Hyundai is no stranger to manufacturing and selling commercial vehicles in many countries. However, the company is absent from the commercial van segment in the United States. This may change very soon, as one of TFLtruck viewers caught this lightly camouflaged Hyundai H350 prototype resting at a California RV parking area.
Hyundai officially unveiled the H350 in September of 2014 overseas as a cargo and passenger van for global markets. It’s possible, it can come to the USA as well. The H350 was benchmarked against the best competitors in the European market. So it knows a thing or two about the Ford Transit and the Ram ProMaster, just to name two. The Hyundai van is focused on delivering cargo volume, payload, driver comfort, and safety.
The European version comes with two versions of the 2.5L four-cylinder turbo-diesel mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The more powerful version makes 167 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The H350 can be configured in several lengths and roof heights. The cargo van can be setup with three seats, and the passenger version can carry up to 15 people total.
The prototype in these pictures is towing a small ballasted trailer.
It appears that Hyundai H350 has done their homework to be competitive in the global commercial van market. Will they pull the trigger and start selling in the United States? It likely hinges on the dealers and the distribution network.
Check out Nathan Adlen’s first review of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4.
