Hyundai  Matrix

Hyundai enters mini-MPV segment with Matrix

Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) is back on track, offering a range of products covering just about every base in the market, and serving buyers from a base of 41 dealers around the country. With the Matrix, it now enters the very competitive mini-MPV segment of the market to take on the likes of the Renault Scenic, Daewoo Tacuma and Opel Zafira.

If the off-beat styling does not draw the attention (by Pininfarina in Italy), the catchy name will. The Matrix is available in SA, barely six months after its international debut, and comes at a time when Hyundai SA is back on track and has again gained public respect after owners were left out in the cold in early 2000. Buyers fear not – Hyundai is here to stay and has what it takes to become a significant player in the local market. In fact, world wide, Hyundai is on a roll, slowly but surely eroding the bases of most established players in the international arena.

The Matrix is a compact MPV in the Renault Scenic, Daewoo Tacuma, Opel Zafira and Citroen Picasso genre, and is so popular in Europe that there is a continuous stock shortage. First impression were that it is sturdy and of good quality, the shiny plastic finishes and interior fabrics and materials looking durable enough. Class-leading its is not, but it does offer some innovative solutions to everyday problems, and – with a warranty of 3 years/100 000 km – comes with a very competitive price/equipment ratio.

Styling wise, the side view is especially interesting, with the overall effect still very much Korean-generic. The car’s sporty character is emphasised by the roof rails, alloy wheels and rear and front mudguards, as well as body-coloured door handles and blackout window mouldings. The rear of the mini-MPV carries the sculptured, geometrical styling themes through from the front of the vehicle with pillar-shaped taillights and inspired design details. The rear hatch opens down to bumper level to facilitate loadability.

Inside, driver and passengers have maximum leg, head and shoulder room and more usable, creative and interactive space - including a semi-walkthrough facility, gear lever mounted between floor and console to free up space, cup holders, fold-out tray tables, power sockets between the front seats and in the cargo area, storage compartments under seats, and an instrument cluster mounted centre-dash, a design theme that has caught on internationally. Getting used to the layout takes no time at all, aided by the fact that the instrumentation and controls are all clearly marked and user friendly. A sound system with frontloading CD rounds off the ambiance.

The double folding feature of the rear seats (60:40 split design) takes versatility to a new level, effectively doubling the cargo space.

The high spec-list includes power steering, central locking, air-conditioning and remote fuel flap and boot release.  There are storage compartments for just about everything, including sunglass holder, a box under the cargo area, luggage side boxes, floor console, glove box, a multi-box next to the steering wheel and door map pockets.

There is only one engine choice, and with two-up on an introductory drive, offered sparkling performance. The proof, however, will be how it copes with a full load on a cross-country dash…

This is Hyundai’s 1,6-litre Alpha II engine, a DOHC, inline 4-cylinder aluminium design capable of 76 kW at 5 800 r/min and 141 Nm of torque at 4 500 r/min.  According to Hyundai, the Alpha engine features a longer stroke for more efficient low- and medium speed performance, high compression ratio for knock control, and U-turn coolant flow for better cooling. Power is transmitted via a smooth-shifting five-speed manual, the only transmission choice. According to Hyundai, a poppet ball-type assembly and repositioning improves the quality feel of the shift.

Incorporated into the bulkhead and all pillars are high-temperature foam pads to cut engine and road noise, as well as vibration.  Floor vibration has been minimised via anti-vibration padding and statistical energy analysis. 

Suspension is a modified MacPherson strut assembly with coil springs up front, augmented by a T-shaped cross member, increasing lateral strength and delivering optimal wheel alignment for refined handling and cornering stability.  The rear suspension’s proven dual-link setup achieves exemplary steering stability, even at high speed.  Gas-filled shocks limit spring oscillations, reduce floor vibration and respond immediately to any irregularities in the road surface.  The 15-inch alloy wheels are shod with 195/55 rubber.

On the safety front, it must be said that the Matrix earned a high 4-star rating in Europe’s New Car Assessment Programme. There is driver’s airbag and ABS brakes, and a rigid body ensured by the use of high-tensile-strength steel plates that accounts for 57 percent of the vehicle’s total body weight. These plates dissipate energy and channel the force energy of impact away from the passenger compartment using a series of interlocking structural steel body members that yield a pattern of planned deformation.  Side impact protection and dual heavy-duty centre floor cross members complete the structural safety characteristics of the Matrix.