It’s safe to say that most consumers default to an SUV when choosing an executive vehicle. It’s understandable given that one literally gets more car for the money. And, admit it or not, the high and commanding driving position gives an air of one-upmanship when looking down on lower vehicles.
But over in South Korea, things are very much different. Yes, crossovers and SUVs are popular over there, but the traditional large sedan is still very much alive and well. If anything, it’s still flourishing, as shown by the recently updated Hyundai Grandeur.
The Grandeur is Hyundai’s OG flagship sedan, being introduced way back in 1986. These days, it’s the Genesis brand that now handles Hyundai’s luxury ambitions, but without the Grandeur, the company wouldn’t even have a luxury marque.
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This year, the Hyundai Grandeur gets a bit of an update. It’s mainly the addition of a new variant called the Honor. In essence, it comes with some of the most common options customers choose fitted standard. With that, it comes with a more advanced driver assist system dubbed Hyundai Smart Sense 2. A Bose premium sound package is also included, along with a drive recorder, a black exterior package, and Calligraphy exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels.
There’s another neat feature added to the Grandeur. The top-spec Calligraphy model gets an augmented reality navigation system. What it does is project 3D directions on the screen to provide realtime directions while removing any guesswork of how far it is before a turn. Think Google Maps’ live view, but while driving. Neat stuff.
Updates aside, just…look at it. The design is a mix of classic and modern Hyundai design elements. The six-window arrangement is a throwback to the original model launched nearly 40 years ago, while the slim lights point to the future. Inside, there’s a wide and expansive dashboard with a wide screen. Joy of joys, buttons are present in there, and the materials used inside look properly expensive. It almost makes you wonder why Hyundai didn’t badge this as a Genesis.
For powertrain, there are four options available. There’s a 2.5-liter to kick things off and makes 195hp and 248Nm. That’s followed by a 3.5-liter V6 that punches out 296hp and 359Nm. Of course, there’s a hybrid version that uses a 1.6-liter turbo paired to a single motor making 227hp and 350Nm, and there’s even an LPG-powered unit for taxi services. That one uses a detuned 3.5-liter V6 with 237hp and 314Nm.
Truth be told, Hyundai didn’t have to pour out this much effort for the Grandeur. It’s almost exclusively sold in its home market, and they sell about 100,000 units of these a year. By all means, it’s a relatively low-volume vehicle, so Hyundai isn’t really doing this for the money.
Still, it’s cool that this model still exists with continuous improvements, rather than letting it fizzle out. Too many sedans of this size met that fate, so we’re glad Hyundai is hanging on to this segment.
More photos of the 2025 Hyundai Grandeur:
