Hyundai's small cars, the Accent and Getz, have done well in Australia's Best Cars, but it has taken longer for the mid size Elantra to win the judges over. In 2006, though, the new model made the top three in its class.
Value for money
Pricing
Start money in this class is $19,990, where the Elantra range kicks off with the SX. The SLX costs $22,490, the Elite is $24,990 and the top of the line Elite S is $28,990.
Warranty
Five years/130,000 kilometres, one of the longest warranties on the market.
Standard features
Standard equipment includes airconditioning, ABS brakes, power windows and mirrors, active front head restraints, remote entry, an alarm, 15 inch steel wheels and two front airbags.
The SLX adds cruise control, front seat side and curtain airbags, automatic air, audio/cruise controls on the steering wheel and a few other frills.
The Elite (tested here) also has stability control, 16 inch alloys and a trip computer; the top of the line Elite S has a four speed automatic, sunroof and leather trim.
Options: Four speed auto $2000; ESP, front seat side/curtain airbags (SX) $1790; ESP (SLX) $990; metallic paint $225.
Retained value
Approx 48 per cent after two years, which is average.
Design and Function
Ergonomics
The driver faces a simple, functional dash, with legible instruments, two 12 volt outlets and everything where it should be. The airconditioning features big, translucent buttons, while the high mounted audio head unit, a single CD with an input jack (in the centre console) for an MP3/WMA player, uses a simple, conventional layout.
At night the dash is lit in easy-on-the-eyes blue, however if you're wearing sunnies on a bright day the audio unit screen is illegible.
A split centre console box, several open bins, a sunnies holder, shopping bag hook and bottle/cup holders give you plenty of handy storage options.
You sit high, on a well padded, comfortable but shapeless seat, with a tilt and height adjustable head restraint. Tall drivers will use all the seat travel. The wheel is height and reach adjustable.
Vision is clear around the car, aided by wide side mirrors and wrap over rear seat head restraints. You have no idea where the back end is though.
Innovation
Korean cars tend to be either confused or derivative - or both - in their styling, but the new Elantra is neither. Its designers have given the car's side surfaces a unique "wave," which flows from the grille right around the car to the taillights. The definitive judgement is yours to make, of course, but to this eye it's distinctive, dynamic and a whole lot more than $20,000 worth.
Safety
The Elantra has not yet been tested to ANCAP protocols. You can fit the base model with stability control, front seat side and curtain airbags for an extra $1790, taking its price to $21,780. Thus equipped, the Elantra SX is the lowest priced car in this class with these worthwhile safety features.
Stability control is also available on the SLX for an extra $990.
Security
Not yet rated by NMRA Insurance, but a standard alarm is worthwhile.
Comfort
The driver's seat is generously padded and comfortable on a long journey.
Space and practicality
This is where the Elantra really looks like good value. The new Elantra is a larger car than its predecessor, itself one of the most spacious sedans in this class.
At 135 mm the Elantra's back seat is as wide as a Camry's, so it's by far the most spacious sedan in this class. Legroom is not an issue either, while the seat itself is comfortable and supportive.
You also get a big boot, with a long floor, a 60/40 split fold rear seat to extend capacity, a shopping bag hook and a full size steel spare.
Build and finish quality
Hyundai's status as Korea's first world class car maker was confirmed in 2006 when it achieved a top three finish in the internationally recognised JD Powers Initial Quality Study in the US.
The study, in its 20th year, surveys owners of new cars about problems experienced in the first 90 days of ownership. Hyundai was beaten only by Lexus and Porsche, a surprise winner.
It confirms our experience with Hyundai test cars, most of which are now comparable with their Japanese rivals in their quality of materials, fit and finish, reliability and durability.
On the road
Fuel efficiency
The Elantra manual will return 7-8.5 litres/100 km on the highway and 10-11 litres/100 km in the city, on regular unleaded - not bad for an engine producing 100kW plus in what is a relatively large car.
Performance
The Elantra uses the same 2.0 litre engine as its predecessor. It produces a healthy 105kW of power at 6000 rpm and 186Nm of torque at 4600 rpm.
Although the new Elantra is 90 kg heavier, the 2.0 litre's outright performance is still at the front end of the class, as is its ability to pull the higher gears at low revs. Its cause is helped here by lower gearing in the manual and automatic.
The manual has a light, smooth action. The automatic would also work fine with this engine.
Ride
Its dynamic deficiencies are probably less important to buyers than a comfortable, compliant ride, which the Elantra certainly delivers.
Handling and steering
A Hyundai is predictable and competent in day to day suburban driving, but a driver's car it is not.
The Elantra has the requisite suspension hardware - a MacPherson strut front end and a sophisticated new multilink rear layout - with which to do something useful, but it's too lightly damped, so body control is indisciplined, the car understeers early and often, and can become unstable when changing direction quickly.
The stability control will intervene if this occurs. Hyundai has optimistically included a switch so you can turn it off. That would probably be a mistake.
The electric power steering is light and direct, which is terrific in shopping centre car parks, but on the open road is totally lifeless in your hands and disconnected from the front wheels. The 205/55 Kumho tyres on the test car added neither feel nor particularly strong grip.
Braking
The brakes are only just adequate, lacking power, progression and pedal feedback compared with those on most rivals.
Smoothness and quietness
The 2.0 litre engine displays a trace of vibration when crawling through traffic in the lower gears, but is otherwise impressively refined, particularly on the highway where it is very smooth and quiet.
Summary
The new Elantra illustrates how far Hyundai has progressed in a relatively short time. Its predecessors were functional enough, but lacked any aesthetic or engineering sophistication. Their performance in crash tests was substandard, and the only real reason you would buy one was because you could not afford anything else.
They said that once about Japanese cars, too.
The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.
The writer of this report does not necessarily represent the views of the NRMA and this report is provided for you as an alternative to our own NRMA car reviews.
