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Hyundai Excel X3 Series Used Car Review


Hyundai Excel X3 Series Used Car Review

Author: NRMA MotoringDate: 1 April 2002

The Hyundai Excel took the Australian car market by storm, with competitive pricing that made purchasing a brand new car a possibility for those who would previously have only considered second hand vehicles. The Excel accounted for two out of three sales for the Korean car maker.

The X3 series Excel was available in a choice of three body types - a four-door sedan, a three-door hatchback or a five-door hatchback. The five-door hatch and sedan were available in LX and GLX specification levels, while the three-door hatch was available as the entry level Sprint or better equipped GX version. There were also some special editions available - the Classique sedan in 1996 and the Sportz in 1999 and 2000. The Sprint is by far the most common model available as a used vehicle as it was the volume seller, especially when airconditioning and power steering were included in the drive-away price.

The Excel offers good driveability and performance

The 1995 Excel came onto the market with a 1.5 litre 4 cylinder engine driving the front wheels via a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The auto features electronic control and dual Economy and Normal modes. In 1998 the single camshaft engine was replaced with an all new 1.5 litre twin-cam engine. Both engines provide strong performance and good fuel economy but both are let down by a manual gearbox that is not nearly as smooth as some of the Japanese competitors.

Fuel consumption when testing a 1995 LX manual sedan was 6.6 litres/100km on the highway and around 9.9 litres/100km/h in the city.

The Excel is an easy car to drive but it is best to go for one with power steering as the steering can be quite heavy at parking speeds. Interior space is a strong point. There is plenty of room for families with young children and ample boot space in all models. This is aided by split/folding rear seats and the low loading lip to make loading and unloading heavy items easier.

While the Excel is good value for money it is worth remembering that parts are relatively expensive and that it did suffer some quality issues initially. There are a number of things buyers should look out for. When taking the vehicle for a test drive listen for valve train noises from under the bonnet as this can be expensive to repair.

Check the car for engine oil leaks, uneven tyre wear, rear shock absorbers leaks and the fit of interior trim which was not always good. Also check that on earlier models problems with the front sub frame were rectified as part of a customer service campaign that Hyundai initiated.

Shopping guide

The current average retail price from a dealer for the base model 1994 manual Sprint in good condition with around 120,000 km on the clock and no extras is around $6,600. The same variant built in 1998 that has travelled 60,000 km is retailing for around $8,600.

The Excel offers good driveability and performance and is ideal for young people looking for their first car or families with young children. It offers good value for money compared to Japanese offerings of a similar size.

Tags:

Hyundai, Excel X3 Series, Small, , Press-releases, Excel, Motoring Feed

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