Hyundai Elantra

Compound Competence

   Hyundai has moved up a gear, releasing a new and much-improved Elantra to the local press recently, a model which, says general manager Stanley Andersen, “completes the transformation” of the brand’s local model line-up. This car is their fourth launched in eight months.

  Dubbed the XD, this latest version was designed with the objective of competing head to head with the best cars in its market segment, and it is clear that it isn’t using pricing – and to a lesser degree features – as the main calling card. Hyundai came into the South African market on the back of the Elantra in the mid-eighties, and there are now 25 000 Elantras out there. It is a well-established brand name.

While the styling is controversial and borrows from a variety of sources (as diverse as the Rover 75 for the drooping bootlid) there is no question that the car is well-packaged, dynamically competent, and surprisingly refined. The nose shows some commonality with the latest Accent, which means ii isn’t exactly handsome viewed from the front, but Hyundai claim that the new car is significantly more aerodynamic (by 12 percent) than the outgoing one.

  At the heart of the latest Elantra are new versions of the Beta 1,6 and Alpha 2,0 litre powerplants, which in current guises seem significantly more refined than before. Hyundai say there’s been work done on the internals, which has reduced friction. They claim fuel consumption improvements of between five and eight percent for the smaller engine and three to five percent for the 2,0 litre. Power and torque for the 1,6 are 79 kW and 146 Nm, the 2,0 litre credited with 104 kW and a useful 186 Nm of torque.

  In all areas these cars feel better than before. Five speed manual boxes and four-speed autos shift smoothly and pull willingly, while the cabins provide many useful comfort features. Interior architecture is still of average quality and ambience is lacking compared to European rivals, but they are hot on the heels of the current crop of Japanese econoboxes.  

The new Elantra range comprises four models with a choice of GL and GLS specification levels. The full range includes a 1,6-litre GL and GLS, a 1,6-litre GLS automatic, and a 2,0-litre manual version.

  Ride and handling in the new Elantra’s has been improved significantly thanks to a number of changes to the suspension setup. MacPherson struts remain up front although a number of changes have been brought about, including a newly reinforced subframe.  The Elantra’s independent dual link suspension in the rear provides maximum handling stability.

In designing the interior of the Elantra, Hyundai had three key objectives in mind –more modern styling, improved driver visibility, and maximum passenger comfort and convenience. Standard features across the range include cup holders, rev counter, remote boot lid and fuel flap release, power steering, air conditioning and central locking.

   Specification levels in the 1,6-litre GLS models include radio/tape combination audio and driver’s side airbag. The 2,0-litre GLS has all these features found in the lower-spec models and includes alloy wheels and rear spoiler as well as a host of safety features including a passenger airbag, ABS, traction control and front fog lamps.