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... the sedan is competent, sensible, comfortable, affordable and even stylish.
Neil Dowling road tests and reviews the Hyundai Elantra.
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HABIT makes people do unusual things, like repeatedly opening the fridge door expecting a sudden and miraculous addition of more appealing food. Sorry. What was in the fridge before won't suddenly change. I know people who do this. Just as I know people who won't buy anything other than Ray Ban sunglasses, Apple products, Illy coffee, BMW cars - new or used - and clothes from boutiques in fashionable suburbs.
Owning anything else would put a chink in their social armour and they're not the type of person to buy a Korean car. Which, for them, is a pity. In function, the Hyundai Elantra is every bit as capable as some cars costing twice the price and potentially will be more economical to own. And with the extra money saved, you can start putting more interesting food in the fridge.
VALUE
Lots here. This is a great little sedan with all the goodies you need to survive in the suburbs and even - thanks to its full-size spare wheel - will take you safely into the country. The Elite sits in the middle of the three-model range and costs $25,590 as an automatic. There's a lot of competitors here so you can afford to be a little fussy, but in its favour the Elantra is good value for money, has a five-year warranty, is quite economical, is a snap to drive and looks really good. Forget the upmarket Premium ($28,990) unless you really need leather and a sunroof.
DESIGN
This is an extension of the styling theme employed on the Hyundai i45 sedan and ix35 SUV but while it looks a bit girly on the SUV, and a little bit overcooked on the i45, it is absolutely perfectly balanced on the Elantra. It looks like a small-car sedan from Europe with the accent on a sporty profile. The downfall is that tall people may find limited headroom in the rear, where the roofline eases back to join the stubby boot. It's also low and that may make it difficult for people with limited body fl exibility (old people and early risers, for example) to get in and out of the car. But at least you'll look good once inside.
TECHNOLOGY
The 1.8-litre engine is one of Hyundai's latest designs and replaces the old Elantra's 2-litre effort. It now has a bit more power and a bit less torque but any performance and economy improvement is mainly down to the six-speed auto box. This auto is smaller, has 62 fewer parts and is 5kg lighter than the outgoing four-speed box and allows the car to get 11 per cent better economy. The electric-assist steering is pretty good - a whole lot better than the erratic unit on the baby sister model, the Accent - and that helps make the sedan fun to drive. Most other features are conventional though I appreciate that Hyundai crams a lot of features - audio connectivity and Bluetooth especially - into the car. Five years ago even expensive cars had these as options.
SAFETY
The Elantra gets a five-star crash rating and comes with Hyundai's all-encompassing Vehicle Stability Management system. This system comprises stability and traction control, anti-slip on acceleration and brakeforce distribution. In specific circumstances, it will even help keep the car in line by reducing the power assistance to the steering. On top of that the Elantra gets six airbags.
DRIVING
Hyundai says the steering and suspension have been calibrated in Australia, for Australia and by Australians. The Elantra almost gets it right and it's only when pushed that it's not perfect. But that's not what it's about. It is a very simple car yet some thought in the colours and materials in the cabin raise it to another level. It feels comfortable, looks good on the inside, seats four adults and underway is quiet and free of fuss. The boot is generous - even with the full-size spare - and the flip-down rear seats improve flexibility. It just feels like a tight, well put together small car.
VERDICT
For a family sedan, it doesn't need performance chassis tuning so as an all-rounder, the sedan is competent, sensible, comfortable, affordable and even stylish. Yes, I could be quite happy with one of these in my driveway.
RATING
HYUNDAI ELANTRA ELITE
Price: $25,590
Warranty: 5 years, unlimited km
Resale: 52%
Service interval: 15,000km or 12 months
Economy: 7.1 l/100km; 169g/km CO2
Safety equipment: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.
Crash rating: 5 star
Engine: 110kW/178Nm 1.8-litre 4-cyl petrol
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Body: 4-door, 5 seats
Dimensions: 4530 (L); 1775mm (W); 1435mm (H); 2700mm (WB)
Weight: 1289kg
Tyre size: 205/55R16, full-size alloy spare.
RIVALS
Holden Cruze JG - compare this car
Price: from $22,990
Engine: 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 104 kW/176 Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Thirst: 8.3 L/100 km
Honda Civic 2.0 Sport - compare this car
Price: from $27,990
Engine: 2-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 114kW/188Nm
Transmission: sports automatic, front wheel drive
Thirst: 7.5L/100km
Ford Focus Sport - compare this car
Price: from $33,190
Engine: 120kW/340Nm 2.0L Duratorq Turbo Diesel Common Rail (TDCi) four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-Speed manual transmission
Economy: 5.5l/100km
