English translation of the original Korean report. Images and source documents may contain Korean text.

Hyundai Motor Company (CEO Jose Muñoz) launched the 8th generation ‘The All New Avante’ in August, and criticism has emerged that its driver’s footwell is narrow, causing shoes to get caught on the upper cover when moving between pedals.

According to the automotive specialized media Media Auto’s YouTube channel on the 3rd, the outlet uploaded a review of the new Avante Hybrid and two short videos consecutively the previous day, raising this issue. As of the 3rd, the three videos had accumulated over 630,000 views.

In the review, the presenter said, “I fix my foot on the brake pedal, then step on the accelerator pedal, but it keeps getting caught on the top,” adding, “Compared to other cars, the height from the floor to the dashboard seems a bit short.”

The short video showed the symptom in more detail. The presenter, wearing common white sneakers, demonstrated a scene where their foot got caught while moving from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, saying, “Sometimes it gets caught, and I can’t step on the brake.” They then explained, “If I do it the way I normally do, it keeps getting caught,” and that they have to lift their foot and move it carefully.

The presenter cited the driver’s knee airbag as the cause. A knee airbag is a device that deploys in front of the driver’s knees during a collision to protect the lower body. Pointing to the cover above the pedal, the presenter said, “It seems to be lower because of the knee airbag.” The internal structure of the cover is the presenter’s conjecture.

The video also included a scene comparing it with other cars using the same shoes. The Kia EV6 GT, which the presenter usually drives, has a knee airbag, but their foot did not touch the cover, and in the 1st generation Audi TT, they said, “There’s nothing to get caught on.” The presenter also noted that the EV6 is a crossover with a high dashboard, so the conditions might be different.

The review presenter stated their foot size is 275 mm, saying, “275 is not an excessive size for Korean middle-aged men.” They added, “It seems like people who wear 290 mm shoes or dress shoes would get completely caught,” and asked, “Shouldn’t there be some modification?”

– The New Model Boasting ’10 Airbags,’ That Spot Is the Problem

In its contract commencement announcement on August 5, Hyundai Motor Company stated that the new Avante Modern trim includes 10 airbags, including front-row center-side airbags and a driver’s knee airbag. The previous model had 8. It also included ‘Pedal Misapplication Safety Assist,’ which prevents sudden acceleration when the accelerator pedal is mistakenly pressed instead of the brake, as a standard feature.

The area pointed out in the video is the newly added knee airbag location. The gist of the presenter’s argument is that the space for moving the foot between pedals has become narrower due to a device installed for safety.

The video spread to online communities such as Clien, Ruliweb, and Fmkorea. Initially, counterarguments emerged, blaming “high-heeled shoes” or “sitting too close.” After the comparison video was uploaded, a Clien user wrote, “The new Avante is definitely narrow top to bottom.” Comments included concerns that drivers with large feet might find it difficult to apply force to the pedal during emergency braking, as well as opinions from those who did not feel discomfort during test drives.

This is not the first criticism surrounding the new Avante. Late last month, a video of a test drive by an automotive media outlet showed the engine stalling on an incline. At the time of its launch, the Modern trim did not include a driver’s instrument cluster screen as standard, and Hyundai Motor Company has been providing a 350,000 won (KRW) 9.9-inch slim display for free on this trim from November 1 until the end of the year.

As of the end of June, Hyundai Motor Company’s largest shareholder is Hyundai Mobis, with a 22.36% stake. The combined stake, including related parties, is 30.67%. Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, holds a 2.73% stake as CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, and Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo holds 5.57%.

Hyundai Motor Company had not publicly issued an explanation regarding this footwell criticism as of the afternoon of the 3rd. Measures such as replacing the cover or changing the design have also not been announced.