Test Drive: Hyundai Elantra Limited
If you have ever rented a compact car, chances are a Hyundai Elantra was on the menu of choices.
A sturdy, reliable little car with an entertaining design, the Elantra has always been one of the best values in the compact segment, with an estimated 10 million sold by the Korean car-builder in the last quarter century.
The Elantra has gone through five major redesigns since it was introduced in 1990, add- ing a little more goodness with each re-imagining. The all-new, sixth-generation Elantra was introduced for the 2017 model year, and continues to set high standards for build quality and warranty protection.
This week’s tester is a Galactic Gray Elantra Limited with almost every option available. This boosts the price to $27,890 but also gives the car a portfolio of safety tech systems and creature comforts that rivals the best luxury cars of just a few years ago.
This “economy car” boasts such premium features as navigation, an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, heated leather seats front and rear, premium eight-speaker audio, a power sunroof and almost every electronic safety system known to man.
Elantras are available in Chattanooga at Long Hyundai on International Boulevard. Earlier this week the dealership listed 41 Elantra sedans in its digital inventory.
STYLING AND FEATURES
From its five-bar chrome grille and swept headlights to its rounded rump,
the 2017 Elantra looks good from almost every angle. With fewer body lines aimed in fewer directions, the overall design is more sedate than the previous generation, which had more lines than an Etch A Sketch. Some might call the new design generic, but we prefer to say it’s buttoned-down. The new Honda Civic looks fussy by comparison.
The 17-inch alloy wheels on our tester add to the sedan’s spunky vibe, and the gently sloping roofline cuts wind resistance and gives the car a sleek profile.
Inside, the cabin is a model of restrained elegance. The all-black color scheme on our tester is a little monotonous, but the overall look is clean and tasteful.
Meanwhile, the hard plastics on the door panels and dash remind us of the Elantra’s budget roots. The calculus here is obvious: Hyundai believes its younger customers are more concerned with state-of-the-art electronics than the grain patterns in the interior plastics. And since they sell about a quarter of a million Elantras a year, let’s stipulate that they know what they are doing.
The seats, with their SoyFoam padding, are firmer than average, but that helps maintain back and thigh support during long car trips. The 8-inch touchscreen has especially sharp graphics, and all the gauges are well-lit and easy to read. The center armrest is positioned a little too far back for our comfort, and those hard door panels invite you to keep your elbows in your lap.
Visibility is generally good, although it’s a little pinched through the sloping back window. We had to readjust the rear-view mirror several times to find an optimal angle. The sound-system upgrade, paired with satellite radio, is well worth the extra money.
The base price of the Elantra Limited is $22,350, but two option packages add about $4,400 to the bottom line. A “tech package” ($2,500) features navigation, the Infinity audio system with a center channel and subwoofer, the sunroof and the heated seats. The “ultimate package” ($1,900) bundles automatic
emergency braking, smart cruise control, lane keep assist and memory seats.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The Elantra line includes three engine options. The fuel-economy focused Eco model has a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and the Sport model (just now reaching the market) has a punchy 1.6 liter-turbo. We were spoiled by testing a 200-horsepower Sport model last month, so the volume 2.0liter (147 horsepower), normally aspirated four-cylinder in our tester feels a little meek by comparison. (Too, we just finished test driving a 292-horsepower Volkswagen Golf R super-hatch.)
Still, the mid-line, 2.0-liter engine in our Elantra Limited pulls well enough and the overall driving experience is good for the class. The new Elantra is much tighter and more solid than before. Additional sound-deadening materials have been added to improve cabin isolation. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and quiet and adds to the premium feel of the car.
BOTTOM LINE
With Hyundai’s excellent 100,000mile powertrain warranty to seal the deal, the Elantra is a more compelling bargain than ever before. It compares favorably in all ways to its primary competitors, the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-7576645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/ mkennedycolumnist.