Hyundai Elantra Review
Car tested: 2012 Hyundai Elantra
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 17.72 lakhs (1.8 SX AT), Rs. 19.32 lakhs (1.6 SX AT)
“The Elantra not only looks fantastic but also appeals as a complete package”
Hyundai is all set to start the second innings of the Elantra in India. Codenamed ‘MD’, the fifth generation Elantra was first showcased at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show in April 2010. Also known as the Avante in certain countries, this edition of the Elantra incorporates Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Philosophy’ and the design is an absolute revolution considering the previous generation cars were least known for their looks. The latest generation Hyundai Elantra has received recognition globally, including the 2012 North American car of the year award. It is also one of the few cars to have sold more than a million units in a single year. We got a chance to drive this beauty in the lake city of Udaipur and put it to test.
Exteriors – The Elantra is a piece of art and you simply can’t argue with that fact. Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture has come off fantastically well and it’s without any doubt, the best looking car in the segment. Those of you who think it looks similar to the Verna are mistaken. It is much wider, longer and taller than its sibling. The front end of the Hyundai Elantra houses a wider smiling hexagonal grille with sharp character lines running from the bumper to the A-pillar. Wrap around headlamps look good and run quite a way back into the side. The air dam and the fog lamps get rich looking chrome surrounds.
The sides of the Hyundai Elantra flaunts the muscular wheel arches and 16-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels. The roof line slopes gradually towards the rear giving it a coupe look. The boot lid has an integrated spoiler which helps in aerodynamic efficiency. Similar to the headlamps, the tail lamps also extend quite a way back into the body. Sharp character lines which runs along the side enhances the sporty feel.
The rear is highlighted by a 2-piece tail lamp cluster which extents quite a way towards the center. The bumper is large in size and has distinct lines running around it, giving the Hyundai Elantra a sporty touch. Rear parking sensors are also housed in the bumper along with two rear reflectors. If you notice, you would not see the Hyundai badge anywhere (except the logo). ‘Elantra’ badge sits on the top right corner of the boot lid with the variant badge on the opposite side.
Head over to the next page to read about the interiors of the Hyundai Elantra.
Interiors – The Hyundai Elantra is as sporty on the inside too. Futuristic ‘Waterfall Effect’ instrumentation looks fabulous and is in sync with the Fluidic philosophy. The dashboard is of soft touch type and overall quality is top notch, even better than the Verna. Silver inserts on the dash enhance the overall feel and run all around the gear lever. There are cup holders in the central armrest and bottle holders in the door, however, a 1-litre bottle will struggle to fit there. There is a healthy list of equipment to pamper the driver.
Front seats are equipped with ventilated function with 3-speed settings. The drivers seat gets a 10-way electronic adjustment feature with electronic lumbar support. Adjustments for the front passenger seat is done manually and it is devoid of lumbar support. The seats are extremely comfortable with sufficient back and thigh support, cushioning is great too. Hyundai has taken care of the ergonomic aspects well with the driver having good accessibility to controls. The rear bench is generously spacious and the Hyundai Elantra scores well over the competition in terms of cabin space. My co-journalist on the drive was 6 feet 2 inches tall and sitting behind him, I had more than enough knee and leg room. Despite the sloping roof-line, the headroom is adequate for tall passengers. The Hyundai Elantra now gets a flat rear floor which aids in accommodating the third passenger at the rear.
The air conditioner works well and has dual zone climate control settings at the front. Rear vents are provided in the central console between the front seats. The ventilated function is a boon and certainly helps you cool off faster than usual. The AC unit also incorporates a cluster ionizer for cleaner air quality in the cabin. The audio unit consists of 4 speakers on the doors and 2 tweeters at the front. Sound quality is good with provision for Aux, USB and iPod connectivity. You can also pair your phone and stream music through it and also use it to make and answer calls. Audio controls are also present on the rear armrest along with the steering wheel.
The steering is good to hold and houses various buttons like cruise control, audio controls, phone call receive and end buttons, etc. The footwell is spacious and has a dead pedal. The organ type accelerator pedal reduces driver fatigue over a long drive. The instrument cluster is easy to read with a eye soothing blue lighting. There is no Distance to Empty on the display, Hyundai has somehow missed that. There are tons of features on board such as reverse parking sensors, reverse parking camera, automatic headlamps, smart key, push button start, etc.
The Hyundai Elantra offers a big boot and unlike most other manufacturers, the spare wheel is an alloy with the same specification silica tyre.
Head over to the next page to read about the driving dynamics of the Hyundai Elantra.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Elantra is almost 55 kgs heavier than the Verna and gets a completely new suspension setup. The ride is complaint with the suspension soaking up most of the bumps at low speeds. At high speeds, large potholes can unsettle the passengers but overall it is pretty good with the suspension clearly being tuned for comfort. High speed stability is fantastic and the Hyundai Elantra was confidently ticking the speedometer at 140 km/h. Even at this speed it felt well planted on the road and did not feel this fast, which is something we missed on the Verna. Even at high speeds the ride does not get too bouncy. NVH levels are good with minimal wind and tire sound.
Handling is far better if you compare it with the Verna and the Elantra does inspire the confidence to reach high speeds without a fuss. The steering is light at low speeds and weighs up a bit at high speeds but not enough for race inspired driving. Having said that, the Elantra is targeted for a comfort oriented drive and does the job brilliantly.
Aiding in the improved handling are 16-inch alloy wheels and 205/60 Nexen silica tyres which not only offer sufficient grip but also have a lower resistance of rolling friction thereby helping increase the fuel efficiency marginally. These tyres heat up far less than regular tyres. The Hyundai Elantra gets all 4-disc brakes with 4-channel ABS and EBD. Standing on the brakes at 100 km/h, the Elantra stopped without any sideways twitch. Hyundai has equipped the car with VMS (Vehicle Stability Management) which also corrects the steering input in case the car has lost control, its like an extended version of the ESP. There is certainly a big step forward in the high speed stability department.
Performance – Hyundai is offering the new Elantra in both petrol and diesel options, mated to a 6-speed manual and automatic gearbox. The diesel engine is from the Verna, producing identical power and torque output, while the petrol is a new 1.8-litre motor. The 1.6-litre CRDI engine punches 128 PS of power at 4500 RPM and a torque of 260 NM between 1900 – 2750 RPM. It incorporates a Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT). The six speed gearbox is again identical to the Verna expect for the fact that the sixth gear is now taller. Obviously the manual variant seems quicker to drive. In the manual gearbox, there is a hint of turbo lag after which the Hyundai Elantra pulls cleanly. Even though the competition offers more power, the Elantra does not feel underpowered at all. Infact, power is sufficient throughout the rev band and this will help achieve better mileage figures.
The automatic variant uses a single clutch gearbox with tiptronic function. By virtue of the single clutch, there is a slight lag between shifts if you floor the pedal to the metal. Overtaking on the highway is not a task, but if you want to make it faster, use the manual mode via the tiptronic function. All automatic variants, be it petrol or diesel will have hill hold function as standard. Hill hold does not allow the car to roll back on an incline for about 2 – 5 seconds, thereby giving enough time to the driver to step on the gas. A very practical and useful feature in crowded cities where you have to encounter numerous flyovers on your way to work.
The all new 1797cc, DOHC, petrol engine produces 149.5 PS of peak power at 6500 RPM and 178 NM peak torque at 4700 RPM. I had a very small stint on the automatic variant and it felt pretty good. There was no lag thanks to the Dual VTVT but I would not be in the right position to write much as I had barely driven the petrol variant. We expect the diesel motor to return a efficiency of 14 km/l while the petrol will do about 10 kms to the liter. ARAI certified mileage figures have not been revealed yet and we will update the real time fuel efficiency LATER. There is an ECO Mode which when activated, shifts gears at lower revs and optimizes gearshifts for better fuel efficiency. NVH levels are good, especially at idle.
Head over to the next page to read our conclusion on the Hyundai Elantra.
Conclusion – The Hyundai Elantra may not be as powerful as some of its competitor or may not be an outright handler but it certainly impresses as an overall package. It looks far more pleasing to the eye than the competition and is rich in features too. In this segment, comfort is the key word, and that’s exactly what the Hyundai Elantra is all about. Design, styling, features and healthy cabin space are in the the Elantra’s favour. With Hyundai offering the automatic and manual gearbox on both the petrol and diesel variants, it will surely cater to a larger audience. If Hyundai can hit the sweet spot with pricing, the Elantra is bound to be very popular on Indian roads.
Whats Cool
* Stunning looks
* Feature Laden
* Interiors Space
* Built Quality
Whats Not So Cool
* Handling
* Diesel Engine Could Be More Powerful
* Single Clutch Automatic Gearbox
2012 Hyundai Elantra Specifications
* Engine: 1582 cc, 16V, DOHC, VGT (diesel); 1797cc, DOHC, Dual VVT (petrol)
* Power: 126 BHP @ 4000 RPM (diesel); 147 BHP @ 6500 RPM (petrol)
* Torque: 260 Nm @ 1700-2500 RPM (diesel); 178 Nm @ 4500 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed manual and automatic
* Top Speed: 200 km/h (est)
* 0-100 km/h: 10 seconds (est)
* Fuel Consumption: 14-15 km/l (diesel), 10-12 km/l (petrol)
* Fuel Type: Diesel and Petrol
* Suspension: Mcpherson Strut Tyre With Coil Springs (Front), Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (Rear)
* Tires: 205/60/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Disc ( Rear), ABS, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Control Vehicle Stability Management, Six Airbags, Hill Hold Control, Automatic Headlights, Engine Immobilizer
2012 Hyundai Elantra Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4530 mm X 1775 mm X 1470 mm
* Wheelbase: 2700 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.3 meters
* Ground Clearance: 167 mm
* Boot Volume: 420 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 56-liters