In fact, the basic chassis comes from Mitsubishi Sigma (Diamante), so does the 24-valve 3-litre V6 which pumps out a modest 192hp and 192lbft. Smooth and quiet the V6 may be, but powerful is not. Despite of variable induction manifold, the peak torque is still 15lbft less than BMW’s 2.8-litre straight six, and it appears no earlier. With 1600kg to cope, don’t expect performance matching European and Japanese opponents. 

Yet Hyundai borrowed Mitsubishi’s Sport Mode gearbox and named it "H-Matic". The 5-speed auto-based unit has a manual "+ / -" mode engaged by pushing the shifted to the second gate. As in Mitsubishi, fuzzy logic microprocessor memorizes the diving style of the driver. However, I couldn’t help thinking this is useless as the chassis never suggest enthusiastic driving. The power to weight ratio is a problem, the soft spring / damping setting is another, the inadequate suspension tuning is the third. There are double wishbones in front and mutli-link at the rear, but the heavy front end always understeer. Well, we know it’s a FF, but even the 272hp Volvo S80 T6 has far less understeer. Every time enter a corner in speed you have to back off the throttle, as a result, any driving pleasure disappears. 

The soft suspension also introduces a lot of body roll, but the most unexpected problem is torque steer, which rarely appear in such a punchless car with double wishbones front suspensions. Even without much power acted on the front wheels, the steering still feel inherently lifeless, not to mention steering response. 

So, if it is not a driver’s car, it must be a passenger’s car. Like exterior, the cabin design is as plain as Nissan Cedric. Dark fake wood on the console and door looks terrible. However, there is sufficient space and fine memory seats. Otherwise there is not much worth mentioning. 
 

XG350

As before, XG350's chassis tuning follows the old school American sedans, with soft suspension setting hence poor handling - rolls, pitches, dives, understeers, loses grip early, lifeless steering has no communication to road at all, not a bit involving to drive ... so much worse than its Japanese rivals selling in USA. Any positive comments ? yes, spacious and quite well built. Interior quality can shame Nissan Altima as well as any American rivals.