The interior remains pretty quiet – arguably on par with Toyota and Honda – and commuters will love the electric power steering. Extremely light and buttery-smooth at idle and low speeds, it's perfect for driving around town. On the highway, though, it doesn't get quite heavy enough, which constantly requires slight corrections in order to maintain a straight line. Over time, this becomes irritating.
The light steering combined with the short turning radius (10.6 m) makes the new Elantra easy to park... that is when you know where you're going. The aforementioned sculpted body incorporates a tall trunk and a near-horizontal rear window. As a result, you can essentially forget about rearward visibility. Those who can't afford a Limited model with navigation (the only one featuring a rear-view camera) will have to rely on their instincts or pure luck to avoid running into and over obstacles. Body repair shops will no doubt make a fortune giving a new life to Elantra bumpers!
In terms of cargo capacity, the Hyundai is roughly similar to the Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Forte, not to mention 20-percent more generous than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. The trunk has a wide yet relatively-short opening. It can swallow a medium-size cooler like the 66-litre Coleman Xtreme. Making the operation difficult, however, is the fact that interior clearance is uneven across the entire cargo area. What's more, the two curved braces that support the lid will crush any package that sits right under. So remember to keep that precious Waterford crystal in the middle of the trunk!
Superior safety and warranty
As you know, Hyundai banks a lot on safety. Every trim level features six standard airbags (front, side and side curtain), non-intrusive ABS brakes, heated power mirrors as well as stability and traction control.
Just like the rest of the Hyundai family, the 2011 Elantra also offers one of the best warranties in the industry – 5 years or 100,000 kilometres of comprehensive and powertrain coverage, and 3 years of 24/7 roadside assistance (unlimited km). That's a surefire way to bring peace of mind to potential buyers. And you can bet there will be plenty of them!
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| The Elantra Limited is the only model in the lineup to ride on 17-inch wheels. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
The light steering combined with the short turning radius (10.6 m) makes the new Elantra easy to park... that is when you know where you're going. The aforementioned sculpted body incorporates a tall trunk and a near-horizontal rear window. As a result, you can essentially forget about rearward visibility. Those who can't afford a Limited model with navigation (the only one featuring a rear-view camera) will have to rely on their instincts or pure luck to avoid running into and over obstacles. Body repair shops will no doubt make a fortune giving a new life to Elantra bumpers!
In terms of cargo capacity, the Hyundai is roughly similar to the Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Forte, not to mention 20-percent more generous than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. The trunk has a wide yet relatively-short opening. It can swallow a medium-size cooler like the 66-litre Coleman Xtreme. Making the operation difficult, however, is the fact that interior clearance is uneven across the entire cargo area. What's more, the two curved braces that support the lid will crush any package that sits right under. So remember to keep that precious Waterford crystal in the middle of the trunk!
Superior safety and warranty
As you know, Hyundai banks a lot on safety. Every trim level features six standard airbags (front, side and side curtain), non-intrusive ABS brakes, heated power mirrors as well as stability and traction control.
Just like the rest of the Hyundai family, the 2011 Elantra also offers one of the best warranties in the industry – 5 years or 100,000 kilometres of comprehensive and powertrain coverage, and 3 years of 24/7 roadside assistance (unlimited km). That's a surefire way to bring peace of mind to potential buyers. And you can bet there will be plenty of them!
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| Both the GLS and Limited stand out with not two but four heated seats, something no rival can match. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
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