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02/07/2011
REVIEW by EWAN KENNEDY
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Hyundai is on a style streak that is making competitors look rather mundane in comparison. With futuristic looks that are pulling stares from bystanders of all ages the latest generation models for the South Korean giant is on a roll. The Hyundai i45 and ix35 models are selling well because of their standout looks, but the all-new Elantra has pushed the envelope even further in the style stakes.
Building on a theme introduced by Mercedes-Benz with its CLS four-door coupe, the Hyundai Elantra takes the sleek, fluid look to new heights. Just look at its domed roof and sharply delineated side design to see what we mean. At the front the large six-sided grille is larger than ever before, perhaps not Audi large, but heading in that direction.
On the downside, the use of the domed roof may create headroom problems for tall occupants in the back seat. My six-foot (1.83-metre) frame is getting mighty close to the roof. Similarly, while I fit with a few centimetres to spare under the roof in the driver’s seat there’s not a lot of spare space above my noggin in models with a sunroof. But, who cares? Those who love style in cars, and that certainly includes us, will be willing to compromise a little on headroom to drive one of the best looking cars currently on the market.
As a bonus, the sleek shape results in a coefficient of drag (cD) of just 0.28, a very low figure of this class and one that indicates not only reduced fuel consumption, due to the Elantra slipping through the air cleanly, but also reduces wind noise inside the cabin.
Other than in headroom, the new Hyundai Elantra has generous interior dimensions. In fact, Hyundai has measured overall interior volume to be greater than in cars a size up like the Honda Accord Euro and the VW Passat. Because of this Hyundai will market its new Elantra in Australia as being, “The big small car”.
Inside, the styling of the new Elantra is just as futuristic as that of the exterior, with interesting shapes to the centre console and instrument binnacle.
Incidentally, Hyundai has an explanation about sticking with the old name of Elantra, rather than shifting to the new nomenclature based around the letter ‘i’. We have to admit the convoluted reasoning behind the decision doesn’t make sense to us. Never mind, if major Euro marques like BMW, Mercedes and Volvo chose to confuse buyers with their latest model names, why can’t the South Korean company join the club?
Our initial road test review was carried out on the scenic hills outside Canberra where we sampled the entry level $20,590 Elantra Active with a six-speed manual gearbox, and the topline $28,990 Hyundai Elantra Premier six-speed automatic. Both have impressive levels of noise reduction and felt like cars from the next size up.
We found the suspension on the Premier with its 17-inch wheels was verging on being too firm. Hyundai has chosen a sporty suspension setup for this country, but we are not convinced this is what drivers in this class are looking for. On the positive side, keen drivers, like we motoring journalists, certainly liked the sharp turn in and positive steering, and were impressed by the feedback the new Elantra provides. Try the suspension for yourself during your pre-purchase test drive, and make sure to find relatively rough roads when doing so.
One feature that no one liked was the visibility problems caused by the wide windscreen pillars, something that was made worse by the steep slope of the windscreen. Unless you move your head about while driving there are going to be occasions when you simply don’t see other road users.
Power comes for a new generation four-cylinder 1.8-litre engine that produces up to 110 kilowatts of power and 178 Nm of torque. We were delighted with the way the engine sang along at high revs in a manner reminiscent of the best Italian engines. Yet this powerplant is more than willing to pull from low rpm.
The automatic transmission surprised us in the way it held onto lower gears for much longer than average. That certainly adds to the sporty feel of the suspension, but may increase fuel consumption. We will need to wait for a full test on our home road circuit before making further comments on this. Hyundai says the new engine has official ratings that are as much as 11 per cent lower than the previous 1.8-litre unit.
Hyundai looks to be on another winner with this stunningly stylish new Elantra. Its combination of low price, sleek looks and excellent engines will please many shoppers in this crowded market segment. We can’t see it beating market leaders Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, but it may just have them looking anxiously back at this new entrant closing on their back bumpers.
The complete 2011 Hyundai Elantra range, with prices (excluding government and dealer charges) is:
Active 1.8-litre petrol: $20,590 (manual), $22,590 (automatic)
Elite 1.8-litre petrol: $25,590 (automatic)
Premium 1.8-litre petrol: $28,990 (automatic) |
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