2007 Hyundai Elantra

snakeweasel

Hold on to your Elantra for a few more years, from my understanding Hyundai will be coming out with a couple more models and you will have more choices.

FWIW I am holding onto mine until it falls apart I want to see how many miles I can get on it.

mikey24

Any news on engines and transmissions.

snakeweasel

Well they are supposed to be coming out with a minivan that has a 242 hp 3.8 liter V-6. My guess it will have a 4 speed auto with shiftronic.

There has been some buzz on a 2.7 V-6 for the Elantra and a 200hp power plant for the Accent. but I wouldn't hold your breath for either one. Not sure what they will have for transmission but I hope for a 5 speed manual.

They are supposed to be coming out with a cross over vehicle. Not sure if that report is for real.

I also heard that they will put a supercharged version of the Azeras 3.8 in the Elantra. Naw just funning ya. :P

joe97

The crossover is still on target, if I recall. It will strike similarities to the Portico concept; likely to have 6 speed tranny (also the case for the "EN" - Santa Fe's brother - 3.8 V6 base and perhaps a new optional V8, either that or on the RWD sedan, or both).

w9cw

Here's the link for the new Hyundai Entourage minivan. It looks good.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/availablesoon/entourage.aspx

gy563

http://nboard.naver.com/nboard/read.php?board_id=car_korea&page=3&nid=3468

gy563

http://nboard.naver.com/nboard/read.php?board_id=car_korea&nid=3495
It looks nice :P

pocono35

I believe the Elantra center stack is the new Kia Optima center stack as well. Looked at one the other day and there is a huge resemblance, if I remember. The Elantra interior looks very upscale...nice!

backy

IMO there is a big difference between the Optima's and Elantra's center stacks. The only faint resemblance is that the air vents are positioned in about the same place, otherwise the look is much different, especially how the Elantra's stack seems to bulge at the top. The audio system is much different also. The Optima's stack has a more retro look to me, the Elantra's is more angular and modern.

pocono35

Ok....i just stopped by a dealership when I saw the Optima and peeked in it. I thot since there is so much platform sharing that maybe they swapped. Thanks.

carfax

They have come out with the mini van, because they are here in Canada now. Have one on display at one of the malls and going on sale or probably be able to order one 1st of April. The wife seen one at the mall and the sign said you could order yours starting the 1st of April, so they are going to be on sale soon in your area. It had power everything and a 5 speed shiftronic tranny in it. It had every option Hyundai puts in it for $38,000 list price.
Interested in the 2007 Elantra when it gets here and their new pickup they are talking about in 2009 or if it doesn't become a reality then maybe the van at that time. :confuse:

mike_belknap

Here's the first official image of the '07 Elantra.

Mike

jjx456

Photo is not loading on my computers.

snakeweasel

Interested in the 2007 Elantra when it gets here

I just want them to make the Elantra Station Wagon again.

azera25

I got a 2003 elantra which I love and its about time for me to switch up. The 2007 pic is really nice, but I wish I could see the rest of the car. So far it looks really clean. I hope the rest of the car is as impressive!

joe97

Click on the link...see if that works for you.

The car looks great, so far...I like it

jjx456

Yes, that worked, thanks Joe. I like it too, from what you can tell from that little tease. Hope you can still get a hatch. The wheels in that photo seem to fill the wheel wells much better than those in the blurry Korean photo. Maybe the U.S. gets bigger wheels/tires.

dan42

Anyone else here that the new Elantra with debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show. Saw the new Kia optima today, from the looks of the online sneak peak photos of the new 07' Elantra, it has similar lines as the new Kia Optima. I assume that the Elantra will have some different cosmetic features to set it apart from the new Kia Optima. The Kia Optima actually felt big inside compared to the new civic and corrolla. The pricing of the new Kia Optima is near the Hyundai Sonata. I sure hope that the pricing of the new Elantra will be lower than the Sonata, cause I thing the Sonata has much more car for the dollar.

joe97

The Optima should be much larger than Civic/Corolla (I haven't sat in the new one yet but it should be larger than the outgoing model. The Optima is classified as a midsize; while Civic and Corolla slot one below as compact size. Believe it or not, the Elantra is also classified as midsize (Sonata being large) so it is one class above the Civic/Corolla. The new Elantra should follow suit and one-up the current model (in size).

And, the Elantra is all but set to debut in New York.

backy

The Optima is almost as big inside as the Sonata, which is classed as a large car based on interior room, so it should feel huge compared to the Civic and Corolla. But the Optima LX starts in the same price range as the Civic!

Based on the few pics I've seen of the 2007 Elantra, and close-up inspection of the Optima, I have to say I think there is zero resemblance, inside and out, between the two cars. Front, rear, profile, interior--all much different.

dan42

Anyone heard when the new 07 Elantra will be released. I read in the Sonata forums that the 07 Sonata will be out this May or June. Wondering if they will release the 07 elantra the same time. Seems that Hyundai is doing a good job on keeping the new 07 Elantra under cover. I spoke with a couple of local dealers and it sounds like there lots are over supplied with the 06 Elantras. Wonder if Hyundai will wait until the 06 Elantra inventory goes down before the release of the 07.

backy

Prior Hyundai press releases have stated a late 2006 release for the 2007 Elantra. Given they have to launch three other new models (2007 Accent 3-door, Entourage, Santa Fe) this spring and summer, I don't think we'll see the new Elantra before fall--late fall is my guess.

doohickie

Here's the first official image of the '07 Elantra.

Mike

Let's see if this works:

z9z9z9z9

> The wheels in that photo seem to fill the wheel wells much better
> than those in the blurry Korean photo. Maybe the U.S. gets bigger
> wheels/tires.

The wheels, tires, and road surface on the teaser pic are "photoshopped." I'm sure the production model will have normal size wheels and tires.

backy

I like the look, but I am sad to see there are no side moldings to ward off dings. That is one of the good things about the current Elantra. I guess Hyundai is taking a page from Toyota's book there. I don't like that trend.

If the panel gaps are not touched-up, they are incredibly tight.

shado4

Wow...that looks sharp! Much more stylish than my '02 Elantra. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it.

iluvmysephia1

yep, I don't like that trend, either, to leave off door mouldings like Toyota is on the 2007 Toyota Yaris. It doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for the small sedan but how much would it cost them to slap moulding on the sides?

I have put mouldings on my Kia's and would consider doing that to the Yaris if I buy one and can find an exact color match. The internet is great for finding these things. Should already be included on the rig, though.

BTW-this new '07 Hyundai Elantra looks good in the small amount we can see there.

naejae

Time to add my two cents: I didn't know much about Hyundai (the only thing I did know was that they had a bad rep many years ago). Went to a dealership looking for a nice looking reasonably priced car. I was sold on the 2006 Elantra for the warranty and the exterior styling. I purchased the vehicle and what do you know--less than two weeks later someone violently runs me off the road! I hit a median and the car completely flipped over a few times and landed upside down. What I'm here to say is this accident happened a little over a week ago (3/31/06) and I'm living to tell the story! Although the car is totalled, :sick: I only had a few scrapes and bruises. The car saved my life! Everyone (including me) thinks it's a miracle. As soon as the insurance business is worked out I'm buying the same car again and even convinced a few non-believing friends to give the Elantra a try too. It's really a GREAT car! :shades:

doohickie

Wow, that was close! I can't say I'm surprised, though. I post to another board of just Elantra owners and there has been a run of accidents lately and happy to say, no serious injuries.

backy

And the 2007 Elantra will have standard side curtains and ABS, which will up the safety quotient. I wonder if ESC will be offered, even as an option?

w9cw

In the industry, this is called "decontenting." A bit of an awkward word, but it's the word used by those in the know. The elimination of mouldings, as well as other items, seems to be endemic right now. It seems "penny wise and pound foolish" to me however.

iluvmysephia1

yeah, I know a penny saved is a penny earned, but Toyota is how much in the billions in reserves now?

To me it cheapens an image of a carmaker more than helps them. Then again, I'm not sure I really like the look of cars with the mouldings on the sides, either. I have heard that argument before, like with a Scion tC, somebody was talking about the lack of door mouldings and the other poster let them have it. They couldn't believe that someone was going to ruin a nice looking car with something like door mouldings.

However, the Toyota Yaris sedan is one that body-colored door mouldings would work on, IMO. If I bought one I'd either buy my own moulding and stick it on(I put it on both of my Kia's so far)myself or have a change in thinking on it and just park out of shopping cart ding reach. At work I must park in a parking garage with not much room between cars. Workers do watch the door swings, though, which is commendable.

I would just always be paranoid of a cart or door ding in my Yaris sedan. I would alter where I would park to save from dings and dents, that I would!

backy

Yes, I am familiar with decontenting. I first remember hearing that term wrt the Civic, either 5th or 6th gen. There was a review of it and one of the things that was mentioned was how Honda was taking costs out of it by doing things like using a lower thread count in the back seat fabric than in the front seat. There are signs of decontenting all over, e.g. use of painted plastic interior door pulls even in $20-30k cars like the Sonata and Azera. I mean, how much can a metal door pull cost? And it's one of the things that a shopper will notice immediately, and one of the things an owner will notice every day they own the car. Cut costs where we don't notice them, not on obvious stuff like side moldings and door pulls and gauges.

dan42

What can we expect for gas mileage on the new 07 Elantra. Will it be better than the 4 cyl Sonata. Also wondering what type of performance the engine will have. Are they going to offer a V-6 in the new Elantra? The new Kia Optima offers a 4 and 6 cylinder.

mike_belknap

Here are some more shots:
Front 1
Front 2
Rear

Highlights:
+2.0-liter 138-horsepower 4-cylinder engine

+standard front, seat-mounted side-impact, & side curtain airbags; active head restraints & antilock brakes (ABS)

+Best-in-class passenger space: 112.1 cu.ft. total interior volume (greater than Acura TL); 14.2 cu.ft. trunk

+2.2" taller, 2.0" wider

+Best-in-class ride according to Hyundai

+Launch fall 2006

azera25

Sweet

snakeweasel

Scuttlebutt has the Elantra getting an optional 2.7 Liter V-6 in the future. Will it come to be is another thing.

backy

The shadows on the pics make it hard to see details, but it looks good--more like the Gen 2 Elantra than the Gen 3.

I am REALLY disappointed in the engine--it looks to be the engine used in the current Elantra. That is ridiculous, given that Hyundai has a whole line of new engines, with better power, fuel efficiency, and long-term reliability to choose from. Even DC is using these new designs in their 2007 models, e.g. the Caliber. Why can't Hyundai?? Who needs a V6 in the car? Just drop a decent I4 into it, maybe the new 2.0L as the base engine and the Sonata's 2.4L as the "GT" option.

snakeweasel

While a newer engine would be nice there isn't much wrong with the current one. Gas mileage could be better (and from what I hear it is currently better than mine from 2000), but the car is more than adequately powered and in almost 135K miles only cost me about $200 in non routine maintenance. I have to say I am really satisfied with that engine.

w9cw

Well, it looks like the Elantra has been "decontented" too, just as the 2007 Camry. No side mouldings on this in the photo either . . . it certainly looks like it's the trend in many new cars.

backy

The new Elantra is larger and I bet it is heavier than the current model. Keep in mind your 2000 Elantra is significantly lighter than even the 2001-2006 Elantras, let alone the 2007 Elantra. 138 hp and especially the EPA ratings (automatic, 32 mpg on the highway) are no longer competitive in this segment (cf. Civic, 140 hp and 30/40 mpg; Mazda3i 150 hp). Also the Beta engine is not a model of smoothness. It's time Hyundai started using those new engines that it has worked so hard to develop.

doohickie

+2.2" taller

I hope they put a 25 mm rear sway bar on it then. The current gen rolls too much already.

I'm glad I bought a 2005. If I want a Corolla, I'll buy a Toyota nameplate. A lot of what I like about my Elantra are the things that set it apart from the competition, not the similarities. I'm really disappointed with the new styling.

I just hope there is an attractive hatchack option at some point.

snakeweasel

The current Elantra is about 6% heavier than the 2000 MY but according to the EPA city mileage increased by 12.5%. My Elantra (automatic) gets about 34 MPG highway (60-65mph) even though the EPA rates it at 30 and its very close in weight to the current MY. I will have to ask my daughter if she knows what her 2002 gets.

But you have to remember that I did mention that it could get better mileage and that it would be nice to have a newer engine.

But as for reliability, it would be hard to beat mine, it has been the most reliable engine I have ever had.

ekpyrosis

I'm also somewhat disappionted that the same 2.0 engine will be installed in the new Elantra. But I heard the
new Elantra will be lighter than the current one although
the size will be larger than ever. Then the same engine
will not be terribly bad option, :confuse: and I think there'll be some improvement both in performance and fuel efficiency.

mike_belknap

A new Elantra hatchback was spotted in Australia a couple of days ago....

Mike

snakeweasel

I just hope there is an attractive hatchback option at some point.

No, they should abandoned the hatchback altogether and (are you listening Hyundai?) bring back the station wagon.

backy

Most hatchbacks today are styled like wagons anyway, so you may get your wish. The current Elantra is an exception with its fastback styling.

pocono35

I was hoping to see the Elantra follow the Audi-esque styling of the Sonata rather than the Buick styling of the Azera. The Sonata has a clean and fresh appearance. The new Elantra is too Corolla-ish......and that is a bad thing when the new Corolla is going to be radically changed. Toyota delayed it 6 mos to change styling because of the contemporary styling on the new Civic. I just don't like what Hyundai has done with this car or the Accent and I think they missed an opportunity to get on the platform with the Civics, Corolla's and 3's of this segment. Unfortunately, they are now relegated to the audience with the Spectra's, Lancers, Cobalt's. I am telling you, they just missed it on this one!! :mad:

fmko

After looking at the pics posted here, it looks like an updated corrolla, why must automakers copy that ugly style for a compact car, instead of copying the Mazda3 for example.

snakeweasel

Most hatchbacks today are just small cars with the roofs stretched back a bit, not like true wagons.