A compact amongst many
Hyundai is in full swing and in the middle of resurgence. It began in 2005 with the arrival of the Tucson. For the 2006, Hyundai has presented the market with the all-new Sonata, [link artid="31501"]Azera[/link] and Accent. The 2007 Santa Fe and Entourage were on display for all to see at this year's Detroit auto show. This leaves only the Elantra and Tiburon to receive an overhaul.
The brand-spanking new Elantra has just made its world debut in New York and, as expected, it has grown in size and its looks have been revised. It is in fact so room that the EPA (Environmental protection association) has classified it as a midsize car. Standard equipment will include the likes of six air bags,
The Elantra's pricing begins at $14,995. The top-of-the-line SE sedan retails for $20,580. The 5-door models range from $15,395 to $20,980. I tested an SE.
Styling
The Elantra has a simple and un-ruffling styling. It actually looks much like a shrunken version of Hyundai's ex-flagship, the XG350. Although this may be, the Elantra is fairly bland especially when comparing it to the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic. The 5-door version is by far more attractive. The hatch adds a new dimension to the product as it gives the shape more purpose. Moving up to the GT trim adds 5-spoke alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. Exterior panel assembly is very good although the paint finish displays a fair amount of orange peel.
The cabin of the car is faithful to the basic Korean vision. Simplicity and lack of clutter best describe what the driver faces as he or she takes place behind the wheel. The gauges are particularly unadorned and easy to consult. The HVAC controls are three straightforward knobs. The radio suffers from
annoyingly small buttons that are difficult to make out. The seats are justly comfortable for both front and rear occupants. The fit and finish is as good as what we find in today's Toyota Corolla but the materials used are a notch below that of the Japanese car.
After a whole week a nearly 600 km travelled, I was still unable to find a comfortable driving position; regardless of the adjustments made, I was still too far from the wheel or too close to the pedals. Another annoyance is Hyundai's chimes; they are loud and incredibly irritating.
Technical
It is a simple task to select the desired powertrain when purchasing an Elantra. There is but one engine to choose from. It is a 138 hp 2.0L inline 4-cylinder. Transmission selection resides between a 5-speed manual and
a 4-speed automatic. In the steering circle, we find a power assisted rack and pinion set-up. Brakes are made up of front discs and rear drums for the GL and VE. The 4-door SE and GT models carry 4-wheel discs. The suspension is fully independent and the Elantra rides on either 15 steel wheels or alloy rims.
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The brand-spanking new Elantra has just made its world debut in New York and, as expected, it has grown in size and its looks have been revised. It is in fact so room that the EPA (Environmental protection association) has classified it as a midsize car. Standard equipment will include the likes of six air bags,
The Elantra's pricing begins at $14,995. The top-of-the-line SE sedan retails for $20,580. The 5-door models range from $15,395 to $20,980. I tested an SE.
Styling
The Elantra has a simple and un-ruffling styling. It actually looks much like a shrunken version of Hyundai's ex-flagship, the XG350. Although this may be, the Elantra is fairly bland especially when comparing it to the Mazda3 and the Honda Civic. The 5-door version is by far more attractive. The hatch adds a new dimension to the product as it gives the shape more purpose. Moving up to the GT trim adds 5-spoke alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. Exterior panel assembly is very good although the paint finish displays a fair amount of orange peel.
The cabin of the car is faithful to the basic Korean vision. Simplicity and lack of clutter best describe what the driver faces as he or she takes place behind the wheel. The gauges are particularly unadorned and easy to consult. The HVAC controls are three straightforward knobs. The radio suffers from
annoyingly small buttons that are difficult to make out. The seats are justly comfortable for both front and rear occupants. The fit and finish is as good as what we find in today's Toyota Corolla but the materials used are a notch below that of the Japanese car.After a whole week a nearly 600 km travelled, I was still unable to find a comfortable driving position; regardless of the adjustments made, I was still too far from the wheel or too close to the pedals. Another annoyance is Hyundai's chimes; they are loud and incredibly irritating.
Technical
It is a simple task to select the desired powertrain when purchasing an Elantra. There is but one engine to choose from. It is a 138 hp 2.0L inline 4-cylinder. Transmission selection resides between a 5-speed manual and
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