Hyundai Elantra 5-door

pedennison · April 2002

Overall I'm still happy with my GT, but I'm having continuing problems with the stereo. The CD player didn't work when I took delivery of the car. That stereo was replaced under warranty, but within 4 months the volume knob stopped working correctly. Again the stereo was replaced under warranty. The past few months had been trouble free, until today, when the CD player decided to stop working. Should I make Hyundai replace it, if only out of principle, or give up and get an aftermarket system? Have any of you had as much bad luck as I have? How many of you have replaced your factory stereos with aftermarket systems?

th003g · April 2002

has been and always will be a bad source for car ratings. This fact is evident in their inability to gather representative information in their reviews (as stated earlier in this or another elantra forum), inability to realize a truck cannot and will not perform like a car in all situations (stupid rollover tests). They also lack the capacity or memory to recall exactly how they rated cars in the same category and thus have themselves contradicted regularly by their own prior reviews.
They say the elantra is small, slow, cheap, lacks features, but I researched it and found it is the biggest,strongest, most luxurious, feature laden car in its category.
i could care less about what CR says about the cars I buy (they seem to love honda like Car and driver loves BMW).

rwr1708 · April 2002

I had an aftermarket system put into my Subaru, before I got my GT ( I also had warranty problems with that stereo), and would not hesitate to do it again. It turned out great. I had a guy from a local shop (this guy knew what he was doing, unlike me...) install it. I couldn't have been happier. I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think the radio is only covered through 3 yrs./36,000mi., one of the few exceptions to the colossal warranty. I would ride it out as long as you can stand it (I think the 100 watt system is pretty decent for a stock system). But, if you can't stand it, I wouldn't hesitate getting something aftermarket. The Panasonic that I had in my Subaru had a silver faceplate with an indigo blue display that I think would look pretty cool with the GT's dash. Shop around. My $.02. Good luck.

Rich

P.S. Definitely have Hyundai replace your system! They owe it to you. Even if you decide the next day that you want an aftermarket system, still make them do it! If you decide to sell the car later on, you can have the Hyundai system put back in and not lose the cost of your aftermarket system.

th003g · April 2002

About the stereo, the first thing I did when I got the car was to replace the head unit with a MP3 CD unit. The CD player would have been useless to me since I have a grand total of 14 CD's but over 2500 mp3's. Now I can drive 6 hrs without changing a CD. I do plan to add replace speakers and a subwoofer and an amp soon. Maybe even a DVD tv system.

I am sick of hearing the GT or GLS referred to as being a cheap buy, bargain etc....

Sure it is but it deserves to be considered on its other merits which make it superior to other cars we considered. I work at Costco and right now we have a Blue IS 300 SportCross displayed outside as part of the dealership affiliation program. Everyone who knows me or has seen my car comments on how similar my Cobalt Blue elantra looks to the IS300 SC. The similarity is even greater because I have 17 inch rims on my car. The GT is actually bigger than the IS in almost all dimensions, has Leather standard IS leather is better but still not Lexus level. Hell even the rear light cluster is similar. My car does not have ABS, TRAC, or sunroof but the car can be had with such. the only things the GT lacks are auto climate control, HID, power seats and homelink. all of which can be found on the other car I drive, "my" 1996 Cranberry Red XJR... no biggie ... smirk....

and the SportCross looks downright frumpy from the rear 3/4 view, its got a bad case of round rump syndrom. as evidenced by the following pic:

http://www.lexus.com/images/showroom/model/is/morephotos/ph_is300_sportcross_2_r.jpg

joffficer · April 2002

If you want to compare toasters, read Consumer Reports. If you want to read a glowing report about a Honda/Toyota read Consumer Reports! They have had this love affair with them since the 80's (that I can remember). They never seemed to mention the built in rust, or extremely pricey parts! And who can forget the Honda's and Mazda's of the 70's...what crap!
If the stigma of the early 90's Hyundai got me a better price, good for me. As long as MY car runs well to at least the end of the warranty! Having a better car, compared to the others I looked at, is even better.

wmoses · April 2002

pedennison asks --

"Should I make Hyundai replace it, if only out of principle, or give up and get an aftermarket system? Have any of you had as much bad luck as I have?"

You bet you should make Hyundai replace it under warranty. Do not let up on this, since you will be doing them a favour, IMO. The more they see things like this, the more they will realise that their radio supplier has problems (?) and they can then do something about it. And to make sure that they know about this, write Hyundai America and cc the dealer. If the dealer was nice about these replacements, you could commend them in the letter to help smooth things over.

If everyone having this problem were to not try and get it fixed under warranty, there would be no problem, as far as Hyundai are concerned.

I have not had any problems whatsoever with my factory radio/CD, except for the occasional odd glitch when playing back CDs I burned myself from MP3s. But then it never said that it was CD-R compatible and the reproduction is not perfect either. So, no problems here.

wmoses · April 2002

I have long since given up on reading CR for anything other than for something to laugh at, and to marvel at their ignorance when it comes to reviewing automobiles.

IMO, they are not qualified to review amusement park go-karts much less the modern car.

One of the things that particularly ticks me off is their way of taking one test car and making pronouncements on the whole model line based on problems that test car might have. And I am not even speaking about subjective issues here. Not very scientific, and not even worth the same as the paper it is written on.

They have clear biases when it comes to cars, and people who love cars know this. Publications such as these continue the stigma against any cars that are not Toyota and Honda, in spite of compelling evidence that their findings are often out and out wrong.

Still, like supermarket tabloids, they have their following ...

gt_fan · April 2002

Back in the '80s one of the motorcycle magazines mocked CR's lack of technical expertise by publishing a spoof CR "comparison" of several popular motorcycles. They used CR's standard format and verbiage, even the circle/half-circle rating system. My favorite part of the comparison was when they tested the bike's stability - by standing them upright with no rider and then timing how long they took to fall over! As I recall, the Honda still won (well, duh!). Very funny stuff, especially since it was so close to the truth.

5port · April 2002

Ever since I bought my GT (last October) I have been using 89 octane gas. This is a carry over from my last car (Civic Si). My Honda would sometimes ping very lightly near redline (read getting on the parkway aggressively). Also I thought that 89 had more fuel injection additives.

I switched to 87 octane in the GT recently and car is running fine. Now I notice that my gas mileage is actually getting better (slight increase from 23.8 average to 24.0). My driving habits have not changed,only commute back and forth to work with a heavy foot. Can anyone see a reason why the mileage would improve with lower octane? Thanks.

seminole_kev · April 2002

because at the compression your engine runs at, you're getting the most effective power out of the 87 octane. If you upped the compression, then you would need to go to a higher octane rating. Using a higher grade octane gas in an 87 rated engine is just wasting money. Plus all the major gas brands put the same additives in each of their petrol grades. So you're not losing out on any special additives.

You are correct that going to a higher grade can alleviate pinging, but that's indicative of a engine that's not running like new.

csandste · April 2002

however your mpg increase (which I doubt is statistically significant) might be the result of the switch from winter to summer gas grades.

5port · April 2002

Seminole_kev

"Plus all the major gas brands put the same additives in each of their petrol grades. So you're not losing out on any special additives."

I recently found that this is by law. You shouldnt have to spend more $ to get the additives.

candste

"however your mpg increase (which I doubt is statistically significant) might be the result of the switch from winter to summer gas grades."

The timing would be right. Interesting. Its amazing how accurate the mpg computer is at keeping track of me. Once a week I take a highway trip for about 30 miles. If I miss one week the mpg drops by about two tenths.

little9 · April 2002

Is there a roof rack option (factory made or installed) available on the GT? If so, can it be had if there is a sunroof? Have just checked the GT versus P5 forum (last entry early April) and the message there seems to indicate that there is a roof rack option.

joffficer · April 2002

The one from Hyundai on a GT with a sunroof.

http://hdkautosport.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HA&Category_Code=E7

little9 · April 2002

Thank you for the information re: roof rack. Liked the idea that it could be removed and stored as needed...perfect for hauling a kayak. Also noted the wood grain trim kit for the dash. How is that installed?

mpgman · April 2002

21,800 on the silver GT. Just had the fuel sending unit replaced for a second time, as the fuel gauge stopped reading full when I filled the tank. No flak from the dealer at all. They ordered the part and installed it. Hyundai might have gotten a bad batch of units that made its way into a number of cars.

Otherwise, smooth sailing.

By the way, I never complained about the lack of an inside hatch release and they sent me a check automatically. They also paid $500 to replace my oil pan assembly when one of their dealers stripped the threads doing an oil change.

So far, this is America's best warranty.

csandste · April 2002

Is this the common Hyundai problem of reading less than full for a mile or so and then coming up to full or did it never get to that point?

mpgman · April 2002

CSTANDEFER----The first time around, it would read about 7/8s, then gradually climb to full after driving several miles. Eventually, it would read around 3/4s at fill-up, but never make it back to full. When the first unit was replaced, the new unit worked fine for about 15,000 miles. When it most recently acted up, it would read about 3/4s and never get to full. Now, with my second fuel sending unit replacement, it not only reads full, but goes past it a bit. My trip computer seems to have been accurate throughout, so this has been more of an annoyance than a real problem. The dealers have been really good about getting it fixed, and that is all I can ask.

th003g · April 2002

My mom's 96 (106k miles) accent had a similar problem, fixed once but now gotten used to it, not such a big deal. it makes me wonder if I did fill it up all the way though...

rwr1708 · April 2002

With mine, I have filled it up three times and have never seen the fuel gauge at full. Mine always comes up at about 7/8. Do you think I should have it looked at? I also find that the gauge will not read the same from when I shut down the car and restart it (example: I will leave the car with 3/4 of a tank, and next time I get in, I will have 1/2 tank.) At first, I thought it was just a quirk, but now I'm not so sure. My trip computer seems to be reading everything fine, so I'm not overly concerned.

mpgman · April 2002

If it's under warranty, go for it.

blackandblue · April 2002

Every time I take my GT in to the dealer they do more damage than they fix. I hope you all have better luck than me.

wmoses · April 2002

blackandblue said --

"Every time I take my GT in to the dealer they do more damage than they fix. I hope you all have better luck than me."

Any examples? Maybe others can relate to your specific experiences.

dieselhead · April 2002

I was having problems starting my 5spd GT but gtgill hit the nail on the head. You need to push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. The clutch on my old Rabbit engages near the top so I had fallen into the bad habit of not fully depressing the clutch. I was also revelling in all the leg room available and had my seat pushed too far back, making it difficult to depress the clutch fully. So, no bad ignition switch, just "human error". Hyundai might make more of a fuss in the manual about the need to depress the clutch when starting.

Overall impression, after all of 900 miles, is that everybody in the family really likes this car. I haven't opened it up yet and driving with a light foot I am managing 33 mpg. Nevertheless acceleration seems fine (remember my perspective comes from driving a diesel rabbit for 13 years!). The rear end does look a little funky IMHO, but from all other angles this is a very handsome car.

I went into a dealership while down in Florida asking about touch up paint. They wanted the paint code. Can someone tell me where the paint code can be found? I couldn't find it on the car or in any of the paperwork from the dealer. This is a 2002 with pewter paint. The parts guy told me that paint can change within a model year, so that one 2002 pewter may not match another 2002 GT's pewter. This sounds reasonable, but I wouldn't have thought it mattered for touch up paint as the differences would have to be small.

5port · April 2002

blackandblue

My first visit to the dealer was the first oil change and I complained of a squeaky clutch pedal. In process of lubricating the clutch pedal they lost the hardware for the air filter. Before leaving the dealers lot...check the work!

dieselhead

The paint code is on the drivers door edge. there is a metal panel that gives the paint code and build date. The paint code is a 2 letter code as in (LH).

joffficer · April 2002

after reading about the TSB (01-36-025) and having a slight "flare" between 2-3rd I decided to call the dealer. They agreed.. there is a TSB and said to bring it in. (this is for the auto, if you hadn't guessed). I don't know if this would have made a difference in long term use, but I don't like a transmission to "take awhile" to decide where it should be. From what I've read/heard they're gonna re program the 'Fuzzy logic' computer.... I'll let everyone know how it worked for me. (I'm asking for a technician who knows what he's doing..... last one told me to "wait until summer" for the interior noises to go away!)

gt_fan · April 2002

I happened upon this article about the recent surge of the economy in Korea. (That's where they make Hyundai's, for those of you from the Honda forum.) Does this mean that Hyundai prices will rise along with the rising wages for Korean factory workers, or that quality will continue to improve as Hyundai strives to meet the rising expectations of the increasingly affluent Korean consumer?

http://www.techcentralstation.com/1051/techwrapper.jsp?PID=1051-250&CID=1051-041602C

Lestrade1 · April 2002

just picked up my GT last saturday and my fuel gage pinned on full i hope it does that when i next refill
the odometer a little confusing-to reset the trip part does that function have to be displayed?
manual says on refueling to turn gas cap until you hear 3 clicks otherwise kcheck engine light comes on. is this really true?
if you are in the new york city/burbs i highly reccommend healy bros hyundai in mt kisco, they were teriffic. thanks for all prior posts. they were helpful in buying the car

gtjill · April 2002

Just thought i'd get my word in on this one:

just passed 16,000 miles on my GT, and have not had one problem with my fuel gauge... it has read full every time i fill it up... i'm wondering if its the gauge itself that's defective since people have had them replaced and had the same problem later...

gtjill · April 2002

sorry for double posting, but i don't think i was clear about what i meant. what i meant was, maybe its not the fuel gauge, but something else

gt_fan · April 2002

Good choice on the GT. Indeed, to reset the trip odometer, the trip mileage must be displayed. Just hold down the button for a few seconds. The same procedure applies to the cumulative mpg readout.

dvermett · April 2002

hi,
Got what I thought was a great deal on a 2002 GT.
Auto, absolutely loaded for $14.8k

However about 2 miles from the dealership, I turned around after finding the air conditioner wasn't working. Even though this problem irked me, I was impressed by the manager's response (Loaner of a 2001 holdover within 2 minutes). Still it would have been nice to drive my new one home.
Has anyone else been "pressured" to give the dealership all excellent marks on the JD Power survey after the sale? This was the second new car that I bought in 6 months (got a 2002 Kia Sedona also), and both dealerships seemed to suggest I put nothing but top mark on each line.
Even after this A/C problem, he asked not to mention it on initial quality! All I can say is at least KIA gave me a free oil change coupon for filling out their survey!

The A/C was fixed the next day. Said it was just a
half connected connector.

A question. Does anyone know where the alarm is located for the GT? I know I'll probably get used to it, but can't stand the alarm going off when I open the door with my key. Why would they put a key lock on it if you can't use it? Besides, when was the last time you heard an alarm and called the police!

Also, anyone have luck with the woodgrain console kit?

Let's hope the A/C connector was a fluke. But other than that, I still feel like I stole the car! Can't beat the price!

bri70 · April 2002

"I know I'll probably get used to it, but can't stand the alarm going off when I open the door with my key."

When I don't want my alarm to go off, I simply lock the doors manually without using my remote.

As for the half connected AC. It sounds like sloppy assembly at the factory but at least there wasn't anything really wrong with it. Good luck!

ziglifler · April 2002

it is pretty simple , if u use the remote to lock the doors u need to use it to unlock them also . that will stop the alarm from going off . the remote is the key to the alarm.

5port · April 2002

dvermett,

Congrats on your new GT. Great choice!

"Has anyone else been "pressured" to give the dealership all excellent marks on the JD Power survey after the sale?"

No. I slammed my dealer for the way they handled the sale. Everything from an empty gas tank to scratches on the body. The quality of the product far surpasses the quality of the dealers.

"Also, anyone have luck with the woodgrain console kit?"

They sell these at <http://www.hdkautosport.com>

. If you look back a few posts there was a discussion on this.

"But other than that, I still feel like I stole the car!"

Do what I do...drive it like you stole it!

andil1 · April 2002

I wondered if you can tell from the VIN number whether a GT has anti-lock brakes. Any code breakers in this group? Thanks

csandste · April 2002

He quickly got so he could get into any locked car in seconds. If you can manually override an alarm, so can any thief. That's why the alarm sounds when you use your key.

backy · April 2002

Can't you just turn the key and look for the ABS light?

th003g · April 2002

well, here on LI it has been scorching hot the last 2 days. yesterday Igot to leave work at 3pm, got to my car, (had left the window slightly open in advance) and opened the door and was hit by a wave of musty hot leather smelling air. got into the car and brushed the steering wheel,, Ouch... HOT!!! had to blast AC and have all windows down for a few minutes to cool down car enought to be comfortable to drive. I guess thats one drawback to the car having grayish black leather...another note on the leather, you can actually feel the places where the leather is real and where it is vinyl or fake, Real: tops of seats(where you sit on it), center console armrest, steering wheel, shift knob. Fake: bottom of seat cushion (the vertical surfaces) and i'm guessing because I've never been in the backseat for long the back of the front seats. Neat little thing you notice after having to actually stop for a while at a LONG red light...

markj11 · April 2002

My "Malfunction Indicator Light" came on 2 days ago on my '01 GT. After taking it to the service dept they told me that there was a stuck/faulty purge valve and replaced it. After the 1 hour journey home, the light came back on 5 minutes before I pulled into the driveway.
Time to make another trip back to the service dept. I know that the light may come on if you dont follow the proper "cap screw on procedure" but I've been pretty careful about this, and didn't refill after seeing the dealership.
I'll let everyone know what the real culprit is...
by the way, I was told at the service dept that I was "Completely Satisified" with the service and should definetly indicate that on the forthcoming survey. Well I did get an unexpected free carwash.

mark

joffficer · April 2002

I had the service department do the Transmission re program. It seems to have help the shift flare between 2-3 a little. There's still a little bit, but it's not as bad as before.
I also mentioned the A/C noise (when the compressor comes on). I guess instead of listening for it, they decided to just tighten the belt and send it out. That didn't fix it! Has anyone else had a high pitched scrapping noise coming from the A/C? What did they do to fixed it? I know I read on another site I guy had it in 3-4 times for something similar.... and it was never fixed! If I remember, they changed the expansion valve a couple times.

jrs333 · April 2002

I've been doing quite a bit of research, and I am seriously leaning towards getting an Elantra GT within the next month. I do, however, have a few questions that I'm hoping can be answered before I commit to this car.

First -- Transmission. I've been reading a lot about problems shifting between 2nd and 3rd. Is this a problem Hyundai is correcting (ie, re-program)? Also, is it a universal problem or just with the Automatic? Which would you recommend for an Atlanta (stop-n-go) commute?

Second -- Paint. Some posts have pointed out that the paint jobs on the Elantras are not top notch, resulting in highly visible scratches soon after purchasing the car. Is this true? Are there any recommendations?

Third -- Leather. Since the GT's have it standard (!), I was curious to see if there are any owners who find the leather to be a drawback (ie, too hot in summer/cold in winter, high maintenance to take care of, etc).

Fourth -- Warranty. Have any of the owners experienced problems with the dealerships with regards to the warranty? Have there been any refusals or problems getting maintenance done?

Fifth -- Safety. The standard side air-bags (!) really caught my attention. Offset Crash Test Results show the Elantra as "Poor." Any comments? How safe do you feel in your Elantras?

Sixth -- Color. While it's a matter of personal preferance for everyone -- which would you say is a "better" choice, Black or Carbon Blue?

Finally -- Lighting. I keep hearing that if you get the moonroof option, you lose out on interior lighting. This option replaces the dome light, and results in poor lighting in the rear and cargo area. How bad is the lighting? I really would prefer to get a model with the moonroof!

Thanks for Your Assistance!!!

joffficer · April 2002

1) The only time I noticed a problem with the transmission was during very light acceleration. Between 2cd and 3rd it seemed to hang-up for a split second (revved up 500rpm) then shifted. If I was getting on the throttle more It didn't do it. With the service I got yesterday it's hardly noticeable (I'm probably looking for it!) For stop and go I would recommend the auto. I prefer a 5-6sp, but in traffic it's a pain in the butt.

2) The paint hasn't been a problem for me. I have black (which I liked over the blue). Of course keeping any dark car clean is a chore. In this price range I'd say it no better or worse than the others.

3) I love the leather! It smells nice, and feels good. Sure it's hot if you leave it baking in the sun, but that's why we have A/C and sun shields. I got a bottle of Lexol's leather care and apply it as directed (I also bought the vinlex... Lexol's supposed to be the best). I plan on using it with every oil change. For me that's no worse then cloth as far as care.

4) Haven't had to much as far as warranty. My dealer didn't complain when I brought it in for the transmission.... I also let them know I get alot of information from the internet.

5) Safety? It's a small car! I don't care how many balloons you have around you... there isn't much metal to distribute the force of a crash. I was involved in a side impact crash a few years back, and the side air bags sure would have helped. The key, to me, is to AVOID the crashes. With the GT you have a good chance with the ABS, TCS and power available.

6) color?... I covered that. I like the Black or Silver, but the wife had the deciding vote (of course she has yet to live up to her "I'll wash it" statement).

7) lighting? I drive it the most and sit in the front seat (naturally). With the map lights, and interior lights I have plenty of light. I do have the moonroof, and wouldn't even think of loosing it for a rear light! ( I can add that if it ever becomes a problem) The 'trunk' has some, but not much light... another side light would be nice.

Hope this helps!
JT

jrs333 · April 2002

jofficer,

Thanks for your response! You answered all of the questions I had. I feel like I'm really making the BEST choice with the Elantra GT. I've looked into other models, and the options you get standard with the Elantra just cannot be beat. Plus the shining reviews here on Edmunds definitely help. Hopefully, I'll have one soon & will be able to post a follow-up. Thanks again!

gt_fan · April 2002

Dvermett - the dealer pressure to give "Excellent" marks on all surveys seems to be pretty widespread. At both the dealer where I bought my car and the dealer where I go for service, they made a big point of pleading with me to give them great marks. The selling dealer was only so-so and the servicing dealer couldn't find the problem that I was griping about, but being a nice guy, I gave them top marks anyway. I may bring that up with them next time I'm in!

Joffficer - now that it's actually getting warm enough here to need the air conditioning, I've noticed the same noise that you and several previous posters have mentioned. Every 20 seconds or so, there's a faint high-pitched metallic whining noise for a few seconds. I'd sure be interested in knowing if this is a sign of something going south in the air conditioner, or just a normal sound for this car. Other than that, the unit works great and really puts out a lot of cold air.

Jrs333 - Joffficer covered your list pretty well, but I'd like to add a couple of thoughts:

1) The shift flare is limited to the automatic. On the manual the shift controller computer is located between the drivers ears. (Very limited processing power in mine, hehe!) For a lot of stop and go, an auto would sure make life easier. I'm such a fan of manuals that I went with the stick even considering the city portion of my commute. Fortunately, the GT's clutch is one of the lightest and easiest that I've ever used.

2) I settled for the Carbon Blue, even though Black would have been my first choice. For a car in this class, I would agree that the paint is about average. Sitting next to my '95 Audi, it was immediately apparent that the GT's paint doesn't have that deep lustre that more expensive cars have. I would recommend using Zymol wax. One of those consumer magazines found that it tends to clean with less scratches and swirl marks.

3) Leather is great if you have kids. A chocolate shake from Mickey D's can make a mess of cloth seats, but it wipes right off of leather. I use Lexol too.

5) The Insurance Institute tests weren't the best, but even THEY thought that the cars structure was solid and held up well. The GT did very well on the government crash tests. Every accident is different and a car that did great in one type of crash might have a weakness that could really get you hurt in another. There's no way they can crash enough cars to get you a complete picture of how any particular car will perform. In the meantime, drive like they're all out to get you.

7) Without a dome light, it's a pain getting my kids in and out of their car seats in the dark. I wear a Snake Light around my neck and that really helps. Before the days get shorter again, I'm going to add some more light back there. I may get fancy and wire something in, but it would probably work just as well to strap a couple of those "tap lights" to the back of the front seat head rests. (And maybe one on the bottom of the hatch cover, too.)

I'd highly recommend the GT. It's really been a great car for me so far. Good luck shopping!

bpi · April 2002

"The Insurance Institute tests weren't the best,"
So which ones are?

"but even THEY thought that the cars structure was solid and held up well."
So you don't have much faith in the validity of the tests, except the ones that the Elantra excelled in?

dant5 · April 2002

Hi everyone,
I am also seriously considering the GT (down to either the Lancer or the GT), and I live in the Atlanta area as well like jrs333. I have only been to the local dealer in Conyers, and they had an addition dealer mark-up of something like $595.00 for an "appearance Package". Needless to say, I'm not going to pay close to $600 for some pinstriping and a painted grill. I don't really want pinstriping at all. My question is this, Has anyone worked with any Atlanta area dealers and if so which would you reccomend ? I am also considering going through carsdirect.com.

Thanks

gt_fan · April 2002

Bpi - in answer to your first question, the Honda Civic would be the best in class in the IIHS tests. Here are a few links to tests of some popular models:

Civic: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/00031.htm

Elantra: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0103.htm

Protege: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/99005.htm

Jetta: http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/99001_2001.htm

You'll notice that, as I mentioned, the Elantra did get a Good rating for "Structure/Safety Cage".

As to your second question, I'm not trying to imply that the tests are invalid, only that there's more to safety than one test. If the Elantra can get radically different ratings from two different organizations, both doing frontal crash tests, imagine how much difference there will be between different types of accidents out on the road. Sure, if a buyers number one priority is frontal safety and money is no object, they would be well advised to buy a Civic, or better yet a Suburban. In the real world, though, you have to balance a lot more factors into your decision. I could have bought a Civic, (or a Suburban for that matter) but I wanted more room, a hatch, a better warranty, more features and a lower price. I'm willing to trade a lower IIHS rating for for those things.

ziglifler · April 2002

Lets face it , nobody wants to be in a crash . i don't care what the rating of the car is . sure this test says this and that test says that ,but letys face it if u are in a civic or an elantra and crash going highway speeds the tests that they use have NOTHING to do with the outcome of the crash your are in . most the tests they do are at 30-40mph . lets face it most of us do 60-80 easy in highways in america so a 30-40 mph crash tests really tells you nothing . if a civic or an elantra crash head on into a ford 250 at highway speeds ummm i highly doubt that it will matter what car u are in your still toast... so lets not be short sighted and remember that these tests can only be used as a tool and by no means are they the last word .

bpi · April 2002

"The Insurance Institute tests weren't the best,"
So which ones are?

I was looking for which tests were the best. I thought you meant "The Insurance Institute tests weren't the best." (Well that's exactly what you said). But apparently you meant the Elantra did not come out the best from those tests.

No single test is the last word. In fact you can get all the crash tests done all over the world and it's still not "guaranteed" to be accurate.

People drive at 60-80 mph, but the majority of crashes don't occur at those speeds. It's like suggesting that seatbelts would not save you in a 60 mph head-on crash so defective belts in a particular model don't matter. Or if a professional car thief really wants to steal you car, he will so why equip your car with an alarm?

Having said that, there's always the possibility that car manufacturers design cars to perform well on certain crash tests only.

Hyundai Elantra 5-door

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