Is it worth a look?
What Is It?
The Acheron is Hyperion’s full-size SUV. It’s fitted with three rows of seats and is the brand’s largest passenger vehicle. With this new generation, Hyperion has introduced more trim levels, body styles, and powertrains in an attempt to capture interest from a larger range of buyers.
Despite being one of Hyperion’s newest models it doesn’t attempt to do anything revolutionary in the styling department. Compared to the brand’s smaller Tadashi, which took an unconventional, yet bold approach to design, the Acheron seems rather uninspiring. Unfortunately, many styling elements seemed to be pulled from other vehicles, resulting in a look that appears more generic than distinctive. While the SUV is not unattractive, it’s hard to imagine it will turn many heads at the school drop-off.
If you don’t mind blending in, then the Acheron still has a good amount of stuff to offer. With the departure of the Apex Tridion, there aren’t many other three-row options in the market outside of the luxury segment. That means that this is one of the most practical and accessible large SUVs you can get today, and that isn’t a bad thing.
As you might expect, all Acheron models come with AWD standard. Our tester, the base 42i trim, comes standard with a new turbocharged 4.2-liter inline-six that puts out 395 HP and 470 lbs. ft. of torque. If you’re looking to haul more stuff with your Acheron, you can get the extended length “Plus” model which comes with an optional 6.2L V8 engine. However, you can choose between two inline-sixes if gasoline isn’t quite your flavor. All of the six-cylinder options are paired with a nine-speed auto, but the V8 is only available with a seven-speed auto.
Interior & Tech
Similar to the exterior, we don’t expect anyone to be wowed when stepping inside of the Acheron’s cabin. The interior feels more utilitarian than luxurious, and the overall design is quite dated. Dull aesthetics aside, there is definitely plenty of room to stretch out. Passengers have an abundance of legroom and headroom in all three rows, plus the tall windows and panoramic roof help prevent things from feeling claustrophobic. The one let-down is that the cargo space is pretty limited with all three-rows up; even the extended model doesn’t offer much more room if you plan to fill each seat. If your only concern is cargo, however, you’ll be greeted with a cavernous space once you fold down the seats.
In the tech department, things are mediocre. Unfortunately, most of the technology is dated and looks like it belongs in an Apex from three years ago. Still, there is a reasonable amount of equipment offered. Tech such as folding mirrors, a key-fob, an infotainment system, and digital gauges all come standard. However, as more and more companies are focusing on improving their technology, it’s hard to see how this SUV can stay competitive.
Driving
The Acheron doesn’t try to convince you that it’s sporty in any way, and it doesn’t have to. It’s clear that the main focus of this SUV is to maximize practicality and passenger space rather than any form of spirited driving. The driver and passengers both get a pretty tall seating position. Plus, the soft suspension helps to make the ride comfortable without being too floaty.
Unfortunately, there are disadvantages to this. The steering feels disconnected from the driver and it isn’t super precise. The steering also feels a little bit too quick and fidgety. It isn’t a problem at low speeds, but once you get past 35 MPH it becomes noticeable. This, combined with the soft suspension set up, means that the Acheron is subjected to a large amount of body-roll. As a result, the SUV feels squirrely and unstable while turning. That’s not super reassuring for a family hauler.
Luckily, the drivetrain is pretty smooth. The nine-speed transmission has a short gearing set up, which allows for consistent power delivery. Speaking of power, there is plenty of it. The Acheron is quick off the line, but it also has a good amount of passing power even at higher speeds.
Conclusion
Since the ROBLOX family SUV segment is rather small, there aren’t many options to look towards if you need something spacious, powerful, and practical. Fortunately, the Acheron is completely happy to give you all of it as long as you don’t mind its flaws. It’s not quite an SUV that you’ll aspire to own, but it’s a fine tool if you don’t need anything fancy.
Comments