Road Test: Hyundai H-1 VGTI

Hyundai Motor Company managed to shift 3.61 million units world-wide in 2010. A staggering 9 890 units every single day, including Sundays and holidays. They sold 500 000 vehicles in America alone. I reckon we had better start sitting up and taking notice of this firm, led by the improbably named, but obviously very clever Mr Mong-Koo Chong.

Intrigued, I took a look at Hyundai’s world-wide web site and was staggered by their massive range of vehicles. It’s simply vast. Founded in 1967 as the Hyundai Motor company, they went on to produce a car called a Pony. Which rhymes with ‘Pony & Trap’. London rhyming slang for crap, which may seem somewhat harsh when you look at the firm’s increasingly worthy line up today. They’ve even come up with a new slogan: “New Thinking. New Possibilities.” Given that the largest vehicle we’ve tested here on SACarfan to-date has been the VW’s T5 Kombi, we thought it would be a great opportunity to test Hyundai’s slogan by trying out their Hyundai H-1 2.5 VGTi. It’s a small bus. But not very small.

In various parts of the world, the H-1 is available as a cramped 12-seater, right down to a more luxurious 8-seater. We see this bus as a viable alternative to other expensive super-size people carriers like the Volkswagen Caravelle and Mercedes Viano. Our press unit boasted nine comfortable seats, a huge boot and a R379 900 price tag. When you see the H-1 for the first time, the most striking thing about it is the sheer scale. At 5 125 mm, it’s longer than a Mercedes S-Class, but at 1 925 mm high, it is even more noticeable. These dimensions pay dividends inside, where there is space aplenty. While some seven-seaters have small extra seats for occasional use in the back, the Hyundai is more like a ‘minibus’ in proportions.

In the front, there are three seats with ample space around them, behind which sit two rows of three permanent chairs. Clamber up into the drivers seat, aided by the handy grab handles and the ambience is far more car-like than other minibus style rivals. Two-tone interior trim, leather seats, tinted glass, a six-speaker audio system and ducted air conditioning throughout. Individually-controllable overhead vents in the rear make sure all of the occupants can keep their cool, even if you are the ten year old sprog relegated right to the back.

Passenger mobility through the huge sliding doors, fitted on both sides, couldn’t be easier. For entry into the back, the second row of seats may easily be moved and their backs pushed forward. All seats are perfectly comfortable for adults and, as the middle row’s position is adjustable, legroom can be varied to suit. Even with nine adults on board, there is still 850-litres of luggage space. There’s a great view of the road ahead and visibility is superb through the huge windscreen and small side ‘quarterlights’. The large mirrors and standard-fit parking sensors help to take the stress out of tight manoeuvres. I was able to swing the van into bottom-clenchingly small parking spots with ease. This is, in part thanks to its hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering and 5.61 m turning circle. Oh yes, and the PDC system fitted to the rear bumper helps quite a bit too.

The 2.5-litre common-rail diesel unit chucks out 120 kW at 3 800 r/min and a tree-stump pulling 392 Nm at 2 000 r/min, trumping the existing 2.4-litre petrol model. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, it really does offer a level of refinement not normally associated with the class or the money asked for the bus. The diesel lump feeds the torquey grunt to the rear wheels and, even with seven of us in the vehicle, it managed 0 – 100 km/h in close on 14 seconds at sea level. (Remember, back in 1969 an Austin Healey Sprite MK IV recorded a blistering 14.6 seconds 0 – 100 km/h and we were all terribly impressed with that).

At the back end, there’s a five-link, coil spring rear suspension system, which help the H-1 to handle better than it ought. But don’t get carried away because handling does become a bit ponderous if you press on too hard around corners, as well sorted as it may be for a small bus. The ride quality is adequate, unsettled only on uneven surfaces and the brakes inspire confidence. Other comparable vehicles may happily waft 7 occupants along, but their luggage would need to be couriered ahead. Not so with the H-1. It’s got a genuine ability to carry nine people and their luggage over long distances. If that’s not enough and you need to bring your mother-in-law along, there’s still 1 500 kilograms of towing capacity too.

Safety wise, dual airbags and front seatbelts equipped with pre-tensioners are fitted and it achieved a 4-star rating in the Australian version of the Euro NCAP awards. In mixed driving, we consumed about 10.8 L/100km, which is not at all bad for such a vast, practical vehicle.

The H-1 2.5 VGT is priced at R379 900, which gets you an impressive 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan, and 15 000 km service. I couldn’t find much to not like about it. It’s a real hoot to hustle along and is a surprisingly good drive and is ludicrously practical. The Hyundai is a really tempting value-for-money option. The H-1, although primarily aimed at the hospitality industry, will be a cracking people mover if you have a large family to ferry around like I do. What’s more, Mr Mong-Koo Chong, if I were to be in the market for a large people carrier, this is the one I’d buy with my own money. New thinking indeed.

What we like…

• Masses of space and comfort.
• Effortless and economical diesel engine.
• Drives like a car.

What we would like…

• A built in fridge.
• Exterior styling could be better.
• To see other cars have such a sense of purpose like this one.

Richard Webb is the publisher of Blower, South Africa’s longest running car magazine and contributor to SACarFan.

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