Hyundai Elantra Long Term Review
The Hyundai Elantra diesel is a luxurious sedan that comes across as a smart package with hardly any negatives
We had a Hyundai Elantra petrol in our long term fleet few months back but after that we switched over to the CRDI AT version and since my daily running is quite high, I desperately needed a diesel automatic car and hence this D-segment sedan came to me. Driving the Elantra CRDI in Mumbai’s traffic on a daily basis has been quite a revelation and after putting the car through a few thousand kms, I’m all praises for it.
This blue shade looks killer and shows out all the curves nicely
On the styling front, the Elantra looks dope and this bright Blue shade makes the car stand out. I’ve caught so many people taking a second glance at the car and then looking at the front logo to see what brand it actually belongs to because so many people have commented that this resembles certain cars from the premium luxury segment. The stance of the Elantra is sporty and the body line with the coupe-like roof makes it look uber sexy while the neatly styled headlamps and tail lamps accentuate the car’s looks. Hyundai has nailed it when it comes to design.
The cabin is well-built and is ergonomic
The seats are positioned low which could be an issue for some people
The cabin is also a step up from its predecessor and the Elantra now gets richer materials on the inside while the fit and finish is good in typical Hyundai fashion. The dashboard has a neat design and feels user friendly and even though there are a lot of buttons near the infotainment system and centre console, everything feels within easy reach of the hand and there’s no confusion out there.
Ventilated seats are a huge boon in Indian weather
I have spent all my time with this car in the driver’s seat and without doubt my favourite feature is the ventilation function on the front seats which is a relief in our unbearable heat. I wish the ventilation was a bit more powerful though. Talking about heat, the AC has been keeping me happy with its cooling performance though it takes 10-15 mins to cool the car properly if it has been standing in the heat for too long. Some other nifty features include cruise control, sunroof (which I’ve opened just once), electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and various driving modes, more on this later.
The boot can swallow quite a lot of luggage
For entertainment purposes, you get a touchscreen infotainment system with the usual connectivity options like Apple CarPlay, USB, Bluetooth, Aux-IN, etc. The system is easy to use and you can pair it to your phone in a jiffy. Sound quality isn’t very good, but is enough to satisfy most users. Navigation works well too and there’s also a reverse camera on offer which offers fine visibility during the day but in the dark, its performance isn’t all that great.
Performance is good enough for day-to-day driving
The automatic transmission is a 6-speed torque converter unit
While the Hyundai Elantra petrol gets a 2.0-litre engine, the diesel version gets the same 1.6-litre unit that is shared with the Creta and Verna and it puts out 126 HP of power and 259 Nm of torque and comes matched to a 6-speed auto box in our case. The power and especially the torque is much lower than what rivals like the Skoda Octavia offer but is thankfully better than the Toyota Corolla Altis. The Elantra never really feels underpowered but power delivery isn’t very exciting either. It has satisfactory performance and won’t thrill you in any manner.
The driving modes do little to change the power delivery from the engine
The diesel engine is very refined and NVH levels in the car are also very good. You get different driving modes like Normal, Eco and Sport and I tried all of them and honestly didn’t find much difference between them and ended up using the car in Eco mode all the time. When you’re feathering the throttle, the car picks up pace in a steady manner but when you mash the throttle, it takes some time for it to downshift and then gather speeds. The 6-speed gearbox is a smooth unit but sometimes during aggressive driving, takes a second or two to downshift. On the highways, fuel efficiency goes up to 13-14 km/l but in the city it drops to 9 km/l which isn’t very great considering that this is a 1.6-litre engine.
Compared to the older Elantra, the new one has come a long way
Braking performance has been excellent on our test car and while I drive a bit fast usually, I find the Elantra to be more suited to sedate driving and hence I’ve been taking it easy these days. The suspension is tuned on the stiffer side and while the ride is still good, the suspension thuds when you encounter sharp potholes. The steering is light and feels pretty neutral in terms of feedback though it is vastly improved over the older generation Elantra. All in all, I feel the Elantra makes a lot of sense for people who want a comfortable sedan that offers style and features and aren’t very inclined towards hard driving.
I look forward to exploring the Elantra in more detail over the next few months
What’s Cool
* The styling is super appealing, feels like a million bucks
* The cabin is finished nicely, good equipment on offer
* Feels super easy and convenient to drive
* Makes good sense as a comfortable daily driver
What’s Not So Cool
* The 1.6-litre engine is unexciting in performance
* Low seating position might be an issue for elders
Driving the Elantra is always a very pleasant affair
Further Reading –
Hyundai Elantra Test Drive Review
Hyundai Elantra Video Review
Hyundai Elantra Review