As with all of its other cars, from the entry-level Accent to the top of
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| Bright blue instruments make their way into the new Elantra's cabin. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America) |
the line Azera, Hyundai has been working to lift the appearance and quality of its interiors. The Elantra's cabin is completely redesigned; its styling closely aligned to the new look of the Sonata. Touches such as two-toned interior trim, optional leather seating surfaces, aluminum dashboard and console patina, multi-function steering wheel controls and blue-backlit instruments and controls provide a more upscale driving environment, and one that previously would not have been associated with a compact Hyundai. Meanwhile, the seating position inside the Elantra has been raised by 46 mm (1.8 inches) providing an improved vantage point for better visibility.
Not to say that the current Elantra isn't equipped with a safety kit, but
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| With two-toned plastics and classy accent , trim, the Elantra is eons ahead of the current car in interior atmosphere. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America) |
the new car comes loaded to the gills with the latest gear to keep you safe in the event of a crash. Standard on all models are six airbags, consisting of two front, two seat-mounted torso, and two full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard are three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all occupants, plus four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. Combined with a frame that's some 48 percent more rigid than the current model, Hyundai is gunning for best in class scores in IIHS and a solid five-star safety rating in the NHTSA crash tests.
As
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| Engine passes through unaltered. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America) |
with the current North American-bound Elantra, the new car will be offered with a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four with continuously variable valve timing that produces 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission, or 132 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque with the four-speed automatic - the same setup as currently featured in the Kia Spectra. Both gearboxes are geared towards efficiency, which makes sense for the Elantra's entry-level buyer. Though there won't be a hybrid or alternative fuel version immediately available, automatic transmission-equipped Elantras sold in California and other smog-conscious states are classified as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV), which makes it as clean in terms of tailpipe emissions as a hybrid powered vehicle!
One thing that we can't help but wonder is what happened to
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| Expect to be seeing a whole lot of Elantras on the road soon. Its class-leading space and safety equipment is sure to appeal. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America) |
the so-called "World Engine" that Hyundai developed in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi. The engine series is currently in production in 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter forms in the Dodge Caliber, and will be adapted shortly to the next-generation Mitsubishi Lancer. However clean and advanced the current 2.0-liter Alpha-series Hyundai engine is, the new World Engine is more advanced; with 200 cc less displacement, the engine cranks out 148 horsepower, a 10-horsepower gain over Hyundai's own unit. This, as well as the more powerful 158 hp 2.0-liter and 172 hp 2.4-liter could give the Elantra the performance boost that many buyers crave.
When the Elantra goes on sale in dealerships this autumn, it will only be offered as a sedan; it is unknown whether or not Hyundai will follow up with a replacement for the five-door hatchback. Nevertheless, even without it, the greater space, improved interior appointments, ample standard equipment, aggressive pricing and inclusion of one of the world's best warranties, ensures that the Elantra will play a critical role in the ever-important, ever-growing compact marketplace.
