Hyundai Trajet Range
Although being Koreas leading vehicle manufacturer may sound to some like being damned with faint praise, Hyundai have made great strides over the past few years. The trouble is, its taken the public a while to cotton on. Take the Hyundai Trajet as an example. Those looking for the cheapest full-sized MPV have overlooked the Hyundai in favour of the Kia Sedona while those looking for something more mainstream have opted for something like a Citroen C8.
Being Koreas best has proven a poisoned chalice for the Trajet.
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Looking for the catch? There isnt one. Fuel economy has been improved as well, the Trajet 2.0 GSI now making a combined figure of 32.5mpg as opposed to the old cars 30.
4 mpg showing.
"Hyundai is offering buyers a well-specified full-size people carrier for the price of a mini-MPV"
A very mild facelift to the car keeps it looking fresh to the tune of a revised grille and headlamp set, a smarter set of wheeltrims for base models and the interior also gets a freshening with better looking and harder wearing seat trim. All Trajets now get a third three point seat belt in the rearmost seats, meaning all seven berths get a proper belt. Perhaps by campaigning on an unarguable standard equipment count, Hyundai can counter the success of the leading lights that are exerting such a stranglehold on this market. It also gives Hyundai an opportunity to wean customers away from the pricier mini-MPVs.
The difference between the space and kit you get in a Trajet and a car like a Xsara Picasso or a Focus C-MAX is just night and day. Compared to some of Hyundais recent gaudy efforts, the Trajets styling is contemporary and restrained with a minimum of Korean chrome. So it comes as no surprise to learn it was actually styled in Frankfurt, not Seoul, and made its public debut at the 1999 London Motor Show. In size terms, the Trajet (pronounced Tra-jay, French for journey) is on a par with the sectors larger offerings.
Yet the £15,542 2.0-litre base Trajet GSi undercuts the cheapest of the European rivals and its extremely well equipped with dual airbags, anti-lock brakes (with electronic distribution of the braking forces), remote control central locking with alarm, immobiliser, air conditioning, all-round power windows, power adjusted mirrors and a CD player all standard. If you want diesel power, the identically equipped £16,542 Trajet CRTD manages a rest to sixty time of 14.2s on the way to a maximum speed of some 106mph.
Unfortunately, it isnt much more economical than the 2.0-litre petrol version, with an extra urban figure of 43.5mpg that is very little different. Overall, you should save about 7mpg by opting for the diesel variant: in other words, dont expect to make up the price premium too quickly. In practical terms the Trajet is a good match for any of its seven-seat rivals though, like most of them, luggage space is somewhat limited with all the seats in use. The front seats swivel to face the back and the five rear chairs can be easily removed (youll need somewhere to store them). Plus theres a full complement of the seatback trays, cup holders, fold-up trays, map, bottle and pen holders, gloveboxes, reading lights and luggage nets that todays MPV buyers expect.
Coupled to the standard five-speed manual gearbox, the four-cylinder model makes 60 seconds in just under 13 seconds and reaches 111 mph. Everyday use should return around 30 mpg (for the 2.0-litre) with a few mpg more if youre in the TD. Handling and ride are adequate, if not as rewarding as some alternatives.
Still, while fine road manners are important to MPV buyers, a pliant ride usually takes priority and the Trajet is unlikely to disappoint. You could say the same about refinement and performance: good enough to satisfy the needs of most but not really class leading in any respect. Having said that, you can buy and own one without being constantly reminded of how much money youve saved. Although the Trajet finds itself tucked into a fold in the full-sized MPV market, it deserves consideration on more than a mere metal for your money basis. Constant fettling has served to smoothe many of its initial rough edges and its now an assured proposition.
Its not going to appeal to the committed badge-conscious buyer but for those who want a big, well made people carrier with plenty of toys at a bargain price, it barely puts a foot wrong.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Hyundai Trajet range
PRICES: £15,542-£16,542 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10D-12D
CO2 EMISSIONS: 192-208g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0CRTD] Max Speed 106mph / 0-60mph 14.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0CRTD] (urban) 29.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.5mpg/ (combined) 37.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4695/1900/1790mm
