Hyundai Motor's Grandeur is a model that has led the history of Korean luxury sedans for about 40 years since its first launch in 1986. Expanding from a symbol of past success to broader popularity, it has firmly taken root as a domestic premium family car and business sedan. This Grandeur was recently refreshed as the "The New Grandeur." The key is that it has been transformed into a software-defined vehicle (SDV) by being the first to feature the next-generation infotainment platform "PLeos Connect." On the 28th, we test-drove the new Grandeur on a round trip between Seoul and Chuncheon.
The car's size—length 5,050 mm, width 1,880 mm, height 1,460 mm—is almost the same as before. Up front, however, the previous model had a main grille and a lower intake grille, while the new model combines them into one large, wide grille. The slim line-shaped headlamps remain. From the side, the front overhang—the distance from the tip of the front bumper to the front wheel center—has been lengthened by 15 mm. Emphasizing a shark nose shape gives it a sharper look.
The first row looks completely different. The steering wheel has changed from a round shape to a thin, small double D-cut style. It feels sportier. Instead of a gauge cluster, a 9.9-inch display shaped like a thin rectangular box sits in place. This display shows fuel economy, music playing, remaining range, headlight status and more.
A large 17-inch center display has been installed in the middle of the dashboard. Most functions must be operated through this display. A minimum set of physical buttons remains for ventilation and heating, climate power, temperature control, and hazard lights. The shift lever attached to the steering wheel has changed from a fore-and-aft rotary action to an up-and-down action. The turn signal and wipers are integrated as well.
The interior was clean. Materials highlighting wood grain emphasized a premium feel, and although the dashboard is plastic, it felt similar to leather. The doors feature a "couch pattern" with sofa-like contours, but since it's hard plastic rather than leather, it was a bit disappointing. The door handles, perhaps in pursuit of excessive simplicity, felt somewhat plain for a luxury sedan. A smart vision roof lets you adjust the roof's transparency.
Looking at the center display, various apps were installed thanks to PLeos Connect. A total of 11 apps are currently available in the PLeos app market, and Hyundai Motor plans to add more than double digits of apps within this year. Given the large display, it was convenient to check multiple pieces of information simultaneously through split-screen while driving. The center console's wireless charger can charge two smartphones at the same time.
The generative AI agent "Gleo AI" is also a highlight of this Grandeur. However, there were several shortcomings. When you say "Gleo," it responds, "I'm here." At that point, everything from simple vehicle controls to knowledge searches and casual conversation is possible. But it often took several calls to get a response. Sitting in the driver's seat, when asked to "open the window," the rear-seat window opened. Asking to close the window again didn't work. When asked to "tell me the price of The New Grandeur," it gave the price of the 2026 Grandeur, the previous model. Hyundai Motor plans to improve Gleo's functions through over-the-air updates.
Driving performance was generally good. The vehicle we rode in was the gasoline 2.5 trim. The pedal feel was on the light side, and little road information was transmitted. A Hyundai Motor official said, "With the refresh, the suspension has been greatly improved," adding, "We addressed the slight delay before the body settles after going over speed bumps." The official added, "Overall, we maintained comfort while achieving refined and composed movements." We entered a rather sharp curve at a slightly high speed and it handled it well.
On the highway, when the accelerator was pressed deeply, the speed didn't rise all at once but in a step. Still, since the vehicle focuses on comfort, it's not a major drawback. The gasoline 2.5 trim produces a maximum 198 horsepower, and torque, which determines initial acceleration, peaks at 25.3 kgf·m. The top speed is 220 kph, and it takes 9.3 seconds to reach 100 kph from a standstill.
With no gauge cluster, rpm (engine revolutions per minute) is displayed in a corner of the center display, and because it appears only as small numbers rather than a traditional dial, it was disappointing that it was hard to tell how the vehicle's capability was being used.
Smart cruise control (SCC) was stable. There aren't many function buttons, and the icons are intuitive, making it easy to operate. If you look away even briefly with SCC on, a forward-attention warning chime sounds. It doesn't change lanes when you turn on the blinker. Even when manipulating the steering wheel to change lanes manually, SCC didn't disengage and continued to operate. You can also take your hands off the steering wheel for about 30 seconds.
Combined fuel economy for the gasoline 2.5 trim is 11.6 km per liter. Excluding the hybrid trim, whose fuel economy hasn't been disclosed because certification isn't complete yet, that's the highest among all trims. The gasoline 3.5 trim gets 10.0 km/L, and the 3.5 LPG trim gets 7.7 km/L.
The second row was spacious, befitting a midsize-plus sedan. For an adult 170 cm tall, the space between the front seat and knees was generous. You could also slide your hips forward to adjust the seatback angle for greater comfort. In the hybrid trim, reclining rear seats and ventilated rear seats are applied for the first time among hybrid sedans in this class.
Including a 3.5% special consumption tax, The New Grandeur starts at 41.85 million won for the gasoline 2.5, 44.29 million won for the gasoline 3.5, 48.64 million won for the hybrid, and 43.31 million won for the LPG.