GEARHEAD

Avante S’s Sweet Spot

The Hyundai Avante S is the Korean carmaker’s best-selling model for a few reasons 

 

May 2019

Middle of the road, the sweet spot, best bang for your buck – all these could well refer to the Hyundai Avante S. 

The Hyundai Avante is a compact four-door sedan that is available in three variants, starting from the Avante, followed by the Avante S and the Avante Elite.

All of them have the same sporty fastback-like profile and refreshed front- and rear-end styling. All of them also have the same naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a slick six-speed automatic transmission. 

So why is it that the entry-level Hyundai Avante 1.6 4Dr Auto, at a tantalisingly affordable S$79,999, isn’t the favourite version?

Well, like the reason why Goldilocks chose Baby Bear’s bed and not Papa Bear or Mama Bear’s, there is a good explanation for the Hyundai Avante S being the best-seller among the three Avante versions – it is just right.

Just right in terms of price and equipment, not bed size or mattress firmness. 

Features

Even for a base model, the Avante is more than satisfactory. In fact, it is surprisingly good, with a competent powertrain that delivers fairly punchy performance and smooth shifting, plus the option of three driving modes. 

The engine can get a little boomy when the accelerator is floored, but the cabin ambience remains civilised. This is mostly due to the European-like suspension, which has the unusual ability – for an Asian model anyway – to absorb road irregularities and dulling its impact. 

Visually, the spacious cabin is also a huge improvement over earlier Hyundais, with materials that are nice to look at and touch, even if some of them are still a bit hard. 

And the multi-function steering wheel with its endless menus of options is something you’d expect from a more expensive brand, as are the pair of rear air vents and six airbags. 

The S factor

Nevertheless, it’s easy to understand why the Avante S is a winner when all the S’s extra equipment is tallied – for just S$5,000 more at S$84,999. 

On the outside, the Avante S appears less timid with 16-inch wheels (versus 15 inches on the Avante) and LED daytime running lights. 

Even more desirable are the engine start button, cruise control, wireless smartphone charger and smart trunk system for  hands-free operation. 

They are the mobile plan equivalent of an unlimited data and free handset upgrade for only S$9.99.  

But how does that make the top-of-the-line Avante Elite less attractive?

The Elite is priced at S$91,999, or S$7,000 more than the S, and a whopping S$12,000 premium over the entry-level Avante. 

For that extra cash, the Elite has just five more features than the popular S – LED headlamps, a rain sensor, ventilated front seats, driver’s memory seat and blind spot detection. 

Since the typical Hyundai buyer isn’t the sort to splurge on half a dozen Loro Piana cashmere sweaters or a single SIA business class return ticket to London, it’s safe to say that S$7,000 is a pretty significant amount for five features they probably won’t miss anyway. 

Price

So explains the happy place that the popular Hyundai Avante S parks in. 

The Avante is a COE Category A car that is banded B for neutral under VES, which explains its attractive overall pricing – S$79,999 for the Hyundai Avante, S$84,999 for the Hyundai Avante S, and S$91,999 for the Hyundai Avante Elite. 

But clever packaging has made one of them the most attractive. 

 

Hyundai Avante S 

Engine – 1,591cc inline-4 

Gearbox – 6-speed automatic transmission 

Max power – 126 hp @ 6,300 rpm 

Max torque – 155 Nm @ 4,850 rpm 

0-100 kmh – 12 secs 

Top speed – 195 kmh 

VES band – B (neutral) 

Distributor – Komoco Motors Singapore, tel 6475-8888 

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