Hyundai X3 Excel (1994-2000)

Prior to the 1994 Hyundai X3 Excel, Korean cars were cheaper, recycled versions of someone else's model. Joe Kenwright examines how well the first all new Korean model launched on the Australian market stacks up on the used market.

At the time, detractors wondered whether Korea was ready to go solo and expected the first all-Korean Excel to be the first truly disposable car. Even if this proved to be the case in some ways, this Excel series, if carefully maintained and driven sensibly, has surprised owners and knockers alike. When new, it was the right car, at the right $13,990 price, at the right time when Australians were crippled by the recession.

Compared to long term Japanese favourites, this new Excel was half new price and about the same price as a well used seven year old Ford Laser or Toyota Corolla. Australians figured that as a new car it could be no less reliable than a seven year old used car. A generous warranty was the clincher and sales rocketed. At one stage, it even threatened to overtake sales of Australian large cars as even Aussie diehards traded their old Commodores or Falcons on their first new car.

The Excel featured the company’s own Alpha Series II engine, a simple and efficient belt-driven single overhead cam engine with three valves per cylinder, roller rockers and hydraulic tappet adjusters and knock sensor. For its modest 1495cc capacity, it delivered a respectable 66kW from a relatively high compression ratio of 10.0:1. Because the Excel’s all-up weight was only 940kg, performance was adequate with a quoted highway fuel consumption figure of less than 5 litres/100km. It was later upgraded to a twin cam.

Compared to the 20 year old bangers on Australian roads at the time, the Excel looked relatively stylish even if it’s starting to look like a melting iceblock today. The only blot on its copybook, and it was a big one at the time, was a recall that involved certain examples from 1996-97. An electrical glitch during production weakened a vital sub-frame weld which could then generate structural failure.

Australian authorities and Hyundai responded with a major recall that required special long life rivets to be added to the affected area. Not all owners had this work undertaken. Any used buyer who is concerned about a particular example should check with a Hyundai dealer. The work can still be undertaken if required at no cost to the owner.

So how did Hyundai do it? Global rivals thought that the Koreans had discovered a secret to building cheap small cars but this later proved not to be the case as the market began demanding something better. Hyundai simply revived the early Japanese formula which in turn was derived from an old Ford philosophy - cut your costs where your buyers can’t see them then provide the very best showroom presentation that the pricetag can support.

Walk around the Hyundai X3 Excel. You will notice the almost complete absence of body detailing and protection yet the shiny paint conceals the cheap looking grey plastic common on other small cars at the time. Single one piece plastic fascias front and rear make up most of the body work including grille. Although they look substantial, there is not much behind them. This practice ultimately forced Australian insurance companies to conduct low speed crash tests and assess repair costs. In metallic colours, recoating these large front and rear nappies as they are called in the industry is not cheap even if they sustain only minor damage.

The same principle applies inside. The cabin’s large single piece plastic panels can be assembled quickly and cheaply. Apart from the seats, there is hardly a soft-padded surface anywhere even if the leather grain pattern suggests otherwise. At least, the seats have covers that can be removed and repaired cheaply, which is just as well as they seem to wear quite quickly.

The carpets are functional but only just qualify as carpet and sound deadening and decorative touches are minimized. Although the Excel’s hard plastics can feel cheap and generate rattles, the cabin is functional and looks smart. The Excel reaches a certain point where it doesn’t seem to deteriorate any further.

Like many early Japanese cars, the cost-cutting can show up in crash testing. This Excel is some way short of today’s best practice yet in the context of older Japanese cars that sell for the same used price, there is not much in it. Safety-conscious buyers need to check out crash safety websites and weigh up the options according to their budget.

All small hatches have little or no impact absorption zones behind the rear seat and the Excel is no exception. The Excel three-Door is best approached as a two seater with occasional rear seating. The sedan version provides extra luggage space and locates the rear seat further away from the rear bumper.

The very last cars will only just be coming out of warranty now. Significantly, it’s taken Hyundai two new models to replace the Excel success story. Its initial replacement was the more substantial and better quality Accent which proved too expensive for the $13,990 buyer. It has since been joined by the Getz which revives the cheap and cheerful Excel formula in a shorter, wider and cheaper package. Both models keep used Excel prices honest.

KEY X3 EXCEL CHANGES:

KEY EXCEL CHECK POINTS

Running Gear
Because Excels were sometimes purchased as throwaway items at the end of the warranty period, too many were not serviced as per the factory schedule or not serviced at all. This can generate cooling system and head gasket problems and oil sludge damage to valve gear and other parts. On carefully serviced cars, the engine is quite reliable providing it gets a new cam belt every 90,000km.

Engine requires good quality oil to minimise hydraulic lash adjuster noise at start-up. If engine continues to rattle with quality oil once warm, then investigate whether the valve gear has been damaged or whether sludge-blocked oilways are starving engine parts of oil. Privately-owned Excels covered by the later extended warranty were usually serviced by-the-book to keep the warranty intact.

These examples have often received better servicing for longer than more expensive models, not covered by such a long warranty. Engine miss is usually generated by plug leads which require routine replacement. The first examples are also reaching an age when coil pack failure and other electronic woes can show up. There were some early problems with exhaust manifolds but should be fixed by now.

Check all coolant hoses, head gasket and radiator for coolant leaks.

Wheel bearings front and rear may need replacement if the car is regularly kerbed. CV joints and boots normally reliable but check them anyway.

Rear mufflers rot out quickly on short runs.

Brakes and Suspension
Ask owner whether car was subject to recall to fix structural weld and if in doubt, check with Hyundai dealer.

Major wear item is rear suspension strut units which must be replaced as a complete unit. They seize-up internally which can cause the rear suspension to bind and skip from bump to bump.

Check front disc rotors for minimum size. Rear drums can rot out if fluid is not changed routinely.

Body
Paint surface on some early cars was soft or gritty. Panels can kink if sat on or if pushed hard to close bonnet or doors. Rear plastic finishing strip, which acts as a handle to lift the hatch, can pull out.

Check rear hatch struts and load area trim.

Early wheelcover design was prone to kerb damage which caused it to fall off.

Check that repaired bumper fascia panels have been colour-matched with the correct paint finish that does not lift or bubble.

Check cloth trim on bolsters. Unprotected seats can be threadbare after 100,000km.

Good seat covers and mats are essential to protect basic trim.

Check operation of air-conditioning and all accessories. Ignition switch can wear out. Manual window regulators can also fail. Check operation of all keys.

Thanks to Hyundai experts Makin and Luby (03) 9458 8899