1999 Hyundai Lantra Sportswagon review from Australia and New Zealand

Central locking failed TWO DAYS after purchase. As this was a private purchase of a 2nd hand vehicle, the previous owner said "tough luck".

Check Engine light comes on every time car is started, but then turns off after you start driving. This only started a few weeks after purchase, and stopped again for a few weeks after I had a major service done, but is now happening again and my mechanic doesn't have a clue why.

Tinted windows aren't effective in blocking heat at all...

Interior is VERY cramped when more than 3 people in the car, and the seats are VERY uncomfortable - Driver and Passenger seats have forward/backward movement only, no Up/Down so a tall person will bang their head. I'm 5'3" and my head is almost brushing the ceiling!

My last wagon was a Mazda, which was very roomy and comfy, and could transport three adults in the back seat no problem. The Lantra is very small inside, being made in Korea and designed for smaller people... more suitable for a family with quite young children (up to 8 years old), but any older than that and you'll definitely need a larger vehicle.

Fuel economy seems good, but it would have to be better than my previous vehicle, which was a much larger Mazda.

There is a lot of driving noise with this car... around town is not very noticeable, but highway driving and anything over 80ks you get a horrible excess road noise, which reverberates from the back of the car - sounds like you're in a large vibrating metal drum, which basically you are...

The only good things I can really say about this car are apparently good fuel economy and the interior looks very nice. Neutral bluey/great velour seats look and feel much nicer then standard "cheapie" interiors found in other vehicles, but the seats are very hard and moulded with almost no padding, so quite uncomfortable, especially for larger buttocked people.

I would definitely not buy this model again, and possibly not even consider a Hyundai again. Think I'll hold out and save up for another Mazda wagon.