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Elantra

Short test: 2012 Hyundai Elantra

Vehicle: 2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Price as tested: CDN$22699

There aren’t many small cars in spotlights as much as the 5th generation Elantra. While the previous Elantra were all very worthy compact family sedans, the new version has taken it to the new height. Thanks to Hyundai’s new fluidty sculpture design language, which transform all of Korean giant’s product range from bland to sleek. The succeed of #5 has begun right here.

Along with stunning looks, new Elantra does come with sophication to back up its good looks. Its refined 1.8 liter DOHC 16-valve provides 148hp and 131 lb/ft of torque. While it certainly won’t win any drag races, its good enough for most of the daily driving. The amount of engine refinement and smoothness are on par with anything else from Japanese counterparts. If there is one drawback, its the manumatic mode always stuck in 5th gear. Hyundai has taken this setting with Toyota’s playbook. Since its a manumatic, it should give all control to the driver instead of pre-setting the gear. Otherwise, its 6-speed manumatic is sweet as a nut with proper gear ratios.

Dynamically speaking, Elantra is a very satisfying if a bit of an austere drive. While you won’t find the same handling sharpness as in the Ford Focus and Mazda3, what Hyundai exceeds in ride comfort and balanced handling. While we would love to see a quicker steering ratio, its steering provides sure-footness feel and feedback with enough responsiveness. The ride quality is sublime and should be judged as class leading. There are minimal body rolls and understeer is well-tempted. The state-of-the-art ESC provides excellent active safety whenever driver rears its ugly heads.

Inside the Elantra, its all about quality. The use of materials and workmanship are world-class. You can even get standard features unparallelled with anything in this price ladder. Heated rear seats, auto climate control, Bluetooth capability and redundant steering control are all standard on our Limited version.

Just two decades ago, no one would believe Hyundai have won North American Car of the Year while BMW produces awful cars. How time and things have changed. BMW is producing cars which are nothing to write home about, while Hyundai is getting homerun after homerun. The latest Elantra is the prime example. While there are those who might argue “beauty is skin deep” before they actually driven a Hyundai. With their solid engineering, Hyundai is definitely “beauty is more than skin deep”. Its not only Elantra has a potent powertrain, handles relatively well while comes with lots of generous equipment. The exceptional value quotient and ever improving residual value would have Japanese worries.

If I am looking for a compact family sedan without care for edgy handling, for my money, Elantra is the class leader. :)

Coming up next. The new Elantra Coupe and GT.

Likes:
Stunning looks
Feature galore
Value-for-money
Potent powertrain

Dislikes:
Soft steering feel
Instrusive trunk hinges
Slightly sterlie driving experience

Competitions:
Chevy Cruze
Kia Forte
Mazda3
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
VW Jetta

2011 Hyundai Elantra

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Price as tested: CDN$22699

Performance: The Hyundai Elantra has always been one of Directshift’s all-time favourite when it comes to small car. Will the new generation continue to be our favourite? We will tell you after this test drive.

The Elantra is only sourced by only one powerplant, unlike many of its peers. Its DOHC 1.8 liter 16-valve with Hyundai’s Dual CVVT variable valve timing variety. That said, its good for 148hp and 131 lb/ft of torque at driver’s disposal. In terms of refinement and smoothness, this Korean 4-banger is simply world-class especially when it compares to class-leading Mazda3 and Honda Civic. There are plenty of get-up-and-go when driver steps on the gas pedal. With 131 lb/ft of torque available at a low 4700rpm, there are plenty of low-end torque whenever an urge needs. 6-speed manumatic is the only gearbox available on our top-of-the-line Limited Elantra. The shifts are smooth and coordiated, while the shifter is willing to up and downshifts whenever driver lifts off the throttle. Hyundai has solved the biggest issue with Elantra’s gearbox in the past. And they have done it beautifully. On the other hand, the mid-range and upper range have been enhanced with the dual CVVT variable valve timing which improve engine breathing. Add to the fact that this engine is a smooth and quiet operator.

Handling: With the solid and stout platform that is completely free of any cracks and rattles, there is a place for all those suspension components to hang its heads. Unlike previous Elantra, save for Elantra Touring, which ride on an entirely different platform. The new Elantra is more focused on driving experience than all-out comfort. If you consider the outgoing Elantra more of a Corolla-esque ride, the new Elantra is more of a Civic when it comes to dynamic abilities. The suspension setting is more sporty and athletic when pushed it through the limits. The body motions are fluid while understeer has tempted exceptionally well. Suspension is comfortably compliant while riding on those washboard pavements, expansion joints and patholes which made Canadian roads so infamously bad. Our biggest compliant with outgoing Elantra was the darty electric power steering. Hyundai has addressed that issue completely. The electric power steering provides sporty and athletic feel and feedback, with enough precision and weight. All have done with nicely proportioned on and off-center feedback. Its ESC has worked wonderfully when it comes to eliminate both under and oversteer without being too overly intrusive in its work ethics. The Elantra is a very satisfying small car, dynamically speaking,

Brakes: Unlike some of its rivals which have gone back to front discs and rear drums, Elantra comes with 4-wheel discs with standard ABS. The stopping distance is short and linear, while the pedal always feels alive and crisp whenever its time to drop the anchor. ABS doesn’t step in unnecessarily is an added bous.

Interior: When it comes to interior amenities, Elantra outdone any of its competitions. Our Limited not only comes with standard leather seats. Dual zone climate control is currently only standard on an Elantra, which is unheard of in its price ladder. Then add the Bluetooth capability, trip computer and heated front seats. The Elantra is loaded like a luxury car costing twice as much. In terms of materials and fit-and-finish, Elantra scores again. All the plastic and leather materials are top-notch. They are both classy and understated without being too flashy.

Another feature that is unheard of in any small car is heated rear seats. There are enough head and legroom for rear passengers aboard. In just a decade ago, you have to opt for a luxury car that is costing $70k in order to get a bum warmer, nowaday, you can get that cozy feature for less than $23k.

Conclusion: Hyundai is the new poster child in the auto industry, and there is a good reason why. The new Elantra is the prime example of Hyundai’s continuous succeed. It handles exceptionally well, a sweet engine despite the horsepower deficit over more powerful rivals, interior amenities are unmatched anywhere in its segment. It doesn’t come as a surprise Elantra continues to be one of our all-time favourite.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2011 Hyundai Elantra
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.25/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.25/5

Folllow-up test: 2010 Hyundai Elantra sedan

Vehicle: 2010 Hyundal Elantra GL Sport Automatic
Price as tested: CDN$22699

With all the attention surrouning Genesis, Genesis Coupe and Elantra Touring these days. Most would probably forgot about Hyundai’s bread-and-butter car, Elantra sedan. Although the Elantra sedan doesn’t share platform with the Touring, both are excellent grocery getters in their own ways.

Elantra’s 2.0 liter 138hp provides surprisingly good response and fuel economy. The overall refinement of Hyundai’s 4-cylinder has been world-class, it is as good as anything else from Japanese counterparts. The 4-speed automatic with proper gear ratio has worked exceptionally well with this engine. 136 lb/ft of torque has given it enough grunt to make the Elantra off-the-line while variable valve timing ensures it has a good mid-range acceleration.

If there is one major dynamic drawback, it has to do with Elantra’s featherweight steering. While the Elantra Touring has completely different steering set-up, which makes for far better steering feel and feedback on low speeds. Elantra sedan has numb steering feedback at low speed although it firms up nicely as speed raises. In terms of suspension setting, Elantra has set it more toward ride comfort although handling is sure-footness and confidence. Given its comfort-oriented setting, Elantra’s dynamic abilities have done exceptionally well.

In terms of active safety feature, its ridiculous for Hyundai not to offer Elantra with ABS standard below GL Sport, while ESC isn’t available for trim levels below GLS. The lack of availabiilty of ABS and ESC on base models have made Elantra not as good value-for-money as what we expect from Hyundai.

What is most impressive is Elantra’s interior finishings. As there are plenty of soft-touch plastic materials in the cabin. All the switchgears have high-quality, tactical feel; which have better plastic moldings than some of its Japanese counterparts. The velour seats provide superb comfort, for both front and rear passengers.

If you are looking for a comfortable small car with a trunk, Elantra sedan is definitely a contender in this fiercely competitive class. However, we at Directshift has always been huge fans of hatchback and station wagon. So we would put our money toward Elantra Touring given the choice.

Likes:
Build quality
Handling and ride
Refinement

Dislikes:
Featherweight and numb steering at low speed
ABS isn’t available for trim levels below GL with Sport Package
ESC isn’t available for trim levels below GLS

2007 Hyundai Elantra

Vehicle: 2007 Hyundai Elantra Comfort Plus Auto
Price as tested: CDN$21740

Performance: The Elantra is powered by a single powertrain. This DOHC 16-valve 2.0 liter mill is good for 138 horses and 136 lb/ft of torque. While its not the best-in-class horsepower and torque, this engine certainly get its job done nicely. Hyundai’s latest engine technologies already able to rivalled the bests from Japan, namely Honda and Toyota. The same goes for this 2 liter motor. Both the refinement and NVH are simply top-notch consider how much you are paying for this Elantra. Just like every Hyundai motors, however, its the top-end that is slowly breathless even with the advanced variable valve timing. The 4-speed automatic is a willing partner to this motor. The shifts are smooth and refined, however, it tends to be too easily to slip from 4th to 3rd even with the gated shifter. Although that is a minor pet peeve, it remains a criticism because this flawed design has been incorporated into Hyundai for last 2 generations already.

Handling: Even with new Elantra’s strong and sound chassis, its suspension setting remains more focus on comfort than handling. Fortunately, Hyundai engineers are able to infuse the European suppleness into its suspension and rebound damping. As we have experienced in many Hyundais, the European-influenced is very obvious when it comes to supple riding quality and bump absorption. Dynamically speaking, Elantra remains a capable car despite its comfort-oriented tuning. Yes, there are safe understeer and body rolls are quite obvious. But its a capable little car through twisties. Unfortunately, there is a major drawback and that has to do with its steering. The electic power steering’s low-speed feedback is weird. Its not only does it feels lousy at low-speed, its quirkness is something that is very hard to explain. When the speed increases, steering feels more natural to the feedback. I found it oddball when Hyundai engineers used engine rpm instead of engine speed to determine electric power steering’s feel and weight.

Brakes: Another major drawback to Elantra’s rather attractive package is the ABS. Instead of offering it standard across the line, its only available on top trim levels. Only GL Comfort Plus, GL Sport and GLS are able to get ABS as standard. Base trims, GL and GL Comfort, aren’t able to get it even as an option. Criticism of the package aside, Elantra’s pedal feels solid and ABS’s kicks-in absolutely necessary.

Interior: Its not only Elantra’s interior layout is excellent, its use of materials are also top-notch. The execution of fit-and-finish and materials have to be consider as one of the better ones in econocar segment. However, its the seating material that left me wondering. While the velour materials are as comfortable and supportive as anything else out there, its the texture that left a sign of quirkness that is not easily accepted by anyone else. Maybe the weird steering has something to do with the even more interesting velour, or vise versa?!

Conclusion: Without a doubt, this has to be the best Elantra ever made. It got a luxurious ride, rich interior, handles decently and a silky-smooth engine. Its gonna be another homerun from Hyundai.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2007 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
====================================
Performance: 3.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 3.5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.25/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 3.75/5

2004 Hyundai Elantra GT Premium

Short review of Hyundai Elantra GT Premium with 5-speed stick
============================================
Price as tested: $21350

The current iteration of Elantra already a pretty hard car to improve on given its excellent combination of style, comfort, handling and value. This year Hyundai improves the Elantra with a more powerful 138 hp CVVT variable valve timing engine on an already wonderful little package. With 138hp and 136 lb/ft of torque, the Elantra is definitely no slouch. Its even more responsive than the outgoing model without sacificing the refinement and flexability of the engine. The CVVT improves the breathing at high rpm, while the whole powerplant provides better NVH than before. The stick shift is smooth while the clutch take off is progressive and light. Gears are easily find thanks to its well-defined gates. The sports suspension provides a sublime combination of ride and handling. While the standard suspended Elantra has a somewhat floaty feel, the sports suspension really works like wonders. It provides enough firmness without losing the silky ride. The interior is as comfortable as the outgoing car with excellent ergonomics and fit-and-finish, that’s except for Hyundai’s infamous stereo (except XG) with tiny switches that are extremely hard to find those stupid buttons. The leather seats are comfortable although I would rather take a cloth seats instead. Unfortunately, you have to sacifice ABS if you don’t go with Premium, that means leather. Hyundai needs to rethink this package as many people who would like ABS as a seperate option, actually they should make ABS standard across the board, instead of stuck with those vinyl-like cow hides.

The engine improvement has surely given a great little car a even better heart. Along with the practicality of a GT and value Hyundai provides, Elantra should be continue to be one of the top dogs in the crowded econocar class.

Overall rating: 4.75/5