Hyundai Motor’s new Grandeur diesel aims to raise the bar for refinement in South Korea’s car market by introducing class-leading sound insulation with practical fuel economy, the automaker said Wednesday.

In a test drive event arranged for the local media, South Korea’s No. 1 carmaker said the large, near-luxury sedan was designed from the outset to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, and give occupants a smooth, quiet and refined ride.

The Grandeur diesel is the country’s first large sedan powered by a diesel engine and was first unveiled in late May at the Busan International Motor Show.

Hyundai Motor said the car targets consumers drawn to German carmakers like Volkswagen, which have grabbed a bigger market share over the years by introducing fuel-efficient diesel engines, which tend to be 20-30 percent more fuel efficient than their gasoline counterparts. (Yonhap)