Hyundai Trajet range   Women's view

Hyundais Trajet aims to offer all round competence rather than excellence in any area. Vanessa Hinkley finds this a refreshing change.

So many MPVs at the moment noisily proclaim themselves to be the best at this, the finest at that, or just generally wonderful. That is understandable I suppose. However it does mean that the Hyundai Trajet could be overshadowed. Perhaps the Koreans are convinced that their softly-softly approach will win them their necessary converts - or maybe they would rather the Trajet sells itself.

Whichever way they play the publicity game, the Trajet quietly encompasses many of the tricks its more expensive competitors use. To look at, it is very unprepossessing you could lose it in a car park easily. But that is precisely what sells in this sector Zafiras and Scenics arent outlandish vehicles and the most interesting MPV of recent times, the Fiat Multipla, died a death due to its styling. As uninspiring as the profile may be, I have to claim that I quite liked it.

Uncomplicated, unpretentious, the first impression was an excellent one. And I think that it may just stay that way.

The Trajet is a seven seater MPV and slightly longer (yet a little narrower) than the Vauxhall Zafira. Access to the rear two seats is by way of a hinged middle row that can slide forward or backwards to accommodate the rearmost passengers. The legroom right at the back is actually pretty acceptable and, if these seats are not occupied, you can told them flat to give yourself a respectable luggage capacity. In fact, all five rear seats can be removed and the front seats can swivel through 180 degrees.

Even though the Trajet is the cheapest MPV on the market, it is still loaded with creature comforts that include powered steering, windows and mirrors, ABS, air con and a stereo capable of quite hooliganistic volumes. One nice touch is that the rear windows dont roll down all the way useful if you have small children in the back as it prevents them sticking their heads out on the move. Passengers will no doubt appreciate the vast numbers of cup holders, seat back pockets, trays and general storage areas that the Trajet provides. Of course, you might need to leave yourself a reminder where you stored that Atlas.

Its in there somewhere... One thing that could count against the Trajet, if you were stylistically retentive, is the unimaginative interior.

There is a large amount of plastic, yes; it is all very boring, yes; but it is clear and when you have a clutch of children in the back you dont have to think about where the indicators are or where that fuel gauge is hiding. Yes its plain, but it is well designed and thats what realty counts.

The Trajet is as unassuming to drive as the styling suggests. While testing it around town, I was considering what to put in this editorial, but somehow, nothing was really coming to mind. So, III stick with the basics. If you want diesel power, Trajet TD 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. The top Trajet has a lusty 167bhp 2.7-litre V6 engine which, via the standard four-speed auto, is good for the 60mph sprint in a little over 11 seconds on the way to 119mph. Hyundai is particularly proud of its automatic gearbox, controlled by a steering column shift lever that allows walk-through access to the rear seats.

The automatic is an up-to-the-minute design with electronic control that can adjust shift patterns to the drivers style. Including skipping a ratio to provide greater acceleration or better fuel consumption. A new lubrication system extends fluid changes to 60,000-mile intervals, the Trajet otherwise needs servicing every 10,000 miles. Hyundais usual three-year/unlimited mileage warranty and three years of RAC cover are included, too.

So, in other words, you can stay on the road for longer. You wouldnt say that the engine or the ride are as refined as some more expensive rivals, but there in lies the key price. There is nothing wrong with the ride or the engine, but the extra flair of a Zafira isnt there. In a similar respect, the manual gear change isnt silky smooth, but it is pleasant none the less and you dont dread the stop-start of urban motoring.

The driving position is good, as is the visibility and all of the controls are pleasantly weighted. That seems to be a word that springs constantly to mind while I write this pleasant. That Is what the Trajet is even brand new models are as comfortable as your trusted old saloon from the word go. It wont set the world on fire, but it is quiet, unassuming and gets the job done for less than its direct rivals.

As I have already stated, the Trajet lines up very well with its competition. The prices span from £15,542 to £16,542, which for a seven seater with so many extras is very, very reasonable indeed. The Vauxhll Zafira, while cheaper, is only a five seater as is the Renault Scenic. You certainly cant quibble about the Trajet as a value proposition in space terms, and, once you add in the stereo, powered gadgets and leather on top-spec editions, it kicks others into touch.



I could definitely see the Hyundai Trajet making a home on my driveway. I liked that fact that it does what it sets out to do that is transport up to seven people with the minimum of fuss. And, since the styling is so slippery on the short-term memory, it isnt likely to look dated in a few years. I defy anyone to find anything wrong with this car, and that has to be a major selling point.

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