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Hyundai Elantra: Reviews & News from the Pros (Edmunds, C/D, CR, MT etc.)
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Comments
Uninspiring?
Look at the top-selling sedans: Camry, Accord, Corolla, Civic, Impala, Malibu, etc. Not many unique styling exercises there, including Hyundai's own Sonata. Hyundai made the '06 Sonata more mainstream in styling, and what happened? Sales surged (of course, the whole car was better than the old one).
Anyway, styling is subjective. I like it just fine.
The rest of the article was pretty positive overall I thought. I noticed they didn't mention engine noise as have some other reviews--I wonder why? Also interesting were the notes about future Bluetooth availability--first I had seen that--and the fact that Elantras with XM radio have been built since mid-October (none of the cars I saw today at my dealer seemed to have XM, but I suppose they were all built more than a month ago). Also the note about supply constraints keeping shipments to the U.S. below 100k was interesting--that could mean HMA won't have rebates on the Elantra as big as in the past, when they were trying to sell more of them.
I thought this comment was curious:
In response to complaints from owners of previous-generation Elantras, the new car abounds with storage cubbies, including a dash compartment, seatback pockets, rear cupholders and a dual-level armrest with ample space inside.
What's odd about it is the only significant difference in storage cubbies between the 2007 Elantra and the previous generation is the little lidded compartment on top of the dash. But my '04 Elantra has a lidded compartment in the middle of the dash, below the radio, so I don't see any significant advantage there.
My, my, how far Hyundai has come in such a short period of time. Famous for bringing the original disposable car to Canada (the Pony), it has blossomed into a full-fledged company with an enviable array of products.
A handling complement :surprise:
Where the Elantra does surprise is its ability to carve a corner. I expected it to heel over and feel skittish - it does roll gently into the corner, but skittish it is not. Credit the car's well-calibrated suspension and meaty 205/55R16 tires. On a bang-for-the-buck basis, the Elantra is tops in this category.
quote-
Then there's the new Hyundai Elantra.
From the very first minute, this car like wearing socks with sandals.
The seats are flat rather than flattering, the steering wheel has all the tactile feel of a garden hose and as you attempt to drive off you find the accelerator pedal is touchier than a domino expert at the end of a long day.
-end quote
Where is the ESP for USA?
you might as well post a review of Chinese version of Elantra, as I'm sure they are even worse.
The changes in the Elantra for the Australia market are minor for the most part, not major.
They have the same engineering, are built in the same assembly plant, use the same materials, the same 2.0L engine.
you might as well post a review of Chinese version of Elantra, as I'm sure they are even worse.
Really? The steering wheel may be on the wrong side, however, the review is relevant to the US Elantra.
I'm very disappointed you did not find the review to your liking. :P
http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,20707994-5003140,00.html
And there are lots of other differences in Elantras from one country to another, besides steering feel and airbags and ESC. For example, the old Korean-spec XD got heated seats, active front headrests, automatic climate control, a nav option, rear-seat center armrest, and a bunch of other stuff the '01-'06 Elantra didn't get in the U.S.
The most important comment in the whole (original) review was this one, IMO:
... indeed, amid the mundanity of everyday driving, the car's failings would hardly be noticeable.
Meaning for people who buy the car to do with it what people who own compact economy cars do, it's a good choice--which the reviewer finally comes out and says at the end of the follow-up report:
For those who simply have to have a new, family-ish-sized car, but don't want to spend a lot of money, the new and improved Elantra is an obvious option.
Did the Elantra get crashed DURING the review? No.
The number of airbags is not going to affect the way the car drives.
I disagree about the airbags contributing to feeling cheap.
I also disagree that the car feels cheap overall. There are only two small items in the interior that I would consider cheaply or poorly done. The storage compartment on the top center of the dash and the storage compartment on the center console (below the climate controls) opening mechanisms both felt cheap to me.
I'm fully aware of the class that Elantra is in and it's competitors Corolla, Mazda3, Sentra, Rabbit, Cobalt at similar price points have certain items that may be improved upon.
I like the Elantra and am a fan of several recent Hyundai products, yet I am not so thin skinned that I am offended when viewpoints not worshiping Hyundai products are made.
The only car in this class that I feel would be offending to own would be the Cobalt. Cobalt (or Crapbolt) is the topic of a different discussion....
If it looks like a current-gen Corolla, it's the best-looking Corolla I've ever seen. No Corolla has the upswept greenhouse in back, the windows behind the rear doors, and the wave-ish character line on the sides. No Corolla has the aggressive front-end styling of the Elantra. Someday I wish Hyundai would make a car with six wheels, a lightbar across the front end, and a huge fin on top of the car. It would look hideous, but no one would say, "It looks just like [name of Japanese car]."
BTW, the comment about some plastics not finding their way into a Civic is because the platics in the Elantra are far too tasteful to fit in the Civic's weird interior.
While the review was overwhelmingly positive, the comment about tricky clutch engagement was puzzling, since no other review--professional or otherwise--I have read about the car have mentioned that. In fact other reviews have praised the smooth clutch and shifter. So I wonder if Edmunds got car with a glitch in the clutch?
There is no such thing as a completely original set of ideas. Humans tend to favor recognizable influences. This happens in all areas - car design, arts, music, etc. Comparisons are made to Corolla because people recognize Toyota as a quality manufacturer. VW's gauge lighting has been copied by virtually every car maker to some extent over the last 6 years. The reason for this is simple - people like it.
...is also noted. As is the interior plastics that woud never find their way into a civic
I read the review twice, and must have missed that comment. Could you site that reference for me, or did it come from another review elsewhere? Here is what Edmunds did say about Elantra's interior.
the 2007 Hyundai Elantra has a cabin with a surprising combination of good design and good materials.
and
Hyundai hasn't got the image Honda has in the U.S., but once you take a test-drive, you'll realize that the Korean company is trying hard to deliver the same spirit of practicality and fun that you find in every Honda Civic.
In fact, the only time any form of the word "cheap" appears in a comparison with the Civic can be found here:
Consider that the '07 Elantra SE is:
$580 cheaper than a comparably equipped Civic LX ($16,960)
Just for the record, I have had 3 Civics, and all of them had cheap plastic interiors. (Although at least one of them had decent cupholders )
Quite positive overall, and in some ways contrary to what Car and Driver says in their comparions review. They praised Elantra's handling, and also liked how it drove at 80 mph on the highway, with 5-speed manual.
drving 80mph anyway? Last time I checked, its illegal!
Also, very unsafe and irresponsible, im my opinion.
Speed Limit Sign
I'm in Chicagoland and while the posted highway limit is 55, traffic usually moves at either 70+ or 15-. Hitting 80 is not hard to do if one simply opts to go with the flow.
Illegal? Sorta. Usafe? Not really; it's just cruising along the freeway, at a speed comfortable for me and the car.
Irresponsible? Completely subjective.
Anyone read any more reviews or reports on the Elantra you'd care to share?
In short, the reviewer says Elantra is an excellent car, except for the styling.
To be honest, 2007 Elantra looked a little out of ordinary at my first glance(especially from either side), but the more I look at it, I find it rather surprising to realize myself that it does have an understated, unassuming look to it.
Perhaps Hyundai feared that giving it a venturous styling could be more of a risk than a benefit?
Keep in mind that the Sentra, praised by the cars.about.com review, was roundly bashed by C/D et. al. for its styling. And we all know how hard it is to sell cars that have boring styling. Look at the sedan sales leaders, what do you see? Cars with pedestrian styling like Accord, Corolla, Camry (more daring for 2007 but it sold great with more mundane styling), Impala, and Malibu. Hmm, maybe Hyundai saw a trend there?
http://www.autoweb.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_in- t/2243
Again full of praises and few complaints. Loud engine noise under (hard) acceleration is mentioned, but that's about it. (Styling sure seems to be a subjective matter after all)
Having blue lighting is not a bad thing. I know you like inserting words here and there, but i didnt even insinutate that its a bad thing. Copying vw is lame imo. The civic has blue lighting, but it doens't copy vw.
Theres no need for me to be lectured on familiarity and why people imitate certain ideas because they are well recevied. I have mentioned before that hyundai just has a really obvious trend of doing so with many of thier vehicles, more so than other brands in my eyes.
I agree-especially if it means copying VW's lame fuel economy, thrashy 5-cylinder engine, or poor reliability. I've noticed from photos of the Elantra's gauge cluster that it actually looks nothing like the Rabbit's gauge cluster. Since other cars such as the Civic have blue lighting too, I'm not sure how it can be claimed that Hyundai copied VW with the Elantra's blue lighting. It's not like VW invented blue dash lighting--or did they?
I know you will bring this up, about how copying VW is lame, the next time someone we know suggests that Hyundai copy VW and offer ESC and traction control on the Elantra.
Don't bring up traction conrol, if the elantra offered it it would be a nice addition.
As far as fuel ecomomy goes, a lot of rabbit owners are getting much better than sticker, including myself. Remember i used to own an 06 civic, it took a lot to sway me, i know what good fuel ecomomy is and the rabbit does good for a car of this weight and engine displacement and amount of cylinders. I know you have said you have driven the rabbit, but the engine is hardly thrashy, it actually very very smooth and since both the elantra and rabbits engines are iron blocks, you can rest assured that a smaller engine is going to have to work harder and thus as a general rule of thumb, be louder and whinier. The vw is not thrashy, its far from it. My rabbit has held up very well. No reliabilty problems at all. You cant call it unreliable in the here and now, because you are judging the previous generation, not the rabbit.
Unfortunately, if the Elantra offered traction control standard, some review or some poster here would say that they copied VW (since I believe the Rabbit/Jetta is the only car in this class to offer traction control standard even on the base models, isn't it?) and there we are all over again--more "lameness" from Hyundai, right?
I get much better than sticker on my Elantra in fuel economy too. Big whoop. And it's other reviewers (MT for example) that call the Rabbit's engine thrashy.
I didn't call the Rabbit unreliable--I referred to VW's reliability overall or lack thereof.
To be honest with you i wouldn't have thought them lame. Traction control is going to be like airbags soon; it would have been nice to see hyundai on the same boat. I honestly wouldn't have seen that as lame. Such and angry post backster. Just go and drive your way. :P
Here's what some professional reviewers said (getting back to the topic):
The exterior upgrades include distinctive headlamps, bold hood design, chrome accented grille, an aggressive looking lower air intake and new fog lights.
http://www.carlist.com/newcars/2007/ncr1161.html
The upside-down trapezoidal grille, combined with canted headlamps and a narrow lower intake give the car an unusually aggressive look...
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Hyundai/review/2007-hyundai-elantra-preview/18- 51/
Also, let's remember to not make these exchanges personal.
Thanks.
Admittedly, no. I have mentioned this in the Civic vs. Elantra post previously, but I have owned the following:
95 CX Hatch
01 DX Sedan w/air
99 LX Sedan (currently driving)
The only one of those without really cheap plastics is the 99. The 01 plastic dash was scratched by my wife's engagement ring the first week we got it and it was not repairable. I have not driven the 06 or 07 yet. I don't care for the exterior design of the sedan, and a coupe is not practical enough for me. Also, a bad quality/service experience has forced me to no longer consider Honda a top rated manufacturer. For the full story, please visit Civic vs. Elantra post #1421.
Honda isn't known for cheap plastics. Ever.
Again, I site that two of my three, which are all fairly recent (I'm not comparing to 1974 early civic, which probably also had cheap plastics). I'm sure that Hyundai has used cheap plastics in the interior in past generations as well. I have sat in and examined the 07 Elantra, and I don't see a great deal of "cheap" plastics used, but maybe you and/or the reviewers did. Okay, we each have our own opinion.
Theres no need for me to be lectured on familiarity and why people imitate certain ideas because they are well recevied. I have mentioned before that hyundai just has a really obvious trend of doing so with many of thier vehicles, more so than other brands in my eyes.
Sorry if it came across that way, my point was just that even ideas that have been recorded as most effective in history were influenced by previous ones.
I'm sorry that this is what has made you no longer like hondas as much, initially it sounds like a stupid reason that could only be on a few dealers, but i understand.
I have not driven the 06 or 07 yet. I don't care for the exterior design of the sedan, and a coupe is not practical enough for me.
again i think you should take a look into the sedan with a darker interior, its tremendously nice. I love the way the new civic looks, it just grows no you, very adventerous design.
I'm not sure I understand this response - did you read the entire post? Because I don't consider a major transmission problem to be stupid. Just so you know, though, I did bring that car to four different dealers, none of whom were able to address the problem to my satisfaction. I contacted Honda's corporate office and they also could not identify the problem or assist me with service departments. Eventually, I decided to cut my losses and trade the car.
again i think you should take a look into the sedan with a darker interior, its tremendously nice. I love the way the new civic looks, it just grows no you, very adventerous design.
The interior design is not what bothers me. I do not like the look of the sedan's exterior. I feel it is out of proportion (the windshield comes down too far forward).
Thanks for the input, though!