Hyundai Elantra Review

The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car with handsome styling, a notable complement of safety features, commendable driving manners, a responsive and fuel-efficient power train, a strong warranty and above-average value for the money.

The Hyundai Elantra comes in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback versions, the latter a sporty model called the Elantra Touring.

The Elantra competes against the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda3, Ford Focus, and other compact cars. The Elantra offers lots of interior space for the class and, by several other measures, it holds its own against those cars. Hyundai claims the Elantra warranty, of five years or 60,000 miles, plus 10 years or 100,000 miles for the power train, is the best in its class, which gives buyers peace of mind.

New for Elantra is the introduction of the Blue model, which achieves an EPA Highway fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon. The Blue model shares with other Elantra models a more efficient alternator system and lower-friction engine components. In addition, it has revised transmission gear ratios, engine calibration changes and a shift indicator, and will be identified with Blue badging. The Blue model is available only as a sedan and only with a five-speed manual transmission; on the automatic transmission the lock-up torque converter has been improved to enhance highway fuel economy.

EPA City/Highway fuel economy ratings for the Elantra models are 26/35 mpg for the Blue model, 26/34 mpg for the sedan with automatic, 23/31 mpg for the Touring with the manual and 23/30 mpg for the Touring with the automatic.

The Elantra's spacious cabin can seat up to five. We found the front seats very comfortable. The back seats offer ample hip room and adequate legroom, though it's more comfortable with four than it is with five people. Storage compartments galore add to its practicality and convenience.

The Elantra can cruise down the highway at 80 miles per hour all day without straining, and it's quiet at high speeds. The ride is good, although a bad freeway with relentless sharp bumps is more than the Elantra can accept without passing on some of the annoyance to those in the front seats. We found the brakes excellent and the cornering good.

Other changes for include standard auxiliary input jacks, a new chrome grille, rear chrome trim, chrome interior accents and the addition of a monotone black as an interior color choice for the SE model.

An all-new Elantra with new styling and new power trains goes on sale Fall.