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2007 Hyundai Elantra vs 2007 Nissan Sentra

backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
edited March 2014 in Hyundai
For the 2007 model year, the Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Sentra are all-new, and are the newest entries in the $16k-20k economy car class. They have several similarities, for example: compact sedans with mid-sized interiors (the largest in their class); three trim levels, including a top-end trim with standard leather (not available on competitors like Civic and Corolla); similar powerplants (2.0L, with 138 hp on the Elantra and 140 on the Sentra); and availability as a 4-door sedan only (although that may change soon for the Elantra at least).

What do you think of these all-new economy sedans?
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Comments

  • nodulenodule Member Posts: 118
    As for as appearance alone, its the 2007 Sentra hands down.
    The new Elantra looks to girly, lady like and feminine, while
    the Sentra looks more rugged and for a guy.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    The 2007 Sentra looks like a Fusion in front, but with a cheaper-looking grille, and very much like the '01-'06 Elantra otherwise--except for the been-there-done-that-anybody-have-any-other-ideas clear taillamps.

    The Corvette has curvy, sinuous lines also--like the new Elantra. I guess the Corvette is a "girly" car too?
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    The 2007 Sentra looks like a Fusion in front, but with a cheaper-looking grille, and very much like the '01-'06 Elantra otherwise--except for the been-there-done-that-anybody-have-any-other-ideas clear taillamps.

    Really? Are we looking at the same car? I see Altima/Maxima Jr. in the Sentra and nothing more.

    The Corvette has curvy, sinuous lines also--like the new Elantra. I guess the Corvette is a "girly" car too?

    If the choice is between the new Elantra and the "manly" Caliber, I'd pick the new Elantra every time. (The Caliber styling is the worst I've seen since Aztec.)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I see Altima in the new Sentra also. But I always thought the Gen 3 Altima looked a lot like a stretched Gen 3 Elantra, from the A-pillar back. Look at the roofline, the character line on the side, the rear end (except those clear taillamps).

    I'm not quite sure why some people equate chunky styling to a "guy" car. Maybe it's the (unfortunate) Hummer influence. There have been many cars over the years with curvy lines that were definitely NOT "girly" cars, e.g. Camaro, Corvette, Viper, RX-8, Javelin/AMX, Cobra, and any Jaguar.
  • herotakesafallherotakesafall Member Posts: 103
    From certain angles, the new Sentra looks too..."high" for its rear wheels. Ya know, like the Echo and the last Neon looked like.

    http://www.edmunds.com/media/reviews/top10/worst.residual.vehicles/04.dodge.neon- - .500.jpg
    http://echo.toyota.com.au/TWR/content/static/1940.jpg
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    I don't think appearances are either of these cars strong suit.

    Actually, the Sentra does look like a stodgier Altima jr. The heavy weight makes me wonder what the real world mileage will be also. It appears the Versa only gets about 28-30 if its Edmunds real world posters numbers are averaged. What does that mean for the Sentra - 25-28 mpg?

    The Elantra exterior still looks influenced by the Corolla (sorry Backy). I actually like the front end more when I saw it in person yesterday. The back end is still very Corolla like. I think the interior is much nicer than past Elantras, and the EPA numbers look pretty good. I would like to see its real world mileage numbers. If the discounts come quickly and a manual SE is actually available on dealer lots, I may give one a try. I booted the Accent due to the unavailablity of factory cruise and aux input, and am glad both are available in the Elantra.

    I think the Sentra is probably a loser, and the Elantra is probably a winner. I still think the Civic and Mazda3 lead from an exterior looks standpoint. Both Honda and Mazda took a few risks and did not take the conservative route like Hyundai and Nissan.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    It's funny but with much more hp and torque than the Versa, the Sentra could wind up getting better fuel economy.

    I used to think the Mazda3 was the best looking car in its class. Now the styling is beginning to get old to me. But it's still a nice-looking car--even though it's a twin of the Corolla. ;) The Civic is OK too, although it still looks too much like a Saturn SL I think. I prefer the more traditional interior layout of the Mazda3 and Elantra (and Sentra) to the Civic's. And I was reading an interesting note on the Civic discussion yesterday re the top-end Civic EX: "Where's the trip computer?" "Doesn't have one." "Where's the sunglasses holder?" "Doesn't have one." And so on. Makes me appreciate the Elantra (and Sentra) even more.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    It is just embarrassing that the Versa and Sentra with the only 6 speed manuals can only get 34 on the highway for the EPA. The Mazda with more power and just a 5 speed gets 35. The Elantra gets 36, the Civic 38, and the Corolla 41 -all with 5 speeds. Even Camrys, Accords, and Sonatas get about 34 on the highway.

    It appears most Versas can't even get real world mileage above 30 on the highway. Ouch!
  • herotakesafallherotakesafall Member Posts: 103
    I still think the Mazda3 sets the standard for looks in the compact car class. Yeah, I'm a bit more used to seeing them now, but I still think they're gorgeous from every angle. Wish I could say the same for the 5-door, since I usually prefer hatches. The Civic I really like from the front, but I don't like the rear of the sedan at *all*. Very awkward-looking taillights.
    I think the new Sentra has a nice interior (and I usually don't like Nissan interiors), but I think I'm going to tire of the exterior quickly. I already don't like the mini-Maxima look since, well, I don't really like the regular Maxima look!
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I don't think the new Sentra is terrible looking, just not very original. We've seen these shapes before. At least it looks a LOT better than the Versa sedan, at least to my eyes.
  • herotakesafallherotakesafall Member Posts: 103
    The Versa sedan has probably the worst rear-end in the whole subcompact game (and I'm not keen on the Yaris either). Yeesh.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    The Civic I really like from the front, but I don't like the rear of the sedan at *all*. Very awkward-looking taillights.

    This is probably out there, but the Civic sedan reminds me of.... a BMW. When I look and see that it's a Civic, the illusion vanishes. But when I see it in a quick glance or out of the corner of my eye, my mind thinks BMW. It's something about the proportions and the way it sits on its wheels, I think.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I've never thought that of the Civic, but I do when I see the Mazda3.
  • prosource1prosource1 Member Posts: 234
    I have no clue how I couldn't have included the Mazda3 in that list considering I looked at one the other day. I consider the Mazda3 as equal or better than the Civic in that compact category.
  • zoomandyzoomzoomandyzoom Member Posts: 19
    Looking at the new Sentra from the rear quarter, does anyone else see a resemblance to an ION sedan? This is the only angle I notice this from.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Maybe a little because of the resemblence of the rear quarter windows, but to me it looks more like a 4/5ths scale Altima in back, and a Fusion or Maxima in front. I'm sure the Saturn wasn't Nissan's design target for the Sentra.
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    It resembles a Maxima.
    It resembles an Altima.
    It resembles an Ion.
    It resembles the new 2009 Saturn Astra.

    Every time a new car is introduced, there are a few people who proclaim "it looks just like an xxxxx".
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Except it's a good bet that the new Sentra intentionally resembles the Altima and Maxima. ;)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I got to drive the 2007 Sentra 2.0S 6MT today. It was grey with grey interior, only options were mats and mudguards--$16,555 MSRP including destination.

    The first thing I noticed was how tall the car is--much taller than the old Sentra. That and the angular styling made the car look chunky to me. I know some like that look, but I prefer the swoopier lines of the Elantra. I like the Sentra's look better with a longer wheelbase, as on the Maxima or Altima. The grey paint was about the same color as that of an Elantra SE I saw recently, so it was a good basis for comparison. The paint on the Sentra looked duller than on the Elantra. Also, the Elantra's paint was very smooth, and the Sentra had a pretty bad case of orange peel. Seams looked even, although the gaps were not as narrow as on the best in the class (including the Elantra). As on the Elantra, there were no side moldings, but they are available on the Sentra as an option. The covers on the 16" wheels looked good for plastic covers I thought--much nicer than the covers on the Elantra GLS. The Sentra's trunk is large and well-shaped and finished, and benefits from hydraulic struts that don't take up room in the trunk--and don't endanger fragile cargo. There's an optional convenience package (not on this car) that adds a trunk divider, a hidden storage compartment, a cargo net, and cargo hooks.

    The Sentra's interior is very well executed I think. The good-looking cloth fabric has knubby inserts in the centers of the seats. The fabric is grippy, comfortable, and rich looking. The instrument panel is also well done, at least as nice as that on the Elantra but with a sportier motif vs. the more luxo-look on the Elantra. The center stack is dominated by the audio system, which features a large amber display and has an integrated trip computer. So when you display mpg, for example, the numbers are HUGE on this readout. I didn't mess with the audio system, but the controls looked complicated compared to those in the Elantra. The HVAC knobs are very similar to the Elantra's (maybe even the same supplier??)--three large round knobs below the audio controls, smooth and intuitive. Then the 6-speed stick spouts from a binnacle just below the HVAC controls. Between the front seats, there's a rubberized bin for iPods etc. (there's an aux input jack on the audio face plate), two convenient cupholders (same placement as on the Elantra), and an armrest with a single storage bin (not as good as the softly-padded, dual-level armrest with storage on the Elantra). The door panels are finished better than on the Elantra, with thinly-padded upper portion (but at least they're padded), cloth inserts above the armrests, and a small storage bin (but not bottle holders as on the Elantra). There's also chrome plastic door handles to lend a snazzy touch. One negative is the rather hard arm rests; they're more thickly padded on the Elantra.

    The driver's seat has a single-lever height adjuster, as on the Elantra. However, I couldn't get enough thigh support no matter how I adjusted it. The steering column tilts but doesn't telescope; the reach was comfortable regardless. The wheel itself was plastic (leather is in the convenience package), but it was thick and felt fine in my hands. There's audio controls on the wheel; there was no cruise but it's in the convenience package (do you get the feeling you will really WANT that convenience package? I know I would--especially since you have to get it in order to get ABS). The rear seat had plenty of head room, and knee room when I was sitting behind myself (5'10"). Toe space was very good with the driver's seat raised all the way. I wanted more thigh support (not as good there as on the Elantra), but otherwise the rear was pretty comfy. There's a center armrest with cupholders back there.

    When I started out, the first few shifts caused a "clunking" sound from the shifter--similar to what I heard when I tested a Versa. But after awhile the noises disappeared, so maybe it just needed warm-up (temp was 45 F). The shifter was notchy but otherwise pretty good, with short throws. The clutch wasn't as effortless as, say, a Civic's (or the Elantra's, from test reports I've read), but it wasn't a pain to use. At 70 mph, the engine was turning at 3000 rpm--not bad for a stick, but higher than I'd expect from a 6-speed. Maybe that is why the EPA highway fuel economy is only 34, vs. 36 with the CVT. The engine growled noticeably during acceleration in any gear. Some might not like the noise; I thought it sounded sporty so I could live with it. Engine noise at cruise was minimal up to 70 mph, as fast as I went. Acceleration seemed only adequate. However, because the engine was new and the sales rep was with me, I was very gentle on the throttle. Also, I wanted to see what kind of fuel economy I could get on the 10-mile test loop, which was suburban roads and a short freeway run at 70 mph. I got 27.9 mpg by the trip computer, which I think is pretty good for a short trip in a cold car.

    The Sentra has a firm but not punishing ride. I could feel every imperfection in the road, and cracks in the freeway elicited fairly loud "thrums". These were particularly noticeable because the car otherwise was pretty quiet, with little wind noise. But the chassis is solid, and the suspension soaked up larger bumps on a washboard road quite well. I didn't really get the chance to push the car's handling, but it responded crisply to inputs and tracked straight on the freeway. There were no creaks or groans, and the only squeak was a rather annoying buzz around the driver's B pillar.

    Since I haven't driven the new Elantra yet, I can't say which car I prefer overall. I like the seating positions in the Elantra a little better, and I'd prefer a smoother ride because of the bad roads in my area. The factor that weighs most against the Sentra for me is price. Equipped with ABS (alloys come with the optional ABS on the Sentra), cruise (with the convenience package), mats, and also with fog lamps (standard on the Elantra SE), the Sentra 2.0S lists for $17,945--almost $1600 more than the Elantra SE with mats. For the extra money, you get the trunk organizer features and Bluetooth (plus IntelligentKey on the CVT model), but those aren't worth anywhere close to $1600 to me. Plus the Elantra has a much longer warranty, which is worth something to me. So when all is said and done, the Sentra will have to score significantly better than the Elantra to justify the price difference.
  • jpmccormacjpmccormac Member Posts: 98
    I hope I'm not re-posting old news but there's a rather gushingly positive review of the new 07 Sentra here:

    http://newcartestdrive.com/review-intro.cfm?Vehicle=2007_Nissan_Sentra&ReviewID=- - 1969

    Has anyone noticed the design similarity between the new Sentra and the new Chrysler Sebring?
  • v_dv_d Member Posts: 89
    "Has anyone noticed the design similarity between the new Sentra and the new Chrysler Sebring?"

    You have to be kidding me... i dont thing anyone did, and you know why? 'Cause there`s none! Look at the headlights, taillights and body line, it`s just not the same and it doesnt even resemble.

    But yes: as someone before me posted. It looks like an Altima, a Maxima and the Ion, plus the Daewoo Lacetti (if I remember right), BUT still they are not the same. If you want an identical car with the Sentra take a look at the Renault Megane (www.renault.co.uk), look at specs for de 2.0 16V engine, safety features (although the Megane does have ESP - I guess Europeans love life more than we do) and platform.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    Elantra came in 4th out of 6; Sentra came in last. Surprises were 1st place to the Rabbit, and the Sentra could not even beat out the "old" Corolla.

    Car and Driver said the Elantra roars on the highway. I will still give it a try, but that is the 2nd review (both with manuals) with that comment. What is strange is the fact that the Elantra was the quietest of all 6 cars at both idle and 70mph cruise. Maybe it is not the noise volume, but the sound of the engine itself.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I've read other reviews that noted the Elantra is a very quiet and smooth car. What could be happening is that whatever engine noise is there really stands out due to the relative quietness of the car. I experienced this effect when I drove the Sentra the other day. The car is pretty quiet in terms of wind and engine noise, and has a solid chassis. So that made the noise from hitting expansion joints on highways quite noticeable--moreso than if it happened in a noisier car I think.

    Also I think some car reviewers hear what they expect to hear. ;)
  • germancarfan1germancarfan1 Member Posts: 221
    This is in the December edition of C&D? Haven't received mine yet. A "completely" resdesigned car and the best it could muster was 4th out of 6th? yikes. Who came in second and third?
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    Just got it yesterday. The second was the Mazda3 and the third was the Civic.
  • germancarfan1germancarfan1 Member Posts: 221
    Which Elantra trim level was tested?

    What was the CD tested mileage for the Elantra as compared with the Civic/M3/Rabbit/Sentra?

    Anyone know when the CR comparo will be done?

    Somewhere in Hyundai corporate land, execs are praying for high NHTSA and IIHS scores to salvage this car.

    This doesn't bode well for the Elantra. What will happen when the 2008 Corolla and 2008/2009 Saturn Ion/Opel Astra hit the market?

    Hyundai desperately needs to drop the ancient 4-speed AUTO, revise the suspension, drop the 2.4l in, include traction control as standard and make ESC optional and keep the price the same. A few more centimeters of interior space just don't cut it in 2007 when your powerplant and chasis is sub par.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    SE. All with manual transmissions. Don't have the mag with me, but it was Corolla/Civic 1st, Elantra 3rd, Mazda 4th, Sentra 5th, Rabbit last. I will revise if I remembered incorrectly.

    All got their city or better rating except the Sentra was slightly worse. Is this a Nissan pattern along with the Versa not even getting the city EPA numbers?
  • germancarfan1germancarfan1 Member Posts: 221
    In my experience Nissan has never engineered their engines for fuel efficiency.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Hyundai desperately needs to drop the ancient 4-speed AUTO, revise the suspension, drop the 2.4l in, include traction control as standard and make ESC optional and keep the price the same. A few more centimeters of interior space just don't cut it in 2007 when your powerplant and chasis is sub par.

    Why? You haven't read the review yet, so you don't know why C/D rated the Elantra 4th. The Elantra had a five-speed stick, just like the top-ranked Rabbit (and like almost every other car in the comparo--an exception being the last-place Sentra). It has a fully-independent multi-link rear suspension like the first-place Rabbit. It has more hp per pound than the Rabbit, and more torque (with just 2 fewer hp) than the 3rd-place Civic. The 3rd-place Civic LX doesn't have traction control or ESC either (actually most of the cars in the comparo don't have these features even available let alone standard). So none of these things kept, or should have kept, the Elantra from a higher ranking in the comparo. More likely it was because C/D's editors found the ride and handling to be softer than they prefer.

    If you think Hyundai's execs are "praying", what do you think Nissan's execs are doing? Nissan is a Japan-based company; I can only imagine...
  • moparbadmoparbad Member Posts: 3,870
    Demand will exceed availability during the first year of the new Elantra.

    The only problem facing Hyundai is where to find more capacity for engines and vehicles.

    I completely disagree with you opinion germancarfan1. The market will determine who is correct.
  • v_dv_d Member Posts: 89
    In my experience Nissan has never engineered their engines for fuel efficiency.

    For the third time: THE 2.0l ENGINE IN THE SENTRA WAS DEVELOPED BY Renault ABOUT 3 YRS AGO! Not by Nissan.

    Europe=high gas prices ==> therefore this engine WAS developed for fuel efficiency, trust me, when an European goes to a Dealer his first question is not "how many horses how many horses???", but "And the fuel consumption?".
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I got my December C/D today. It's a curious review in a number of ways. Here's some odd things about it:

    * It complains that the Mazda3 they tested might be too sporty. When was the last time you saw C/D say that about any car? Also, which Mazda3 did they choose for the comparo? The Mazda3i, which has less-aggressive tires/rims and would have easily fit under their self-imposed $18k price limit? No. They chose the Mazda3s, s as in "Sport". :confuse:

    * The Mazda3 took top honors in braking, roadholding, lane change, 1/4 mile acceleration, performance, steering feel, brake feel, handling, and ride. But it was ranked below the Rabbit in "fun to drive." :confuse:

    * The Civic was top-ranked for ride, even though the review complains about the suspension being "surprisingly noisy over road impacts" and a "crisp" ride.

    Anyway, back to the subject, Elantra vs. Sentra...

    It appears they suffered the same fate. C/D is not looking for a car to do what most of us do with cars--drive around town or cruise on the interstates. No, they want a car with sporty ride (read firm) and handling so when they carve those canyons, they can have fun. And that's fine. But it's something to consider when reading the review.

    Here's what C/D said about the Elantra:

    * "Scores high on value" with the lowest price of the group
    * Nicely styled interior with "top-quality materials and details" with "sophisticated use of texture and sheen" and "sit-all-day" seats and lots of storage compartments
    * Front buckets have a "plush feel"
    * "Top marks" for space and comfort
    * Light controls and a slick shifter and clutch.
    * Smooth ride; "at metro traffic speeds the car feels agile and trusty. Grab it and go, like you're old friends."
    * Tested fuel economy was 3rd best in the test, 28 mpg (behind Civic and Corolla)
    * Noise at idle and at 70 mph cruise were lowest in the test
    * 5-60 mph (more useful in real world than 0-60) was quickest in the test

    Sounds like a car that would make an excellent commuter (especially if carrying a carpool) or family hauler. Which is what economy sedans are tasked to do by most of us. If you want sporty, there's the Mazda3--as long as you don't want too sporty! ;)

    The Sentra similarly was praised for its interior room and denigrated for lack of "driving fun." The knocks on the shifter were curious though. They said the clutch was "heavy" (although they knocked the Elantra's as maybe too light, hard to know what they like) and the shifter is limp. I found the Sentra's clutch firmer than, say, a Civic, but acceptable. The shifter was anything but limp--it was actually a little notchy, but seemed crisp to me. And the ride was if anything too firm, not "tippy" and "plush" as noted by C/D. They harped on the small door pockets (they are) but begrudingly noted all the other storage space in the car, including the HUUUGE glove box.

    The illegibility of the Sentra's gauges with polarized sunglasses was a good catch though--that could be a real problem for many drivers. I am amazed that got past Sentra's engineers.

    They like to harp on styling too, calling the Sentra's "tortured". I don't happen to like the Sentra's styling, but I think "tortured" is over the top. Besides, styling is completely subjective, so why include it in the scoring? (Other publications e.g. CR do not.)
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    Correction. I only forgot one thing that the Mazda and Sentra got the same mpg on C/D's 550 miles of testing.

    1st Civic/Corolla 33 mpg
    3rd Elantra 28
    4th Mazda3/Sentra 27
    6th Rabbit 24
  • spmrebelspmrebel Member Posts: 130
    Was that 550 miles a lot of highway or city mileage? The mileage that C/D got is on the low side of the Elantra's EPA rating of 28/36. I would have expected around 30 or maybe equal to Corolla/Civic. Was this with stick? If this is stick, it doesn't bode well at all for Elantra for its mileage.

    On Mazda was this with the 2.3L engine? Stick or auto? If auto this is pretty good considering Mazda 3 has a bigger engine, more power and low end torque.

    Still waiting for my C/D issue.
  • germancarfan1germancarfan1 Member Posts: 221
    I believe the Mazda was the 3s 5M 160HP rated at 26/33. Returning 27MPG is pretty darn good. The Elantra's mileage isn't exactly impressive for a car that has only 138HP and rated at 28/36. Though it is inline with the 25-26 MPG I get with my 2004 Elantra rated at 26/34.

    Comparing mileage costs between the Elantra and Civic, you'll be saving roughly $200 at $2.50/g for 15K miles a year. Over a 5 year period, factoring in depreciation savings with the Civic, any difference in cost between the 2 cars will evaporate quickly. Basically, since it's pretty much a wash, buy the car that you like the most.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    You are forgetting about discounts and, eventually, rebates that will be available on the Elantra. For $1000-1500 difference, I agree, it's really a wash. But for $4000 difference? And then there's the little issue of the polarizing styling of the Civic, and lack of room--if those are important.
  • sandman46sandman46 Member Posts: 1,798
    What do you mean by "polarizing style"? The only thing a little on the odd side is the short overhang of the Civics hood and longish dashboard inside up to the windshield. I personally like the look and am glad I got the sedan instead of the coupe. If I didn't have the spine problems that have been getting much worse since my accident, I would've jumped on the coupe. But the longer & heavier doors plus the somewhat claustraphobic back seat area made me go for the sedan.
    I did sit in the Elantra before I bought, but the seats for me were a deal breaker. I couldn't get comfortable and my spine really hurt just sitting in the showroom. I did my "sit test" and the only cars that passed it were the Corolla & the Civic. The Sonata seats were great for me, especially with the power function, but the size knocked it out of contention, as well as the mpg's.

    The Sandman :)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    C/D called the Civic "hugely polarizing" in their December comparo. Two quotes from their editors:

    "I dig the futuristic, artsy look."

    "I hate everything but the way it drives."

    Did you sit in the 2007 Elantra before buying your Civic?

    BTW, there is a Civic vs. Elantra discussion...
  • herotakesafallherotakesafall Member Posts: 103
    It really does have very polarizing style. Most people go into the love it/hate it category, but I'm in the middle. I think the front/side/most of the interior looks really sharp, but I think the taillight design is horrible. It's all opinion, though. It's at least an interesting enough design where I don't make fun of people who drive them. I save that for all the Five Hundreds, Tauruses, and Sebrings I see. :D
  • herotakesafallherotakesafall Member Posts: 103
    I think whatever highway noise the people are talking about is only with the Elantra manual, probably. It's still a strange comment. If you read Consumer Reports' review of the '07 Accent, they say the same thing - engine noise is very pronounced due to the gearing of the manual. I don't really understand how that works myself, but they didn't have any complaints about the automatic version. Maybe that's the case with the new auto Elantra, then.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Yes, I think that's it. But what is really odd about C/D's comments on engine noise on the Elantra is that it was the quietest car in the test at 70 mph cruise. It is actually as quiet as the 2007 Altima that they tested in the same issue. So go figure... maybe going from 70 to 72 mph triggers the screaming banshees in their cages in the engine bay, so the noise is a lot greater ;) .
  • edurighteduright Member Posts: 12
    Hi,

    I have driven all of the cars discussed in this thread many times, just recently.

    Elatra- very noisy as it goes faster, and especially with the manual at high speeds (and rpm). Automatic has a "hole" in its third gear power. Suspension hadles concret section bumps that recurr reguarly very poorly- the car bobs like a basketball being bounced fast at three feet- the stick does not have the power freeze in third gear.

    Sentra- A better engineered car than Elantra- quieter, plushish ride with good handling- less taut than my Corolla-
    suprisingly smoothe and quet ride in the Sentra- feels a bit too plush to corner well, but it does- seems to be a better seat/leg fit to use pedals than Corolla, but neither car has tilt telescope steering; the Elantra does.

    Corolla- My Corolla LE averages 31 to 34.5 mpg. depending on AC use, etc. But unlike the other cars, it does not have active head restraint system- stability control is an option but there were only three cars produced this way and I think that two of them are in Bosnia (tisk-tisk) The ride is a bit noisy and taut, but it is comfortable compared to a Mazda 3 or 6 THe Corolla is an amazing 1.8 engine driven car. Only the Civic can match its MPG.

    Civic- annoying reflection in winshield of dashboard- rough riding car on bumps- you can hit the ceilng on bigger ones!
    I am tall.... So-so acceleration, Good MPG. HMM, the Civic might not have active head restraints??? Not impressed by the Civic at all. Ride is not very good- too taut, stiff, nervous...............

    Gas prices are going to rise again, and low mpg. cars will become more and more unattractive- in Britain they may be heavily taxed soon....
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    ... the car bobs like a basketball being bounced fast at three feet...

    That was an exaggeration, right? Like the Corollas in Bosnia?

    So you are saying the Elantra is "very noisy" even with the automatic? At what speed does the automatic Elantra get "very noisy"?

    FYI, the Civic does have active front head restraints.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    Strange observations on your Corolla as all auto reviews have always said soft suspension and rather poor handling. The 1.8 is smooth gets great mpg, but is not a performer when compared to the Civic. A person may not like the looks (exterior or dash) of the Civic, and may think the road noise a bit much, but otherwise it dominates the Toyota in every other way. Much better handling, manual shifter is better, modern less fluffy interior, better seating position, better standard safety equipment, cruise/stereo controls on steering wheel, and auxillary input. It also has better resale value.

    Wonder why the Civic is selling for near sticker and the Corolla is going for under invoice? No wonder Toyota delayed the new 2008 Corolla to make sure they can get it right as even the new one may not be much of a competitor for the present Civic.

    So from the reviews so far it looks like the Elantra may outdo the Corolla as it is more luxurious, spacious, with a soft ride even if it is noisy at higher speeds with lower mpg. The Sentra it appears can't compete well even with the old veterans in this segment.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    you folks are probably looking for the Economy Sedans (~$16k-$20k) discussion.

    We're comparing the 2007 Elantra and Sentra here.

    :)
  • edurighteduright Member Posts: 12
    In my opinion, the Corolla does not handle all that badly. It is a little sporty, and holds the road OK. I was not impressed with the "sportiness" of the Civic- it does not have the power to be sporty, except perhaps with a stick shift???

    I liked a lot about the Elantra manual version. It has a funny problem with floating and choppiness that kind of ruins its otherwise smoothe ride and decent, but not at all inspird, handling (in the non-Sport modlel). I drove a Sport automantic- it may have handled a bitt better. Not sure.

    THe Elantra automatic is a bit quieter than the manual when going over 72 MPH on the highway. THe manjuall gets super noisy abouve that, and if I remember right, the automatic gets almost as noisy as you hit 80. My Corlaa is quieter, in spoite of what you see in the ratings on noise in C ar and Driver's Dec. 06 edition, which I just read.

    I agree with the C&D remark on "New Car Smell" in the Corolla.
    Toyota is into non-toxic interiors, but I doubt if this is the case with the Corolla. Probably on more expensive models there is less toxic plastics and fabrics???

    See www.ecocenter.org for info on toxic car interiors. Your new car is probably more toxic than a new home! Hyundai, as a fleet, has the worst plastic toxin rating, by the way.

    I like the Quiet and plush ride of the new Sentra, but it really does not handle all that well. THe Altima is a nicer and sportier car, just too big and heavy for good MPG. Better MPG ratings for Sentra and Altima in 07 models, but I don't necessarily believe the EPA on this.

    The big reason I got the Corolla was tthe MPG and decent ride- slightly sporty too. I could not hack the Mazda 3s tautness of ride. Same with the Jetta (may be more noise than tautness), and the (bigger) Passat.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Hyundai, as a fleet, has the worst plastic toxin rating, by the way.

    According to the info on www.ecocenter.org, Hyundai leads the auto industry in having the lowest PBDE emissions, but is ranked low on phthalates. So your statement seems like it would apply more to Chrysler, or maybe Toyota, which ranked low in both categories.

    Anyway, do you happen to know the plastic toxic ratings for the 2007 Elantra and Sentra?
  • eldainoeldaino Member Posts: 1,618
    While the comment of the sentra looking like a previous generation elantra seems to be pulled out of a very ugly hat, I know what nodule is saying; its lines are cury in a undefineable way; like if someone took an eraser and smudged out the edges. Its weird but its the first thing i noticed about it. Oh and the civic does have a trip computer.(more unfounded nothingness.)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Oh and the civic does have a trip computer.(more unfounded nothingness.)

    Nothingness as in off topic?
  • eldainoeldaino Member Posts: 1,618
    its not true
This discussion has been closed.