Originally launched in 1999, the Hyundai Trajet is still a popular seven-seater today despite production having ceased in 2008. It has five engine choices and is a bargain nowadays. It’s not the most stylish MPV around but it has many unique features, which even new cars cannot match.
Hyundai Trajet - Second Hand Seven Passenger Vehicle (MPV)
The road tax is fairly high and ranges between J to L bands, depending on whether it is fitted with a petrol or a diesel engine. The choice motor is the 2.0CRTD GSI five-door diesel, which is in tax band J and returns 39mpg. The emissions aren’t great for the Trajet. The average across the range comes in at a smoky 223g/km CO2, which is higher than many of its competitors. The diesel engine pumps out the lowest amount of CO2, at just 189g/km.
Jam-packed with the latest safety features, the Trajet will bode well when the going gets tough. Driver and passenger airbags, power-assisted steering and anti-lock brakes are standard fitment. Visibility is good out of the large front and side windows, meaning there aren’t those pesky blind spots you normally get with MPVs.
With residual prices already at the lowest they will go, buying a Trajet is an economical investment. The Trajet is still fairly unknown to many people and that affects the price, meaning in the second-hand market you can find some bargains. The 2.7 V6 is a fuel-guzzler and is not recommended compared to the 2.0-litre diesel or even the 2.0-litre petrol engine. Expect around 32mpg on a combined cycle.
The seats in Hyundais are akin to arm chairs. They boast comfort levels that welcome long drives and even adults can fit quite comfortably in the rearmost seats. If the suspension is not tested too much with pot holes, the Trajet has an easy ride.
One thing the Trajet suffers from is low quality parts. There is a great deal of kit on the Hyundai and the later models qualify for the seven-year warranty, but the plastics seem cheap and they don’t ooze the quality of Ford or Citroen.
Whatever engine is fitted, the Trajet is slow off the mark and noisy once at motorway speed. The V6 is the smoothest but it also drinks the most fuel and only returns 26mpg. The steering is fairly imprecise and that doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence through the corners, despite it not having much body roll and a low centre of gravity.
There are six different ways to fold down the rear seats, including flat into the floor, which makes it a fantastic load-lugger or people carrier. Seven people fit in perfectly comfortably. There are a lot of little cubby holes to keep your bits and bobs, as well as drink holders in the front and middle seats. The Trajet is also easy to park due to the good visibility.
Hyundai Trajet Interior - Budget 7-Seat MPV
The handling is poor but a seven-seater MPV is not the type of car you want to be hustling around country lanes anyway. The ride is a little wallowy at times, which can be unnerving over a series of bumps. Pot holes aren’t dealt with very well either. Yet the fact that most Trajets have depreciated quickly means you can easily pick up a bargain, even at main dealers!
Other Hyundai MPV’s include the Hyundai Santa Fe (4WD 7-Seat) and the Hyundai i800 (8 Seats).
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.