Including all the right bits and pieces doesn't always result in a cohesive end product, but in the case of the XG the final outcome works very well. The interior plastics are top quality and fit and finish is well executed. Although some might find the extensive use of "environmentally friendly" pseudo wood trim on the dash, console and doors to be a little excessive, at least it is some of the best looking of its kind. The interior design, on the whole, is conservatively attractive.
There is no shortage of interior room either. Front and rear passenger legroom is excellent, reflective of the XG's substantial width. Plenty of storage compartments surround the driver and passengers, making good use of available room. The trunk was large enough to engulf my daughter's mountain bike with the front wheel attached, and comes with remote access.
Once on the road, the true character of a luxury sedan will soon make itself known. Does the XG measure up to the Americans, let alone the Japanese and Europeans? The handling is biased towards comfort rather than performance, thus its smooth ride comes at the price of precise handling. Still, for a large car, it handles corners with reasonable composure, mostly due to a double wishbone front suspension, mated to a square sub-frame, improving lateral rigidity, reducing road noise and increasing overall strength. In the rear, a multi-link suspension system keeps the big sedan in check. Nitrogen gas-filled low velocity control shock absorbers are designed to create a smooth ride at high speeds. Stabilizer bars are added up front and rear to keep the XG relatively flat during cornering.
Ride and handling aren't the XG's only fortes, as can be appreciated when stepping on the accelerator. The modified Mitsubishi-designed 3.0-liter DOHC V6 puts out an impressive 190 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 192 lb ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Although powerful, it is smooth and silky, due in part to a "6-balance-type" crankshaft and a cylinder block ribbing system that absorbs vibration, reducing engine noise and harshness. The result is near total silence in the cabin while the engine is idling.
There is no shortage of interior room either. Front and rear passenger legroom is excellent, reflective of the XG's substantial width. Plenty of storage compartments surround the driver and passengers, making good use of available room. The trunk was large enough to engulf my daughter's mountain bike with the front wheel attached, and comes with remote access.
Once on the road, the true character of a luxury sedan will soon make itself known. Does the XG measure up to the Americans, let alone the Japanese and Europeans? The handling is biased towards comfort rather than performance, thus its smooth ride comes at the price of precise handling. Still, for a large car, it handles corners with reasonable composure, mostly due to a double wishbone front suspension, mated to a square sub-frame, improving lateral rigidity, reducing road noise and increasing overall strength. In the rear, a multi-link suspension system keeps the big sedan in check. Nitrogen gas-filled low velocity control shock absorbers are designed to create a smooth ride at high speeds. Stabilizer bars are added up front and rear to keep the XG relatively flat during cornering.
Ride and handling aren't the XG's only fortes, as can be appreciated when stepping on the accelerator. The modified Mitsubishi-designed 3.0-liter DOHC V6 puts out an impressive 190 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 192 lb ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Although powerful, it is smooth and silky, due in part to a "6-balance-type" crankshaft and a cylinder block ribbing system that absorbs vibration, reducing engine noise and harshness. The result is near total silence in the cabin while the engine is idling.