"No, it's the new Hyundai XG350," I answered, awaiting his reply with a slight sense of foreboding.

"Hyundai?" he questioned, "I hear they build great cars these days"

Taken aback by his positive response, I mumbled something profound such as, "Yes, they have come a long way in a relatively short time," and went inside the house to ponder what had just happened.

As surprising as his comment was, my neighbor was absolutely correct in his current assessment of Hyundai.

Much to the chagrin of the competition, Hyundai is quickly becoming recognized as a manufacturer of quality vehicles. Gone are the days of hiding your Hyundai in the garage before anyone noticed you were home.

The Hyundai XG350 is a relatively new, yet significant player in the mid-size sedan market. Introduced mid-way through 2003 as a 2004 model, it represents a full-out assault on the Honda Accord EX V6, Toyota Camry LE V6 and new Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE. The only thing missing is brand recognition, and if my noisy neighbor is any indication, that seems to be changing in a hurry.

Styled in a classic "East meets West" shape, the eye appeal of the Hyundai XG350 is quite striking. A blend of functionality and artistic design, it oozes chrome and faux wood at every turn.

Long, shiny door handles reach out from sculpted body panels, lifting with the solid feel usually reserved for the rich and famous. A chiseled, graceful body starts low to the ground in front and holds this line all the way to the back. The Jaguar comparison isn't that far off; think of the XG350 as a new XJ8 body squished from the roofline down.

Rounded shoulders shape the rear, while chrome strips accent the four corners and low beltline. With the addition of new headlights, a front air dam and projection foglamps, the new grill highlights the major exterior change for 2004.

Gas powered lifters make it easier to open the new rear decklid. Trunk space is good, but not great. Interior trunk length is excellent, but the downside of having such a squat body is that trunk height suffers more than in most sedans this size. Trying to load a medium sized square box in the trunk is impossible.

Inside, the XG350 comes equipped with a long list of features. First and foremost, leather seating is standard, as is lighter wood trim than in the past. While previous models displayed an overabundance of hard plastic, the new XG350 is refined, even elegant to the touch.

Cruise control, power windows and mirrors, along with heated power front seats make for a very nice interior package. Climate control with rear ventilation maintains a comfortable environment suitable for long distance driving.

Stereo sound is provided by a robust 6-speaker, AM/FM/CD player system. Unlike my experience in some other Hyundai vehicles of late, the stereo buttons found in the XG350 are easily understood; requiring only limited concentration to use.

The same can be said of the heating and air conditioning system. Placed just below the stereo, the HVAC unit is a study in simplicity and execution. Without the use of a manual, I had airflow targeted in the desired direction within seconds. I challenge you to try that in the Nissan Maxima.

The new Hyundai XG350 is a middleweight performer. Not quite up to the performance standards set by the competition, the new 3.5-liter V6 engine produces a respectable 194 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 216 ft-lbs of torque at 3,500 rpm.