The Hyundai Trajet (pronounced: tra-jay) is a 5-door, 7-seat minivan, classed as a large MPV. It is also called Hyundai Trajet XG in South Korea and Hyundai Highway Van in the Netherlands. Hyundai began producing it from 1999 until 2008.
Hyundai built this front-engine, front-wheel-drive vehicle under the Y4 platform shared with Kia Carnival, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Hyundai Santa Fe. Hyundai Santamo preceded the Trajet, while the Entourage succeeded it.
This people mover was launched in 1999 with the following engines:
- 2.0-litre Sirius inline-4 petrol
- 2.0-litre Beta inline-4 petrol
- 2.7-litre Delta V6 petrol
- 2.0-litre VM Motori CRDi inline-4 diesel
Sales in Australia began in 2000 with the GL and GLS trim levels, both powered by the sole engine on offer, the 2.7-litre Delta V6 petrol engine (132 kW, 247 Nm) paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The two trims featured offered the following features as standard equipment:
- GL, base – driver’s airbag, dual air-conditioning, central locking, engine immobiliser, power mirrors, power steering, power windows, radio cassette with four speakers, sliding outer seat on the second row, and seatbelt pretensioners (front seats)
- GLS – dual front airbags, anti-locking brake system (ABS), alloy wheels, cruise control, central locking remote control, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), radio CD with six speakers, and roof racks
The Trajet used the same powertrain throughout its stay in Australia, but the trims changed a bit. In 2002, for instance, a World Cup limited edition spiced up the choices with 15-inch alloy wheels, roof racks, and a tow bar added to what the existing trims already offered.
Another trim level, called the V6 2.7, joined the range in 2004 and added dual-front airbags, ABS, EBD, and radio CD with four speakers to the existing GL equipment. This trim would become the new base model and the sole offering after the phasing out of the GL and GLS in 2005.
A unique feature of the Trajet is its versatile seating arrangement. It has three rows of seats that can be configured to accommodate a variety of formations. The second and third-row seats could be folded or removed to allow room for more luggage space. When setting up a makeshift office or picnic area, the front seats could turn 180-degrees to face the rear seats, which could also be folded and used as tables.
The Trajets came with a 5-year or 130,000-km warranty initially, but from 2007 henceforth, it was covered with a full 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. All these unique features made the Trajet a preferred buy among Australia's road-trotters. Production ceased in 2008, but sales in the country lasted till 2010.
Replacement parts and accessories for the Trajet and other models no longer produced can be hard to find. Your best option would be the used car parts sellers. You may browse our classifieds or send us a parts request message for the items you need.
-JMSL