Hyundai Avante

I purchased this car in 2010. My mind was set on the Avante. It was within my budget and decent looking. I used it for almost 10 years now and it was time to bid it goodbye. The pricing was very attractive considering it was a comfortable sedan, and significantly cheaper than similar sedans like the Honda Civic. My saleswoman at Komoco Motors was very friendly. Even though this car wasn't filled with tech, it just did the work perfectly and had all basic features required. Considering the price I paid for the car, it did wonders and it was surely a positive experience. Front and rear legroom was spacious, even for someone who is above 6 feet. The air conditioning system was fantastic, and managed to cool the whole car well even with the absence of rear aircons. The seat leather quality was terrific. Engine pick up was very decent for a 1.6L car and perfect for city driving. Even in Malaysia, I could take the car upto 140km/h comfortably. There was ample storage space; 2 cupholders in the front and back respectively, the dashboard and side compartment were also spacious, along with a sunglasses holder. The boot was massive, and able to take upto 2 large suitcases as well as handbags. Regarding reliability, the car was fine overall just that the battery used to die out if the car wasn't utilised for 2 weeks or so. In the end, the steering wheel started to have a clicking sound but these were just minor issues. Overall, the car was highly reliable and it was a positive experience with Hyundai. The Avante was significantly cheaper than other rival sedans, and also gave me a decent fuel average of 12-13km/l in the city. I bid goodbye to my Avante with a heavy heart, as it was finally time to upgrade. If you are looking for a comfortable sedan without having to burn a hole in your pocket, this is the car to go for. The Avante is reliable and also very spacious for 4-5 passengers. Even a 10 year old model with a renewed COE is not a bad choice. Just make sure to test drive the car once before buying. Feel free to contact me with any queries :)... Read More

I think this Avante HD has deserved to be reviewed and justified since I am owning and drive this car for 10 years and 3 months now. More than 10 years ago, I was never a Korean ride supporter until I sat in one and felt impressed by it. Back in those days when COE is low, Honda City, Toyota Vios, Proton Persona, Kia Cerato (like its styling) and the Subaru Impreza 1.5R were all in my lists but never the Avante. In the end, after much research between the Kia Cerato and Avante, I decided to go test drive the Avante and sign for it on the spot. And got the car a week later. Why Avante over all the above? 1) Pricing - Avante is easily $8k cheaper or more than the Japanese makes in my list. And even lower pricing than Proton Persona. 2) Engineering - Avante has all round independent suspension while the rest, other than Persona and Impreza are all torsion beam rear suspension setup. 3) Good Balance - Avante closest rival was its own cousin, the Cerato, as far as size is concern. Both are equally spacious over others in my list. But Avante wins the Cerato by having a soft touch dashboard (Cerato initial batch are all hard plastics), rear disc brakes, electric power steering and a quieter ride. Even the pricing of the Avante was $2k ~$3k lower than Cerato then. My impression has changed after owning this ride and I started to follow up with the engineering of Korean rides and they seems to get better with each new model introduction while the Japanese had stayed on with slower progress over the years until recent years. Koreans have definitely come a long way and their effort is commendable. Till date, they still offers good value and decent safety and equipment list. But economy and styling are something the Koreans should improved on. After the Elantra MD, i45, which first adopt the fluid sculpturing styling, their designs seem to take a step backwards.... Read More