Hyundai XG350 feels like a substantial automobile and it is, pushing the large end of the mid-size envelope. Its long wheelbase stretches 108 inches and it and it tips the scales more than 3600 pounds. As you should expect from a car of its size, the XG's all-coil, all-independent suspension smoothes out sharp pavement ridges and coddles the body through abrupt directional changes. On bumpy pavement, however, the XG350 doesn't quite match the sophistication of $30,000 luxury sedans. Road and tire noise seemed a bit loud for the class.We found the XG350's engine smooth and quiet, willing and free-revving. Its relative silence added to the pleasant ambience of the interior, allowing for comfortable conversation or quiet reflection. This dual-overhead-cam unit produces 194 horsepower at 5500 rpm, and 216 pound-feet of torque at 3500. That's respectable power at reasonably low rpm, which translates to good throttle response around town. Hyundai's five-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly enough, but it always upshifts at a pre-programmed engine speed, rather than holding a lower gear when you open the throttle wide. Upshifts are on the long side, and the transmission is slow to kick down for passing. That's unfortunate, because the XG is fun to drive, and we would enjoy holding a lower gear and pushing the engine to its redline. The transmission features Hyundai's Shiftronic manual override. Slap the Shiftronic to the right, like in an Infiniti, and you can shift up and down manually by pushing the lever forward or pulling it back. The power assist to the steering varies with engine speed, a strategy that is invisible most of the time, but is noticeable when the transmission upshifts when exiting a turn and the power assist increases. Braking is reassuringly linear, and ABS helps maintain steering control while braking on slippery surfaces.
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