The Hyundai Elantra, first marketed in
Australia as the Lantra, was launched in 1990, and now, five years into its
fifth generation, it has become an aggressively priced elegant family sedan
with European styling, good fuel economy, an indulgent ride and a cornucopia of
standard features.
The
2015 Elantra is
packed with a wealth of standard amenities including remote keyless entry;
iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks; multifunction trip computer, six air
bags: advanced dual front air bags with occupant classification system, front
seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags;
driver’s blind spot mirror; dual-power and heated body-color side mirrors;
motor-driven power steering; electronic stability control with traction control
system and anti-lock braking system with brake assist.
Fluidic
sculpture design
Hyundai has been pushing its
concept of “fluidic scuplture” design with Elantra since it was last redesigned
in 2011. Hyundai says
that it “considers the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the
illusion of constant motion.”
Along
Elantra’s sides are flowing lines, with the addition of a strong undercut
feature line starting at the front door. These cues, along with muscular wheel
arches and a sleek roofline, create a graceful demeanor and contribute to an
aerodynamic body that creates a low drag coefficient of 0.28.
Hyundai’s signature
hexagonal front grille and detailed swept-back head lights give Elantra a compact
athletic face, vitalized by an open-mouth lower bumper, grille, L-shaped fog
lights and available projector headlamps with LED accents. Its look has been
developed by Hyundai’s North
American Design Center in Irvine, California, which combined premium appeal
with sportiness and chic. The appearance is sharp, stable and balanced with a
chrome belt-line molding, 17-inch alloy wheels and a black, two-tone rear
diffuser.
For me,
the concept and execution translate into an exterior that is sleek and elegant
with excellent fit and finish.
I drove
the Elantra
in its Limited trim, with a length of 179.1 inches, width of 69.9 inches and
height of 56.3 inches on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, with a minimum ground clearance
of 5.3 inches. The vehicle is confident, with a curb weight of 2,943 pounds.
Economy
and power
Elantra power comes from a
1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 145 horsepower and 130
pounds-per-foot of torque in SE and Limited trims. The Sport version offers a
2.0-liter GDI engine that is rated at 173 horsepower and 154 pounds-per-foot of
torque. My test Limited’s 1.8 with an aluminum block, head and crank was mated
to a 6-speed automatic transmission for an EPA estimated at 27 mpg in the city
driving and 37 mpg on the highway. My week of mixed-use testing yielded an
average of 31.2 mpg.
The Elantra ride is worthy of
higher-segment comfort and quietness. The cabin is indulgent and the
performance is strong, but a trifle tentative. Quick autocross maneuvers
displayed some challenging understeer from the motor-driven electric power
steering that adjusts to changing driving conditions, but the vehicle is
aerodynamic, stable and road-hugging, showing little yaw during tight S-curve
tests. Uphill grades are conquered with aplomb and acceleration is good in mid
ranges. My track tests were completed in a 9.4-second dash from zero to 60 mph
and a 17.2-second quarter-mile.
McPherson
strut front suspension, with coil springs and gas shock absorbers are coupled
with a coupled torsion beam rear suspension and monotube shock absorbers for
enhanced steering stability and ride smoothness.
Refined,
intuitive cabin
The Elantra Limited cabin is
refined with intuitive design and lighting. Its standard leather seating
surfaces join with cloth-like pillar trim made of fibrous tissue and volcanic
rock for a premium look and feel. Created for comfort, Elantra provides front
headroom of 40.0 inches in the front row and 37.1 inches in row two. Front
legroom is a spacious 43.6 inches in row one, but a confining 33.1 inches for
second-row passengers. Shoulder room is generous throughout with 55.9 inches up
front and 54.8 inches in the rear.
A quiet
cabin is partly thanks to noise blockers, including HVAC duct absorption
material, increased antivibration upper cowl pad thickness and coverage area,
high-density carpet, increased antivibration floor pad thickness, additional
expandable foam in the A-pillars, applied full underbody cover and a perforated
antivibration material in the dash panel.
A top
safety pick, Elantra is built with strong unibody construction, front and rear
crumple zones and internal dual beams in its rear doors. Additional safety
features in addition to those mentioned above include hill-start assist
control, seat belt pretensioners, tire pressure monitoring system and driver’s
blind spot mirror.
The
2015 Hyundai Elantra in
Base SE trim with a manual transmission starts at $17,250 — automatic is $1,000
extra; the Elantra Sport starts at $21,600 and the Elantra Limited, as was my
test ride, started at $21,700 (and that includes an automatic transmission).
The
Ultimate Package added $2,400 for a navigation system with 7-inch screen, power
tilt-and-slide sunroof, 360-watt premium audio with external amplifier, dual
automatic temperature control with CleanAir ionizer and auto defogging system,
and proximity key entry with electronic push button start and engine
immobilizer. A rear spoiler added $295, auto-dimming mirror with Homelink added
$275, carpeted floor mats added $125, mud guards added $95 and freight added
$810 for a final invoice of $25,700.
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