Standard equipment includes dual airbags, air-conditioning with separate controls and ducting for the rear, adjustable-height seatbelts for window-seats in the centre row, remote central locking with anti-theft alarm, and three 12-volt power outlets.

Hyundai had not confirmed its price for the Trajet at the time of writing, but it's likely that the company will work hard to undercut even budget-price seven-seat rivals such as the four-cylinder Honda Odyssey ($42,000) and Kia Carnival ($41,995).

The Trajet is the latest in a line of people-movers to hit the Kiwi market, but will be by no means the last.

As revealed in the New Zealand Herald last week, Fiat importer Azzurra Motor Group plans to launch the radical six-seat Multipla in limited numbers in July, while Toyota New Zealand is readying an all-new version of its popular Previa with a front-mounted engine and front-wheel-drive.

Meanwhile, Hyundai has also announced pricing for its XG luxury sedan. The executive four-door has gone on sale for $45,990, with a specification list that includes four airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic force distribution, automatic air-conditioning, full leather trim and an eight-stack CD player.

Power for the XG comes from a 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 143kW and 265Nm, driving through a five-speed automatic gearbox with an "H-Matic" sports shift function.