Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Test drive New Avante returns as 'my first car'
Reporters test drive Hyundai Motor's new Avante compact sedan near Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
By Nam Hyun-woo
By Nam Hyun-woo
NAMYANGJU, Gyeonggi Province -- For many Koreans, Hyundai Motor's Avante compact sedan was the first car they owned because of the car's efficient size, fuel economy, price and better-than-expected driving performance.
And the latest version of the Avante, which began domestic sales on Thursday, is providing another fine option for those looking for their first car.
“The compact sedan segment has been the choice of many who buy their first car,” Hyundai Motor domestic sales vice president Lee Kwang-guk said. “The new Avante is the result of Hyundai's efforts to develop an affordable and attractive daily car for those who are having their first Hyundai experience.”
The new Avante is a face-lifted version of the sixth-generation Avante AD released in September 2015. However, the look of the new car is more like a fully changed version, featuring more contours, curves and pointy headlamps and grills. This has resulted in a sporting face and tail, which were not available on previous Avante models.
“Hyundai Motor's designing mission is focused on representing the more active lifestyle of its customers,” said Koo Min-chul, executive director for design at Hyundai Motor. “We made efforts to get away from the conventional stable and gentle image of the Avante.”
The new Avante comes in three powertrains, gasoline, diesel and liquid propane injection, all of which are 1.6 liter displacement.
The gasoline model is powered by a 1.6-liter SmartStream engine coupled with an Infinitely Variable Transmission, which eliminates shifting shock. Yielding 123 horsepower and 15.7 kilogram force-meter torque, the car produces a fuel economy of 15.2 kilometers per liter, which Hyundai described as one of the most efficient in the category.
The diesel model is coupled with a seven-speed DCT transmission, producing 136 horsepower and 30.6 kilogram-force meter torque. It has fuel economy of 17.8 kilometers per liter, which is also one of the best in its category.
During a test drive across Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, the new Avante rode with solid performance. Though it was hard to say its drive was sporty, it was enough to have some speed on the expressways and sharp steering. Ride quality was also comfortably between too soft and too hard.
After finishing the 67-kilometer course of winding roads and expressways, the demo car this reporter drove showed a fuel efficiency of 17.2 kilometers per liter on its dashboard, proving why it could be a good choice for the young generation and those who care about economical driving.
In the latest Avante, Hyundai Motor not only changed the look of the compact sedan but also added some more convenience and safety features, including front collision avoidance systems and lane keeping assistance.
Lee said Hyundai Motor seeks to retail 120,000 Avantes by the end of next year, and a faster version of the new Avante Sport will roll out in November.
The new Avante 1.6 gasoline model starts from 155.1 million won ($13,794), and the diesel version starts from 179.6 million won.