Historically, Hyundai cars have been average in the best sense of the word. A body design that did not irritate the eye with excessive originality. The interior is comfortable and ergonomic, but without bright and memorable details. And the driving experience is the same – the car drives, it does it safely, but it doesn’t excite the blood. However, with the transition to a new corporate style in the direction of shocking, at least the exterior and interior of modern Hyundais have changed, but whether the character of the cars has become a match for them is a question that can only be answered by a trip. And the CarsWeek editors and I will try to find out.
What she looks like
The new Elantra is either loved or hated, because it is impossible to remain indifferent to this design. It seems that the body consists entirely of sharp edges, straight lines that intertwine into a complex pattern that forms the recognizable appearance of the model. Of the smooth lines in the exterior, it seems that only the wheels remain. Thanks to such a bold design move, the Hyundai sedan will definitely not go unnoticed on the road, but the latest generation of the model is unlikely to become a bestseller. Conservatives will definitely not appreciate such a sharp turn in corporate style.
What's inside her
The futuristic mood set by the body continues in the cabin, albeit in a less radical form. It seems that with the transition to digital instrument panels it is difficult to make an interesting front panel, but even two “tablets” can be played out in an interesting way. In Elantra, a ventilation deflector stretching across the entire width of the cabin (in fact, part of this element is just a decorative panel), a central tunnel strut, fabric inserts on the doors of different colors and… an absurd design element to the left of the dashboard are responsible for creating a recognizable style. For some reason, they placed there a circle that seemed to consist of dotted lines with a dash in the center, although it does not play any role and why it appeared in the first place is an unanswered question.
If we leave aside these dubious design “Easter eggs” and not the most practical design options for the dashboard in combination with some ergonomic mistakes, then I would like to thank Hyundai engineers for preserving the physical buttons on the center console. With the general transition to touch screens, it is difficult to resist the tempting and cost-effective, but absolutely inconvenient in everyday use, practice of placing all minor functions on the touchscreen, but the authors of the new Elantra were able to resist the general trend and that’s good.
The landing may deserve a similar assessment. And both behind the wheel and in the second row of seats. Convenient for both driver and passengers. Yes, the interior could be more spacious, as well as the trunk, but the Hyundai Elantra will cope brilliantly with the role of a family car. Although you still have to put up with certain compromises. For example, in terms of sound insulation – I would like to better isolate passengers both from engine noise and from road noise in the wheel arches. There are two options here – either solve the problem on your own, or simply turn up the music louder. Moreover, the sedan is quite good in motion!
What is it made of
The Elantra is built on the new K3 platform with shorter overhangs and a lower center of mass. It has MacPherson struts at the front and a beam at the rear. The spring characteristics and shock absorber settings have been revised, new anti-roll bars and reinforced subframes have appeared. The share of high-strength steels in the body composition increased by 19.4% and now accounts for almost half. The 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four from the Smartstream family is equipped with a variable-length intake manifold, but the injection remains distributed. The 6-speed Korean automatic A6MF2 has no alternative.
How she rides
The transition to a new platform affected the driving habits of the model for the better. Elantra even gained some kind of excitement and a healthy craving for cornering. Stable in a straight line, in turns the new product is capable of delivering some kind of driving pleasure. Provided that there is a relatively smooth road under the wheels, the suspension will give in on a completely broken surface and the ride will be uncomfortable for the people in the cabin. Therefore, the mood behind the wheel directly depends on the quality of the road.
True, the sedan is not able to claim the title of a true driver's car. The steering is not happy with the accuracy of feedback, and the brakes do not really like frequent and active decelerations – this seems to have become the signature Achilles heel of all Korean cars. But there are minimal complaints about the engine and gearbox. Although the first one has changed, the second one remains the same. But there are more electronic driver assistants, which work, although not perfectly, but in a difficult situation they are really able to come to the rescue and help out a person who is careless behind the wheel.
With the change of generations, the 150-horsepower engine, judging by the characteristics, has not changed, but in fact it has been seriously updated. The new unit should become more economical and reliable, and in addition, you can officially fill the car with 92-octane gasoline. A definite plus in operation. As well as the time-tested 6-speed automatic transmission. True, the “engine + automatic” combination still needs some work – the engine needs to muffle its voice, and the gearbox asks for changed settings that would improve the mutual understanding of the units. And at the same time they improved the overall impression of the Elantra on the go. In the meantime, even the most “aggressive” engine operating mode (Eco, Normal and Sport are available) is not able to add this very sport to the new Hyundai.
Summary
But what cannot be taken away is a qualitative step forward. The model definitely does not stand still and is progressing. In the wealth of equipment, in the refinement of their driving habits, in the expressiveness of their design. And if the latter is a very controversial point, which is difficult to attribute to the unambiguous advantages of the Hyundai Elantra, all other aspects clearly make the sedan a more attractive option for purchase. Moreover, in terms of price, Korean models have been and remain one of the most interesting options on the market. As for the design, this automobile hybrid of Alien and Predator will either definitely please you in every way, or will scare you away with its appearance, and it doesn’t matter what the car is like inside and on the move. He will not be patient and will not fall in love if love at first sight does not work out. In general, if fantasy monsters had a personal car, then it would definitely be the Hyundai Elantra.