Second-Hand Sense: The Hyundai name may be a relative newcomer to the Irish market but it has nevertheless become an embedded one.
Keen pricing and generous equipment levels when compared to the competition have allowed the Korean manufacturer to make inroads in all segments of the market because of the extensive nature of its range. But there are still those who harbour a suspicion that the brand has to prove itself and they recently got their answer. The prestigious JD Power survey in the United States named Hyundai as the highest-ranking "non-premium" brand on the market and recorded the fact that owners had fewer problems with their vehicles than the owners of all other non-premium brands.
Good news indeed, but if you are in the market for a second-hand MPV does it mean the Hyundai Trajet has to be your automatic choice? It depends, of course, on your requirements but it does not necessarily hold that the Trajet is the best option. There is no doubting that the Hyundai is a very good package but it definitely lacks refinement when it comes to styling, interior finish and general ride and handling.
It is a seven-seater with good interior dimensions. The front seats can swivel around and the two rows of seats behind can be moved forward and backwards depending on needs. However, you don't have the smart option of flat folding seats such as those featured in other competitors' and when all the seats in the Trajet are in use then boot space is severely restricted.
The Trajet is high and comfortable but you won't find the seats the most supportive after long journeys. The interior is generally let down by less than expensive-looking fabrics and the large grey dashboard, steering wheel and switch gear is another reminder of the fact that this is a budget vehicle. Ride can be soft, as can the handling too. The Trajet was never really designed for sharp cornering and is quite a heavy car.
The car comes with a choice of 2.0 litre petrol or 2.0 litre diesel options. The petrol can feel quite underpowered and the diesel is more economical but no more exciting. In fact, the diesel gives quite an old-fashioned account of itself compared to more modern diesel engines. The EuroNCAP crash tests for the Trajet are for the year 2002 and testers were critical of the fact that the Trajet design originated in the mid-1990's. The driver and front passenger "risked serious chest injures, while the driver could harm his left knee and legs from hitting 'unforgiving' structures behind the fascia," testers noted. The child restraints performed well in side impacts but the frontal impact results were not as good in this regard. Hyundai has a very good name for reliability and offers very good warranties. Only a very small number of Trajets have been recalled for minor problems.
A 2002 model, with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, sunroof, twin airbags, electric windows, remote locking, CD player and ABS brakes and with 36,000 miles on the clock is on offer at one garage for €23,950. A very similar model with a petrol engine and 39,000 on the clock has an asking price of €19,950. A 2004 diesel with 35,000 on the clock is on offer at €24,750 and a similar petrol version is on offer at the same price.
FOR: Good package for an MPV. Reliability is very good.
AGAINST: Dated design, not a great performer and ride and handling are soft for Irish conditions.