1998 Hyundai Excel GLX review from Australia and New Zealand

Essentially very little has gone wrong with this car which was bought new. As you can see from the details above, I travel a fair way to and from work each day. Much of this traveling has been on major highways, and mostly at 120k/hr. Subsequently I believe I am in a reasonable position to write about reliability. The vehicle has been off the road only for routine servicing and for one warranty claim (front discs as detailed below). It has been very reliable, and has not left me stranded on any occasion. Further it consistently delivers around 7.2 l/100Ks (38 m/imp.gal)

BUT it has its fair share of faults none-the-less.

1. Both front discs were replaced within a month because of warping.

2. Mechanically no faults.

3. Electrically no faults.

4. External paint and trim is acceptable (just). Internal trim (BAD, BAD, BAD). Non-stop rattles and squeaks from the day I bought it. Internally everything rattles: the dashboard, doors, boot (trunk), windows etc. There is a rattle for every road surface and every speed and every ambient temperature.

5. Road handling is poor, and it hates going around corners (under-steers badly).

6. Road noise is unacceptably high.

7. Good driver's seating, especially with the lumbar support. I never get a sore lower back after driving this vehicle for long distances.