Conquering ‘De Grote Postweg’ on Hyundai H-1

With an ever increasing number of automobiles and worsening traffic-jams, small and compact cars seem to be our favorite transport form, especially in a crowded city as Jakarta.

However, we sometimes also approach large cars trapped in the middle of a traffic congestion in the city, competing with others to get out of the crowd. Unlike smaller ones, those large vehicles are hard to maneuver.

It is more difficult for the large cars to get into lanes.

So why do people choose to buy large cars when even the smaller ones can’t escape a traffic jam?

Hyundai H-1. JP/Kurniawan Hari

Just recently, PT Hyundai Mobil Indonesia (HMI) organized an event titled “Java-Bali Overland 2010”, a driving experience along the roads in the north coast of Java Island. The route originally known as De Grote Postweg was built during the rule of Dutch governor general Herman Willem Daendels in 1808-1811.

Attended by around 40 journalists, the event aimed at giving the journalists a chance to enjoy the comfort and power of Hyundai H-1 CRDi, one of the large cars often seen on Jakarta roads. The event took place from April 12 to April 17 with journalists divided into two groups.

The first group traveled on Hyundai H-1 CRDi from Semarang, Central Java, to Malang, East Java, before making a final stop in Bali between April 12 and April 14. The second group of journalists meanwhile took a longer trip. They departed Bali the morning of April 16 and toured the roads along Java’s north coast and arrived in Jakarta on the evening of April 17.

“On this occasion, I would like to thank the journalists for helping us drive the cars back to Jakarta,” Hyundai Mobil Indonesia president director Jongkie D. Sugiarto joked during a dinner with the journalists.

He said he hoped the journalists would come with feedback after finishing the 1,400 kilometers Kuta-Jakarta journey. “Please give us feedback. Only with input can we improve our products,” he said.

With 5.125 meters in length and 1.920 meters in width, Hyundai H-1 is larger than some other family cars or multi purpose vans and it gives passengers more space to move in the cabin during a trip.

The first thing that gave a first-class impression when getting inside a Hyundai H-1 is said to be its spacious cabin. According to a Hyundai staff member, one variant of Hyundai H-1 comes with four rows of seats and it can accommodate as many as 12 people including the driver.

The car being used for the Java-Bali Overland 2010, however, comes with three rows of seats and carries 6 people including the driver. Each row has three seats with the seat in the middle to fold into a table.

With only six people aboard and the seats able to reclined, touring aboard a Hyundai H-1 is more or less like being in a business-class flight. The comfort and coziness is accentuated with a 5.1 channel audio video system that offers terrific voice and vivid images courtesy of Kenwood.

A memorable rendition of Stealing Home by David Foster greeted the journalists as they entered the cabin.

The LCD monitor is roof mounted between the first and second row of seat, accessible by passengers on the second row to adjust the color and brightness of the monitor. Another smaller screen attached on the dashboard can also function as a GPS monitor, a helpful device for the driver.

The screen can also display the rear view especially during parking and it is equipped with rear censor.

The sun was bright when the group – six Hyundai H-1 and two police cars – left an iconic hotel in Kuta that morning. The road heading to Gilimanuk was narrow and windy with some extreme turns in several spots that the vehicle managed well.

The sun shined brighter as we reached a ferry in Gilimanuk, which brought us to Ketapang Seaport in Banyuwangi, East Java. The heat outside was not felt in the cabin thanks to the air-conditioning system. With six adjustable air conditioning panels on the roof of the passenger area, the temperature in the cabin was suitable. Some journalists even wore jackets during the night drive from Tuban, East Java to Semarang, Central Java.

The next morning, the convoy left Semarang for Jakarta with a brief stop in Tegal for a lunch. After lunch, the group sped up as the road was not too crowded. Some journalists appreciated the car’s power.

“Despite its large body, this car has an impressive acceleration. We can also use the shift-tronic feature if we want to try the semi-manual transmission,” said Dwi Wahyu, a reporter with some experience in test-drive.

Wahyu also praised the quiet of the cabin which allows passengers to fully enjoy films or music entertainment in the cabin.

Mario Aristo, another journalist, also expressed his appreciation. “One thing that we should appreciate is the big power of this car. For a car that uses diesel, this vehicle is quite powerful,” he said.

Some journalists were upset with the use of the rigid axle for the rear suspension as it reduces it makes the journey less comfortable on bumpy road. In fact, the use of the rigid axle is designed to limit the ability for the vehicle to roll.

It was proven when the convoy got into the severely damaged Kanci toll road in Cirebon, West Java. The vehicle  avoided the cracked roads with high stability.

With a total of 2,740 kilometers, the journey finished in six days, the Hyundai H-1 CRDi is proven to be a hardy vehicle. It should also be noted that this car is fully assembled in Pondok Ungu, Bekasi and HMI has the license to export this vehicle to the Southeast Asian market.