2011 Hyundai Elantra

backy

I did notice on the "Build Your Own" site for the 2011 Elantra at hyundaiusa.com, there's no way to select an option for adding the spare tire, as there is with other cars that don't ship by default with a spare, e.g. the Cruze. So maybe the spare is a dealer-installed option.

stickguy

could be. I just looked here on Edmunds, and they did not list it. But, I am almost positive that when I test drove one before the holidays, there was a line item on the sticker (not an addendum the factory one) related to the spare.

The Cruz is the same way. $100 option to add the spare. For that price, you can just get the inflator and sealant (not bad to have them), and get a donut elsewhere.

crkyolfrt

I too prefer a spare tire. Donut if the reg size is ridiculously priced. But mfrgs play with spare tire pricing. On my CRV it comes with 5 full size all matching alloys. That is the way it should be. And the real bonus/price justification that very few people ever do, is rotate the spare into the mix when they rotate their tires. It makes so much sense, allows you to get literally 25% longer tire life (more actually cuz most know that a rotated tire lasts exponentially longer than a non rotated tire), so adding a 5th into the mix increases longevity potential that much more.

What bugs me is if your car has alloys, and they ding u for a full size spare, but cheap out with a steel wheel. Putting it into the mix looks bad. The only real benefit is no overall perimeter changes that can throw off ESC especially on AWD vehicles and of course basic AWD operation. (you want all four fr and rr tires turning the same speed)

Has no one at all found the seat back in the Cruze a bit intruding on you at shoulder height?
And with my early car searches, I have acquired the beginnings of true honest hate for anti-whip lash headrests. :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: So far, Hyundai and Kia seem to be the worst for this. And the Impreza was only marginally better. At both Hyundai AND Subaru, the salesmen both said people are turning them around backwards, so this is a very real PITA for us. And if so many people turn them around BACKWARDS, then they are not AS safe as just the plain old non anti-whiplash styles were! Plus they look terrible backwards.
I thought the idea was to come up and grab the back of your head in event of a rearender? Not push your head so aggressively forward that you're inspecting the lint in your belly button. I like my seat back fairly upright due to my bad lower back and of course that just exasperates the darn new super aggressive head restraint positions.

I guess I will have to buy used

backy

On the headrests, be sure to check that they are adjustable, either fore-aft or tilting. Many of them do that. If the salesperson doesn't know, ask to check the owner's manual. The adjustment can make a big difference on comfort.

crkyolfrt

Ya it sure can, but most don't budge. Not what i've checked out so far.

crkyolfrt

What cars have u checked out lately were they are adjustable? My list so far that weren't:
-Sonata, Tucson, Sportage, Forte, Cruze, Impreza, Outback and i think i am forgetting a few.

m6user

I had to replace a doughnut tire on a 93 Buick with 16" rims and it was $125 from the dealer. That was in 1999. So I assume one today would probably easily cost $100.

m6user

The head restraints in my three vehicles adjust up and down only, not forward or back or tilt in any way.

stickguy

thank the government for that (or maybe it was the insurance companies). It is all due to the new whiplash tests/standards.

Having the big sturdy head restraint is considered safer, but it does seem to bother a lot of people. So you either get used to it, or find an older car you like and keep it forever!

backy

My 2007 Sonata's headrests adjust fore and aft. Funny that the new Sonata's don't (apparently, since you've checked that). The headrests on my 2010 Sentra only go up and down, but they are tilted forward such that as you raise them, they move farther from your head.

crkyolfrt

I couldn't swear in court the Sonata's didn't move fore and aft. I know for a fact the Tucson did not and was 'right' there irritating. The Sonata was not as noticeable as memory serves.

I think you will find that adjustability (I don't count height) is a rare commodity among most new cars cuz they can better manage and predict the results of whiplash resistance when they are fixed.

Of course they can not make them safe for all drivers if the driver is not smart enough to adjust it high enough to catch his head. Worst case would be one of these new fixed type, with a really tall driver that doesn't move it and have it catch at neck level instead of head.

If memory serves, the very most intrusive ( I could not drive the darn car without removing or turning them around, and I'm not kidding) were the Sportage, Tucson, and i think Forte too, but there are tons of cars i have yet to sit in. I strongly suspect these new head restraints will all be an annoyance, and you will have to find one that bothers u the least.

But you watch...make a mental note of they day I am saying and predicting this..you watch....in 4 years from now there will be stats on a HIGHER incidence of whiplash cuz they will find more HR turned around, or removed altogether.

Such is life, it is hard to find the happy medium, and it just figures gvt was involved with some white shirt that laid out the guidelines without thinking down the road, that.."if we make 'em too aggressive, drivers won't use 'em".

I call it the pendulum effect..you can likely figure out why...it can be applied to most new laws and rules.

m6user

Even though mine don't adjust I don't have a problem with them making me bend my neck forward or anything. I had read on the Ford Edge forum that the head restraints were really bad regarding this and I went and sat in one. I didn't have any problem at all.

What I got from this was that I believe it depends on the person and how they sit and at what angle they keep the seatback. I think the straighter(close to 90 degrees) you keep the seatback the more problem it may be.

m6user

I just read the following re. the new Buick Verano which is due out later this year.

The Verano's trunk is substantial for its class: 15.2 cubic feet when equipped with a tire inflator kit or 14.3 with a spare tire and a jack.

Even the entry level premium type brands are going to this type of choice. 14.3 cu ft is enough trunk for me in a compact....I'll take the spare, thank you!

carfreak09

I got some seat time in a desert sand '11 Elantra 6 speed today while the oil was being changed on my Accent. I was quite impressed about some things but also disappointed by others. Here are my impressions:

The driver's seat is very comfortable and wraps around you nicely. However, it may feel too tight for wider folks. The height adjuster raised the whole seat from the back (so it still tips forward slightly but not near as bad as the old single knob), instead of just the bottom cushion, and the lever works better than the old knob. This was a definite improvement over the one in my Accent. The rear seat had loads of leg room but the backrest felt a little lumpy and the high windowsills give a more claustrophobic feeling.

This car definitely sits lower. You sit down into the car. Getting into the backseat, you have to be careful to watch your head. Style definitely won over function here. I much prefer the high chairlike seating in my Accent which provides easy ingress/egress and near SUV like views of the road. Visibility out the front was restricted by very large A-pillars and a heavily raked windshield. I feel my Accent has a much better view of what's ahead.

The shifter was smooth, definitely on par with Honda. It didn't feel clunky and the throw wasn't too long. It also has a very neat automatic style button integrated into the bottom front of the shift ball that when pressed, pulls up a rod to release the reverse lockout. Much more intuitive and easier to operate then shift rings that you have to pull up on. I loved the feel of it and how easy it was to get into reverse. As long as the clutch engages smoothly, manual tranny people ought to love this shifter.

The AC control knobs felt cheap when turned. A definite backslide here and another casualty to design flare. My Accent's knobs feel much more expensive.

Now to the things I noticed missing. It's the little things that Hyundai always impressed me with and now they seem to be deleting them. There is no driver's side grab handle, but my Accent has one. There was only one lighter socket, which was hidden by a door with a very cheap feeling latch that felt like it could break easily. I looked in the center console to see if a second one was hidden there, but there wasn't one. Very disappointed here as my Accent has 2 standard. The lighted vanity mirrors require you to turn on a switch to get light. On my Accent, all I have to do is slide open the mirror cover and the light comes on automatically. Lastly, was the complete lack of a handle to close the trunk lid. You must dirty your hands and put prints on your car to close the lid. My Accent has a nice big recessed handle to close the hatch without having to touch the outside of the car. I will say the trunk lid was at least carpeted, which was a bit unexpected. It was these glaring omissions that stood out the most to me and made the Hyundai value equation seem like a step back.

As for the spare, the styrofoam tray housed the compressor and sealant. I lifted the tray up and noticed there is a threaded hole to screw down a clamp to hold a spare tire in place. So adding a true spare would only require buying the threaded clamp.

carfreak09

I forgot to say that in my opinion, the beige interior is too bright and the yellow/orange hue didn't look good in sunlight. I definitely could not stomach owning that color interior. Pity, as I would like a toned down beige color on my next car.

Sandman6472

Saw that one yesterday also & it looked great with the alloys...a dark gray color would be our color of choice...a real beauty. Service driver got me in a new base level Sonata and it was a nice car...comfortable seat and nice dash layout. A bit bigger than we want now but it's right up there with the Accord, Camry & Fusion...probably a couple of notch's above. Great job Hyundai!!!!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

bigdogbitu

Oh well, can't please everyone!

BTW, the second lighter/DC outlet is on the passenger side of the center stack!

carfreak09

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I looked at the pics here and saw the recessed nook on the passenger side of the console. Glad it has a second lighter outlet, but I must say it's a poor place for it. It would not be accessible while driving, at least not safely....

marlenelin

I just test drove the 2011 Elantra Ltd. I also was turned off by the brightness of the beige interior. I love the car in the bronze color but unfortunately it does not come with a black interior. I don't think I could stomach looking at the bright beige all the time. Big difference I noticed was in the visibility (mostly on the side and back windows). The sleeker design has really narrowed the windows. Leg room and head room was fine for me as I am only 5 ft tall. I am actually interested in the GLS but the dealer had none to test drive, only the Ltd. I'm assuming the drive is the same on both. I test drove the car with two inches of snow on the ground and it handled that snow well. I also noticed that the brakes were more responsive than the brakes on my 2008 elantra and my 2009 touring. Hard decisions ahead. I'm also concerned about the lack of a spare and wondering if a dealer could install one so that it doesnt take up trunk space.

backy

You should drive the GLS if that is the trim you want to buy, because it has smaller wheels (15" or 16" vs. 17") than the Limited, so the ride and handling might be a bit different.

I thought I would not like the beige interior after reading comments online about it being orange-ish, but when I saw it in person (in a Desert Sand GLS) I thought it was just fine, not dissimilar in color to beige interiors in BMWs etc., and preferable to the more dour gray interior. Or maybe I've had my fill of gray interiors since the 2 cars I drive now have gray interiors. To each his own I guess.

Sandman6472

Saw a Desert Sand GLS at the dealer on Thursday and it did have 16" alloys. Is this a part of some option package? Looked absolutely great with this combo and will be pushing for the alloys when the time comes. Hopefully the sloping rear window will not compromise on headroom or visibility...that would be a deal breaker for the wife!

Hyundai has hit another grand slam with the Elantra...also hoping the new Accent will be just as good!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

backy

Alloys come with the Preferred Package, along with goodies like Bluetooth.

IMO the streamlined profile does in fact compromise rear head room. No surprise there. I can barely fit in back, with hair brushing the headliner, and I'm only 5'10". Certainly fine for younger kids and smaller adults, but anyone with 6-foot+ people who need to ride in back had better let them do a test-sit back there.

drew11m

I believe the 16'' steel wheels with full wheel covers on the GLS come with the Preferred Equipment Package, which according to the Hyundai USA website, is +1250$. The Limited version that i just bought has 17''.

I wasn't a big fan of the beige interior. If i was going with the desert bronze, id go with black interior if they offered it.

But i'm happy with my Indigo Blue Limited with the Grey Interior. Liking the car so far, not loving the door handles, but thats pretty minor

carfreak09

I'm only 5'5", so I'm short for a guy but about the size of many women. Headroom was fine for me, even with the seat jacked up, but visibility was compromised. You feel like you are sitting down in a bathtub, particularly in the back seat. Think Chrysler 300 and you get a good idea of the feeling. The rear window is definitely pretty short and the rear end is high, which gives a so so view out back. The Genesis coupe had better visibility out the back. Definitely make sure you can deal with the compromised visibility before being mesmerized by the great styling.

backy

The 16" alloys are only available on the A/T GLS, on which they are part of the Preferred Equipment Package that costs $550.

16" steelies are an option on the M/T GLS, which comes standard with 15" wheels.

snowallergy

I got that same (bath tub) sensation when I sat in a new sonata the other day. I'm 5'10" and that was in the front seat. Hope the new Kia optima doesn't have the same 'lost in space' feeling.

Sandman6472

This car will be for the wife and the back seat won't be used that much. Think she'll like the car in the Titanium color with the gray interior. We'll see once we get serious sometime in 2012.

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

bigdogbitu

I am surprised the interior does not come in black! I wanted the beige interior all along and think it looks great with my Desert Bronze exterior. A lighter beige interior color would have been OK too,

backy

If you want a black interior, you'll have to get the Limited. It appears from hyundaiusa.com that black is available on all colors but the blues.

bigdogbitu

Too bad for those of you who want black but not the limited! Guess it is on to another exterior color!

akuma

considering the car's been on sale for over a month, i'm wondering where the comprehensive reviews, including performance numbers, are. so far, we've just had basic first ride type reviews. nothing from most of the major publications including Edmunds's own inside line.

stickguy

hopefully some of the monthly mags will have full tests this month. At some point, there will also be a comparison test, but probably not until the Escort and Civic are out (though the Civic might not be for a while?)

Hopefully they don't wait for a modern version of the Corolla. That might not arrive until 2016 at this pace. Man, what an also ran that car is now.

backy

We will wait a very long time if the mags are waiting for the Escort to debut.

I remember the same kind of delay on test reports when the 2011 Sonata rolled out. Took a few months to get reviews in print. But there's quite a few reviews online on the Elantra.

I think the mags will wait for the 2012 Focus and maybe the 2012 Civic before doing comparos with the Elantra (and Cruze). That will make for a very interesting comparo: the latest from Ford and GM with the latest from Japan and Korea.

stickguy

escort, focus, tomato, tomaaato.

just googled, and the official Honda site says the new civic will be out in the spring. so not that long, unless they mean late spring!

will give that a look too, if they decide to come out with 5 door this time. And better seats. could not stand the current ones.

backy

"Spring" can mean mid-June. Hyundai is real good at that... they'll say "fall" and, sure enough, a few cars show up at some dealers by mid-December.

Sandman6472

The Cruze, Corolla, Civic, Elantra & Focus in a head to head comparison. Just what we're looking into. But doubt we'll even consider the Focus, Corolla or the Civic. And since we've already been a Buick household, we'll look at their version instead of the Cruze...we're really not into Chevy's...haven't owned one since our 1959 Corvette.

Hopefully they'll also outfit the cars with the same features...think a lot of folks decisions will be based on this comparo!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

stickguy

might as well throw the mazda 3 into the mix.

and skip the corolla, at least until a new design comes out, it just would not be fair!

Sandman6472

Probably right about the Mazda3...but hoping it's not in "our" mix since we've had one since mid 2005...time for a change actually!

The Sandman :sick: :shades:

stickguy

I agree that it is wrong to get a new version of your old car. what a waste!

backy

I got another chance to check out the 2011 Elantra while my 2007 Sonata was in for an oil change. There was a silver GLS with Preferred package on the showfloor. Right next to it was a 2011 Sonata SE, so I did a comparison. My conclusion is that the Elantra is plenty roomy for my needs. In fact, the Elantra has more usable rear-seat legroom than the Sonata. The Sonata has more knee space, but some of it is not usable because it's tighter than the Elantra under the driver's seat. So I could stretch out my legs more, toes under the front seat, more in the Elantra than the Sonata, with the driver's seats in both cars adjusted where I like them. The Sonata is a little wider inside, but I see both cars as 2 + 2 except when I need to squeeze 3 in back for a short distance. No one other than a small child will be content in the middle seat for any length of time, in either car. Rear headroom was about the same in both cars--my hair brushed the headliner (I'm 5'10"). Thigh support was fine in both; the Sonata's seat is a little higher, but I could stretch out my legs more in the Elantra to make up for that.

I also found that I could adjust the driver's seat on the Elantra (Sonata also) up high enough to where the low profile wasn't an issue, i.e. I did not feel like I was in a tomb. I wished the steering column on the Elantra tilted up just a bit more, however.

I decided the gray interior would be OK, as it's two-tone so not too dark. But I think I prefer tan (cloth), with either the bronze or red exterior. Silver/gray is OK, just kinda boring (and I have a silver car now, and have owned several other silver cars). But have never owned a brown/bronze car.

bobad

Nice report Backy, thanks for that.

As I mentioned earlier, the Elantra's cabin appears to be perched forward, and the hood appears short. What was your impression of this appearance both in the exterior styling and sitting in the cabin?

backy

I like the looks of the Elantra. Since I can't see the front of the car on most cars nowadays, the short, sloped front end of the Elantra doesn't bother me wrt sitting in the cabin. I do like the fact the Elantra is compact outside while plenty roomy inside--lets me fit into more parking spaces than on a car with a mid-sized exterior.

newhartford

So what are the pros/cons for the new all aluminum block motor? Oviously less weight. Will it warm up faster and cool off faster? How about cylinder life for wear/oil consumption? I read somewhere that it is coming from China.

crkyolfrt

"So what are the pros/cons for the new all aluminum block motor? Oviously less weight. "

Yes

"Will it warm up faster and cool off faster?"

Yes...however, cooling off faster not an advantage.
"How about cylinder life for wear/oil consumption?"

This depends largely on oil quality and maintenance service history AND cyl bore design...are the cyl bores linerless?

" I read somewhere that it is coming from China."

Not sure exactly what the potential innuendo is with this question? They have been known to copy and cut corners. But they have also been known to copy and improve. They own a LOT of USA debt if that means anything at all??

backy

Almost all modern engines use aluminum blocks. Hyundai has for years on other engines. They finally retired the iron-block Beta II for the 2011 Elantra sedan (still using that old engine on the Elantra Touring).

newhartford

I live in the Northeast so a faster warmup would be welcome in these cold winter months - not so for the faster cooldown. Good point about cylinder liners - don't know the answer to that one but suspect they are lined. Just an informational comment about sourcing from China - no axe to grind there. I assume Hyundai will keep a close watch on quality. Perhaps they set up the plant there?

newhartford

I actually have a 2003 with the Beta engine. Perhaps not the most refined one that ever came down the pike but after 93K miles it still is not burning any oil. Actually the car has been the best one I have ever owned. It has never let me down. The only disappointment has been rust at the rear wheel wells.

backy

I have a 2004 with the Beta II with CVVT, still running strong (if not the smoothest engine ever). One thing about that Beta engine... it was reliable. At least we know Hyundai did a lot of work on other aluminum-block engines before the new Nu.

newhartford

One thing I definitely like about the new engine is the timing chain - no more timing belts to change at $300 a pop. I notice that the 2011 has the body metal wrapped around flat against inside of the wheel wells. So perhaps that plus the fact that the rear bumper/metal panel interface is curved downward in the area that rusted in my 2003 will take care of the corrosion in the new one.

rcinmd

Friend still has his 2004 Elantra GT/5 speed that I suggested he buy new.
Regular oil changes, and most of the driving is highway.
It now has 355,000 miles. A couple timing belt changes, new clutch at about 290K. I'd bleed the clutch now and then. Brakes have been fiddled with a few times.
I've always thought the Beta engine was bulletproof. At this point, it uses around a quart every 2 thousand miles. A local dealer told me about a girl who used her Elantra as one of those highway vehicles that tails oversized loads. She had over 600K on hers.
I'm now suggesting that when the time to replace it comes, he seriously consider the Kia Forte 5. It's the closest he can get to the old GT, with the 'extremely rare' fold-flat rear seat, along with what I think is the latest iteration of the Beta, including timing chain which I think they went to in 2008.