On the road
The 2.0L is a capable engine. When mated to the autobox and carrying a sole passenger, life is serene if a little noisy. The addition of two others changes the situation. The fact that the transmission is lazy for starters transforms the drive into a tedious experience. The noise level climbs rapidly as the motor labours to get the 1 200 kg car and occupants up to speed. Fuel consumption is fair at an average of just under 9,5 litres per 100 km.
The Hyundai's driving dynamics are fine for a daily driver. Steering is light although precision is borderline vague. The 4-wheel disc brakes perform well. The pedal has a solid feel to it and remains easy to control.
The Elantra behaves like a large American car: the suspension is very soft and at just about any speed when turning a corner, there is pronounced body roll. This translates into a cozy ride, as the car seems to glide over bumps and dips.
Safety
The car has standard dual front air bags, available ABS brakes (standard on SE and GT), and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) for the driver and 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) in a frontal impact. It was also given 5 out of 5 stars for the front passengers and 4 out of 5 stars for the rear passengers in lateral impacts. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has rated it "Good" in its
category.
Conclusion
In the end, although the Elantra did disappoint me somewhat, I am not so worried. If I take the new Sonata, Accent and Azera into consideration for a moment, I cannot help but think that the next Elantra will be far superior to today's version.
For the moment, the actual Elantra represents a sensible purchase in its category. Hyundai makes a point to offer a surprising amount of content for the dollar spent. The other argument is the manufacturer's excellent warranty. This car is good and the next one will be better.
Good stuff:
Bang for the buck
Not so good stuff:
Soft suspension
Lazy transmission
Competitors:
Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Mazda3
Chevrolet Cobalt / Pontiac Pursuit
Dodge Caliber
Ford Focus
The 2.0L is a capable engine. When mated to the autobox and carrying a sole passenger, life is serene if a little noisy. The addition of two others changes the situation. The fact that the transmission is lazy for starters transforms the drive into a tedious experience. The noise level climbs rapidly as the motor labours to get the 1 200 kg car and occupants up to speed. Fuel consumption is fair at an average of just under 9,5 litres per 100 km.
 |
The Elantra behaves like a large American car: the suspension is very soft and at just about any speed when turning a corner, there is pronounced body roll. This translates into a cozy ride, as the car seems to glide over bumps and dips.
Safety
The car has standard dual front air bags, available ABS brakes (standard on SE and GT), and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) for the driver and 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) in a frontal impact. It was also given 5 out of 5 stars for the front passengers and 4 out of 5 stars for the rear passengers in lateral impacts. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has rated it "Good" in its
 |
Conclusion
In the end, although the Elantra did disappoint me somewhat, I am not so worried. If I take the new Sonata, Accent and Azera into consideration for a moment, I cannot help but think that the next Elantra will be far superior to today's version.
For the moment, the actual Elantra represents a sensible purchase in its category. Hyundai makes a point to offer a surprising amount of content for the dollar spent. The other argument is the manufacturer's excellent warranty. This car is good and the next one will be better.
Good stuff:
Bang for the buck
 |
Not so good stuff:
Soft suspension
Lazy transmission
Competitors:
Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Mazda3
Chevrolet Cobalt / Pontiac Pursuit
Dodge Caliber
Ford Focus
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