ROAD TEST:
20 years after first landing on our shores,
the Hyundai Elantra has
grown and evolved into a courageous and competent fighter in the C-segment
sedan war, where names like Corolla and (to a lesser degree) Jetta tend to
dominate the sales battles.
The
Elantra's real coming of age coincided with the launch of the current
generation, which hit the scene in 2011 and then marched on to victory in both
the South African and North American Car of the Year competitions.
Much
has changed since then - not least the arrival of a much-improved Corolla - and
Hyundai's response to the
sands of the hourglass was a mid-life refresh a few months ago.
Hyundai hasn't really
messed with the basic recipe as three years down the line, this Elantra is
still among the most striking designs in its segment. It's a rather elaborate
collection of swoops and curves that Hyundai would call 'Fluidic
Sculpture'. At worst you might call it a bit fussy but it should ultimately
swing more thumbs towards the sky than the ground.
The
upgrade saw stylists polish a few details here and there, resulting in fresh
front and rear bumpers, a new grille, modern-looking projection headlamps, LED
light guide and LED taillights.
The
1.8-litre version falls away, leaving you with a single 1.6-litre option mated
to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Thankfully Hyundai has added some glamour
to the 1.6 by binning those rental-spec plastic-shod steel wheels in favour of
snazzy new two-tone, 17-inch alloys. Throw in one of the tasty new colours,
like the Tropical Blue you see in the pictures, and the Elantra looks more at home
in your driveway than in the rental return bay.
SOLID, SPACIOUS
Some
notable plastic surgery also makes it better to look at inside. The previous
version looked rather cartoonish around the central dashboard, but Hyundai has given it a far
more mature look by moving the central air vents to the upper dash, among other
tinkerings that mainly affect the ergonomic systems.
Finicky
as this might sound, it is still let down by a few details, such as the Plain
Jane gear knob that looks like it was nicked out of a 1988 Mazda 323 and the
abundance of covered-over switch housings lower on the console. Sure, you could
hardly fault the overall appearance of the interior and the quality of the
materials, it's just that if Hyundai is
charging almost-premium money for a car then it should at least get the little
details right, like Volkswagen does.
When it
comes to the bigger details, like ensuring enough space for you and your brood
to stretch out, this car feels spacious front and rear, while the boot is
suitably enormous.
IOL mot
dec17 Elantra c Repositioned air vents give the cabin a more mature appearance.
COMFORT AND PACE
Pack it
up for a cross country trip and the Elantra will quietly get on
with its business of getting you there in comfort. The ride quality is cushy
and it's really quiet inside - Hyundai has been
really prolific with the NVH engineering, which was further improved in the
latest facelift.
The
engine does as much as you could expect from a normally-aspirated 1.6-litre,
which delivers 96kW and 157Nm. It would be a stretch to call it fast, but the
motor delivers more-than-adequate performance both in town and on the open
road, providing you work the gearbox when overtaking and climbing steep hills.
It's a pleasant and comfortable car to drive, with no major ergonomic flaws -
although the electric power steering system does still feel rather artificial,
albeit better than earlier Korean products.
WORTH THE PRICE?
As far
as the value cookie crumbles, the R252 900 Elantra is priced right in the
thick of its segment - there isn't any real price advantage here nor is there a
notable features advantage.
It does
trump its rivals with a few items, such as dual zone automatic climate control,
automatic windscreen wipers and park distance control, but it lacks the
Corolla's rear-view camera and leather seats and you don't get cruise control
like you do in a Cerato or Focus. Like its competitors, the Elantra also comes
with Bluetooth connectivity, a sound system with Aux/USB inputs, multi-function
steering wheel and a five-year/90 000km service plan. The only real
Elantra/Cerato after-sales standout is a five-year/150 000km warranty.
VERDICT
Priced
well within the mainstream, the Elantra has to stand on its own merits to get
the nod in a segment that's not short of fierce contenders. Thankfully, it puts
up a strong enough fight by being a solid, stylish and refined sedan in its own
right. Though it's not quite strong enough in any particular area to tower
above its rivals and claim class victory, the Elantra is worthy of a spot on
your short list.
FACTS
Hyundai Elantra 1.6 Premium
Engine: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol
Gearbox: Six-speed manual
Power: 96kW @ 6300rpm
Torque: 157Nm @ 4850rpm
0-100km/h (claimed): 10.1 seconds
Top speed (claimed): 200km/h
Consumption (claimed): 6.4 litres per
100km
Price: R252 900
Warranty: Five-year/150 000km
Service plan: Five-year/90 000km
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