2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited Review

[ahmed_7erzon]

Products of a rare elegance have been emerging from Hyundai's design studio over the past few months. One of them is the Elantra, a small sedan that builds on the successfully-styled Sonata… or is it the new Accent? Hum, tough to tell.


No matter how you looked at it, the previous model redesign (2007) failed to impress. On the other hand, the 2011 Elantra's exquisite aesthetics deserve praise from everyone.

A matter of styling
You can't put enough emphasis on styling, now a definite top priority for most car buyers. It can literally make or break a vehicle.

The new Elantra is a prime example of great styling execution, as evidenced by the sheer number of heads that turn in its direction. Hyundai is making a powerful statement to promote the car in a segment long dominated by the Honda Civic and full of strong contenders like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Ford Focus and the new Chevrolet Cruze. The list goes on and on.

Credit goes to the automaker's ''Fluidic Sculpture'' design language. Basically, as the name suggests, the products are all about flow and sculpted shapes, giving the impression of movement even from a standstill. And judging by the Elantra, it works!

Hyundai also proudly insists on the drag coefficient, which dropped from 0.32 to 0.28 – better than even the aerodynamically-shaped Chevrolet Volt's 0.29!

New engine
Under the sexy sheetmetal is a brand new 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. Called ''Nu'' (13th letter of the Greek alphabet), it produces 148 horsepower whereas its 2.0-litre predecessor topped at 138.

Sending all that juice to the front wheels is either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, the latter including Shiftronic manual control. That's a welcome addition considering the old Elantra made do with a fairly lazy 4-speed autobox. The upgraded powertrain transforms the Korean compact into the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid sedan on the market according to Hyundai. Automatic models like my Limited tester are rated at 6.9 L/100 km in the city and a meagre 4.9 L/100 km on the highway. Combined numbers for most real-world drivers should hover around 7 to 8 L/100 km, which is really not bad at all. Diversified lineup One thing didn't change: the Elantra lineup still comprises four trim levels – L, GL, GLS and Limited. Pricing ranges from $15,849 to $22,699 (not including options, freight and delivery charges). At $24,699, the top-of-the-line Elantra Limited with Navigation adds a GPS device, a rear-view camera, a premium sound system and proximity entry (intelligent key) with push-button start. Now that's luxury small car buyers aren't used to! Every Elantra comes standard with power windows and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel. To get air conditioning, heated front seats and a telescopic steering wheel, however, you have to move up to the GL model – a sign that the base Elantra L is somewhat rudimentary. At the other end of the lineup, both the GLS and Limited stand out with not two but four heated seats. That's right: even the rear occupants can keep their butts warm (except for the unlucky fifth passenger who winds up squeezed in the middle). People buying a GLS will love it, but not as much as Limited owners who must face winter with leather seats. Form and function The latest redesign of the Hyundai Elantra made the car more convenient and practical than ever. For starters, the front doors open almost 90 degrees to facilitate ingress and egress. Same thing for the ultra-low floor. The interior remains pretty quiet – arguably on par with Toyota and Honda – and commuters will love the electric power steering. Extremely light and buttery-smooth at idle and low speeds, it's perfect for driving around town. On the highway, though, it doesn't get quite heavy enough, which constantly requires slight corrections in order to maintain a straight line. Over time, this becomes irritating. The light steering combined with the short turning radius (10.6 m) makes the new Elantra easy to park... that is when you know where you're going. The aforementioned sculpted body incorporates a tall trunk and a near-horizontal rear window. As a result, you can essentially forget about rearward visibility. Those who can't afford a Limited model with navigation (the only one featuring a rear-view camera) will have to rely on their instincts or pure luck to avoid running into and over obstacles. Body repair shops will no doubt make a fortune giving a new life to Elantra bumpers! In terms of cargo capacity, the Hyundai is roughly similar to the Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Forte, not to mention 20-percent more generous than the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. The trunk has a wide yet relatively-short opening. It can swallow a medium-size cooler like the 66-litre Coleman Xtreme. Making the operation difficult, however, is the fact that interior clearance is uneven across the entire cargo area. What's more, the two curved braces that support the lid will crush any package that sits right under. So remember to keep that precious Waterford crystal in the middle of the trunk! Superior safety and warranty As you know, Hyundai banks a lot on safety. Every trim level features six standard airbags (front, side and side curtain), non-intrusive ABS brakes, heated power mirrors as well as stability and traction control. Just like the rest of the Hyundai family, the 2011 Elantra also offers one of the best warranties in the industry – 5 years or 100,000 kilometres of comprehensive and powertrain coverage, and 3 years of 24/7 roadside assistance (unlimited km). That's a surefire way to bring peace of mind to potential buyers. And you can bet there will be plenty of them!