2002 Hyundai XG350; Once unwanted, it now sails as Hyundai's flagship.(Name changes from XG300 to XG350, upgrade from 3.0-liter V6 to 3.5-liter engine)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)

How do you sell a $24,000 Hyundai? One you don't want to sell in the first place? That's what company officials in the States were asking themselves last year when the Korean parent company forced the XG300 on its U.S. office.

It turns out the car has sold very well, and it's become part of Hyundai's amazing comeback.

For 2002, this flagship's name changes from XG300 to XG350, denoting the upgrade from a 3.0-liter V6 to a 3.5-liter. The designers of the car must have taped photos of a Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln LS and a Lexus to their drawing tables and computer monitors. You may be reminded of other cars when you view the XG350 (which retains the GX300's sheetmetal).

Like some of those serious high-lux rides, the XG has a sense of substance, a weight in its steering and ride that we've never felt in a Korean car before. It makes for a comfortable cruiser. The smooth ride is supported by a four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbones in front, a multilink rear and front and rear antiroll bars. But this front-driver will push and wallow if you ride it hard, more like the midsize front-drivers from Infiniti and Lexus than any rear-drive sedan.

The engine makes more torque (and at a lower rev range) than the previous mill, so the XG350 possesses decent power. The 3.5-liter produces 194 hp (2 more than last year) at 5500 rpm (vs. 6000 last year). Torque output is 216 lb-ft (up 38) at 3500 rpm (vs. 4000 last year).

The XG350 isn't quite as big as it looks or feels. Its wheelbase is 108.3 inches, just 1.4 inches more than the Mercedes-Benz Sport Coupe, well shy of the E-Class. Inside is typical clean Asian style, with logically placed switchgear. It's comfortable and provides more of a luxury sense than we've seen in Korean cars offered in America before now. We like Hyundai's automanual, which feels logical and ...