6. 72.5% - Hyundai Elantra
A car we all thought was going to score big has, in the end, not. Hyundai’s Elantra turns out to be one of those cars that checks all the right boxes on its own but that, when lined up with its direct competitors, falls way short.
By the sheer number of Elantras that cover the roads, one has to believe that Hyundai hit the mark by creating a product that is both aesthetically pleasing and value-priced without cutting on content.
The tragedy here is that the Elantra lost most of its points on one single aspect. Read on.
Inside and Out of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra
Most recent iterations of the Elantra have been well received by consumers, but by 2011, Hyundai switched their design into high gear. The gloves came off and the new Elantra visually took a stand, buyers took notice, and since that time the Korean giant’s compact car has been wrestling with the Civic for the top spot in the segment.
There are those who find the car and its 2014 facelift very attractive, but we all feel as though the Elantra’s Fluidic Sculpture may cause it to age prematurely. Time will tell, but the present is quite flattering.
The cabin received mixed reviews where some thought the dashboard to be well conceived while others thought the ergonomics were all over the place. The main issue here being that the top portion falls away from the front passengers making accessibility a problem. The front seats offer no more than average comfort and support.
Driving the 2014 Hyundai Elantra
The big news for 2014 is the arrival of the 2.0L engine in the Limited trimmed cars. The new mills’ extra oomph is noticeable, on a few points. First, it pulls much harder than the basic 1.8L and segundo; it’s kinda noisy and lacks refinement. Be that as it may, it’s the Elantra’s suspension that ruins the drive experience.
On a glass-smooth surface, the Elantra glides smartly, giving the impression that it is actually anchored to the road. The moment a bump, crack, glitch or twig appears on the road, it all falls apart. The suspension’s tuning severely limits wheel travel and, as though a nervous tick, the dampers rapidly decompress themselves sending the passengers lightly off their perches. Truly, this is an unfortunate getup and is in part due to the solid torsion axle in the rear.
As for brakes and steering, they are fine. One word, again, on the adjustable FlexSteer: Set it and forget it…
A car we all thought was going to score big has, in the end, not. Hyundai’s Elantra turns out to be one of those cars that checks all the right boxes on its own but that, when lined up with its direct competitors, falls way short.
By the sheer number of Elantras that cover the roads, one has to believe that Hyundai hit the mark by creating a product that is both aesthetically pleasing and value-priced without cutting on content.
The tragedy here is that the Elantra lost most of its points on one single aspect. Read on.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux |
Inside and Out of the 2014 Hyundai Elantra
Most recent iterations of the Elantra have been well received by consumers, but by 2011, Hyundai switched their design into high gear. The gloves came off and the new Elantra visually took a stand, buyers took notice, and since that time the Korean giant’s compact car has been wrestling with the Civic for the top spot in the segment.
There are those who find the car and its 2014 facelift very attractive, but we all feel as though the Elantra’s Fluidic Sculpture may cause it to age prematurely. Time will tell, but the present is quite flattering.
The cabin received mixed reviews where some thought the dashboard to be well conceived while others thought the ergonomics were all over the place. The main issue here being that the top portion falls away from the front passengers making accessibility a problem. The front seats offer no more than average comfort and support.
Driving the 2014 Hyundai Elantra
The big news for 2014 is the arrival of the 2.0L engine in the Limited trimmed cars. The new mills’ extra oomph is noticeable, on a few points. First, it pulls much harder than the basic 1.8L and segundo; it’s kinda noisy and lacks refinement. Be that as it may, it’s the Elantra’s suspension that ruins the drive experience.
On a glass-smooth surface, the Elantra glides smartly, giving the impression that it is actually anchored to the road. The moment a bump, crack, glitch or twig appears on the road, it all falls apart. The suspension’s tuning severely limits wheel travel and, as though a nervous tick, the dampers rapidly decompress themselves sending the passengers lightly off their perches. Truly, this is an unfortunate getup and is in part due to the solid torsion axle in the rear.
As for brakes and steering, they are fine. One word, again, on the adjustable FlexSteer: Set it and forget it…