2012 Hyundai Elantra Review and Road Test
In the past few years Hyundai’s rise seems almost unstoppable. Year after year they increase sales, good economy or bad. The products are not what we remember 10 years ago. The core of Hyundai’s brand strategy is the high value for dollar of their cars, the new Elantra is no exception. While a matter of opinion the styling seems to get positive reactions from most people. It will never be mistaken for some of its competitors like the Honda Civic or Chevrolet Cruze. As great as the car appears, this is probably the most competitive segment in the car business. This new Hyundai will have to fight hard to win loyal Honda and Toyota customers, as well as beat out the numerous lower priced offerings.
On the inside the car is spacious and well put together The heating and ventilation controls on the centre stack are nicely designed and originally laid out, but are still very easy to use. Our GL test car came with bluetooth and a USB media port. The bluetooth system will also load your contacts from your smart phone into its memory allowing you to speed dial without having to store contacts first. Interior materials look a little cheap but are soft to the touch and feel well built. The seat has a nice range of adjustment and the steering wheel both tilts and telescopes. Also worth a note is the special design of the back of the steering wheel. There are special indents that contour very nicely to your fingers. This is one of those little details that can really make a car great. Like most other compacts on the market the interior does not have a premium feel, but it holds its own against others on the market. For safety the Elantra has 6 standard air bags, adequate, but not class leading like the 10 you find on a Chevrolet Cruze. Trunk space is good, and it features split folding rear seats if you need more room.
On the road the car is well mannered and quite. The drive is not particularly sporty but it is pleasant. The steering feel is too light at low speeds, but it is effortless to use. The ride over rough roads is firm and solid. The Elantra handles well but does not quite have the excitement and feedback that a Honda Civic or VW rabbit has. Power from the 148 horsepower 4 cylinder engine is put down to the road through a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. Our test car had the 6-speed automatic with manual shift mode. The transmission is responsive and quick to shift. The only real complaint relates to the rear suspension set up. It is not fully independent, unlike competitors like the Cuze, Civic and Focus. This means ride and handling over rough roads is compromised. Fuel economy is always one of the top priorities in this class, and the Elantra promises to lead the pack with 40 mpg according to the United States rating system.
The bottom line: While not perfect this car represents one of the best values on the market today. Design, features and features economy combine to make it a winner.
