One aspect that holds much importance in a family-oriented vehicle is the available room. The Elantra Touring has lots of it, and access is great, too. Rear passengers enjoy a pretty decent amount of legroom and headroom, although it’s worth pointing out that three people will feel relatively squeezed back there.
On the other hand, cargo room -- a top priority when purchasing a wagon -- is readily accessible and the loading floor is reasonably low for a variety of tasks. The overall capacity allows a family to carry home a week’s worth of groceries -- and plenty of other gear -- without even thinking about it.
Small engine, decent power
Under the hood of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring is a 138-horsepower, 2.0-litres, 4-cylinder engine that I found pleasantly surprising. True, it’s not exactly up to the task under hard acceleration and definitely slow during passing manoeuvres. When reaccelerating at the end of a construction zone, for instance, it’s best to stay in the right lane in order not to block the way for faster traffic.
Still, this powerplant is flexible enough to deliver commendable performance in the city. It’s also lively enough to move about between stop lights without much hesitation. And, of course, all this is done with a restrained exhaust note that never disrupts family conversations.
Comfort levels meet expectations for a compact wagon. Obviously, ride quality gives way to slightly better handling in GL Sport trim due to the aforementioned 17-inch wheels. Unfortunately, the larger wheels make the ride a bit harsher when road conditions deteriorate.
One major complaint is the overly-assisted power steering, which removes every ounce of sporty feel behind the wheel by eliminating most of the feedback from the road. This affects driving excitement in a big way.
Elantra Touring wrap-up
Sure, the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring isn’t perfect. It comes with a fair share of little flaws and irritants. Yet, for consumers in search of a compact wagon with cargo room to spare, it’s definitely worth considering.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
On the other hand, cargo room -- a top priority when purchasing a wagon -- is readily accessible and the loading floor is reasonably low for a variety of tasks. The overall capacity allows a family to carry home a week’s worth of groceries -- and plenty of other gear -- without even thinking about it.
Small engine, decent power
Under the hood of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring is a 138-horsepower, 2.0-litres, 4-cylinder engine that I found pleasantly surprising. True, it’s not exactly up to the task under hard acceleration and definitely slow during passing manoeuvres. When reaccelerating at the end of a construction zone, for instance, it’s best to stay in the right lane in order not to block the way for faster traffic.
 |
| Under the hood of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring is a 138-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. |
Still, this powerplant is flexible enough to deliver commendable performance in the city. It’s also lively enough to move about between stop lights without much hesitation. And, of course, all this is done with a restrained exhaust note that never disrupts family conversations.
Comfort levels meet expectations for a compact wagon. Obviously, ride quality gives way to slightly better handling in GL Sport trim due to the aforementioned 17-inch wheels. Unfortunately, the larger wheels make the ride a bit harsher when road conditions deteriorate.
One major complaint is the overly-assisted power steering, which removes every ounce of sporty feel behind the wheel by eliminating most of the feedback from the road. This affects driving excitement in a big way.
Elantra Touring wrap-up
Sure, the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring isn’t perfect. It comes with a fair share of little flaws and irritants. Yet, for consumers in search of a compact wagon with cargo room to spare, it’s definitely worth considering.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Article Gallery