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I drove a GLS automatic. It was the only car they had available to test drive. The salesman was quick to tell me that Elantras were selling right off the incoming list and were in very short supply.
My main areas of concers were what I've read as negatives in reviews. First, weird steering feel, and second suspension concerns...i.e. jittery ride, etc.
Here are my pro/con list from my driving impressions:
Pro: Very upscale interior for a car that stickers at $18500. Elegant HVAC controls look like they were pulled from a much more expensive car. I normally hate beige interiors, but the beige in the Elantra is actually more like a mid-2000's VW Passat beige, in other words a darker more butterscotch color, not light tan like Americans expect. For what it's worth, our VW clients (used to sell them) hated the more buttery beige at the time...don't know if it will be a problem for Hyundai like it was for us. I thought the two-tone treatment and upscale-feeling and looking cloth seats helped out, and I actually found myself liking the beige interior. The Cruze and Mazda3 come closest to the Elantra inside than anything else I've seen so far in a small car. VW should be ashamed of themselves. If I still sold VWs, I would not want to have much time inside an Elantra--depressing.
Pro: Roomy back seat! Holy cow! I checked out a Focus today, and didn't even drive it because to my dismay, the rear legroom was horrible. The Elantra has very surprising rear seat room. Having a young one, I also appreciate the harder seat backing on the front seats--very durable versus little girl feet. If you want a small sedan and have kids in car seats, look no further.
Pro: Smooth automatic and plenty of acceleration. I was surprised at how smooth the automatic transmission shifted. Hardly knew it was there. I'm a confirmed stick shift fan, but I could live with this automatic. Unlike most small 4-cylinders, the autobox doesn't kill this car. Nice job.
Pro: Styling. I have read some criticism that it's too over the top. On the contrary. Gorgeous. Looks expensive.
Con: Beltline too high. All cars are going this way and it annoys me. Pretty soon we're all going to be driving cars with the visibility of an Audi TT. Not the end of the world, but our 2009 Honda did a better job here. The beltline felt lower.
Con: Steering. While not absolutely awful, it was very vague and artificial feeling. Little to no road feel or feedback. The electric steering in the Cruze is far superior, for instance. The steering in my current DD, a Mazda5, is also much better.
Far more pros than cons. If you have never driven a car with really good steering, you might not even care that it sucks in the Elantra. It's liveable for someone who doesn't know better. All in all, a fantastic car. I'd own one as is and learn to live with the tiller. Super strong value proposition for $18k range, assuming you wait a little while until supply catches up to where you can haggle a little. Good job, Hyundai. Very impressive. This car is going to sell WELL.
If you go to myhyundai.com, I think you can download the manuals from them. I know GM does this as well with most of their cars. No need for a paper manual anymore with a free download.
That's about 17% off of Edmunds TMV for a new one.
Likes:
* Comfortable driving position, with good thigh support. Armrests are nicely padded. Thick wheel adjusts for tilt and reach.
* Roomy back seat (although no one had to ride back there during my rental, I checked out the seating anyway). Trunk is roomy for a small car also, and there's a remote lid release on the key fob.
* Quiet interior. Engine was normally very quiet and only a muted growl when pressed. Not much wind noise although there was a stiff breeze sometimes. The most noticeable noise was the slap of tires on expansion joints etc., but those were pretty muted also.
* Smooth ride. I need to see how it is on the frost-heaved roads where I live, however.
* Fuel economy: I averaged 33.1 mpg per the computer for my rental. Given that a lot of the time was spent on city streets and stopped in traffic jams and stoplights, I think that is pretty good. On my drive from the airport to the hotel, about 10 miles and almost all freeway, the computer showed 42 mpg when I got off the freeway.
* Styling: unique styling inside and out, which I mostly like, except it does make entry tougher than on taller cars and cuts rear headroom a bit.
* Controls: Mostly have a quality feel. I'm not a fan of the chrome plastic round knobs for temperature and fan, however. They feel cheap to me compared to HVAC knobs on other cars (like on my Sentra) that have rubber grips and have smoother operation. I did appreciate the buttons on the wheel to control the trip computer. I've always wondered why that control is usually someplace that is hard to reach when driving. I also appreciated the blue illumination on almost every button. And there's a temperature gauge vs. the idiot light common in economy cars these days.
* Transmission: Very smooth for a conventional automatic. Not quite as smooth as a CVT, though.
Dislikes:
* Steering: There's a disconnected feel to the steering, i.e. if I moved the wheel a bit, I had a feeling that it wasn't doing anything. The car tracked straight and didn't require constant corrections, just a little "looseness" in the steering. So I could live with it.
* "Reverb": This is hard to explain and will sound strange, but I thought the car made an odd noise when it went over bumps. The noise sounded to me as if there's this strong metal box, and someone is tapping the box with a padded mallet. Not a loose sound, or obnoxious, just something I don't hear in other cars.
* Radio display: It's slanted up with no shade, so it was sometimes washed out by the sun.
* Center dash vents: They're placed low on the dash, but the main problem was they are small--too small for Texas heat IMO.
* A few cheap bits: Overall the interior quality was good, but there were a few cheap bits e.g. sun visors (not illuminated on this car, that's an option) and cheap plastic accent panels on the doors (cloth inserts are an option). The wheel covers were tolerable but not Hyundai's best effort... might need the optional alloys. Also I was sorry to see the Reset button gone from the clock--I always liked that feature on Hyundais.
The bottom line is, I would consider this car when it's time to replace my Sentra in a couple of years. But I wouldn't be willing to pay much more than for a car like the Sentra. The Elantra is a nice compact, but IMO doesn't have a significant advantage over the Sentra in ride, handling, interior room, driving position, real-world fuel economy, controls/displays, NVH, or materials quality. And the Sentra is about $3000-4000 less these days than a comparable Elantra GLS. Of course, the premium pricing we see on the Elantra today could be gone in two years.
OTOH, within two years there will be a new Sentra. And I look forward to driving the new Impreza also.
36mpg going from Florida to N.C. (increasing elevation) on a new engine is pretty good. You should do a bit better going home with 37-38 being very possible. New Elantras are starting to show up in my area and look very nice. The styling is similar to the Sonota but the smaller Elantra wears the lines better to my eyes.
What's up with Hyundai dragging their feet on getting these items to the dealerships?
John
I see this kind of thing all the time for all diffrerent brands of cars in the car ads. People say "why would anyone pay the same for a used car?". Well, the answer is they aren't.
Hyundai has really missed the boat here!
Just heard Hyundai has ceased production of 2011 Elantras in an effort to switch production to the 2012 model. They should be out in June/July.
Van
I also want the Silver Limited with Navigation, but gray instead of black leather. I don't want to roast in the Texas heat.
Hopefully it will be here early next week!! yay!
Here is more info on the 2012 release... They should be in dealers by late May or Early June. Of course, every dealer is going to tell you it is going to be "FOREVER" until they show up so buy my 2011 now..... However, Shawnee Mission already has three on their website:
http://www.shawneemissionhyundai.com/inventory.php?type=New&make=HYUNDAI&model=E- - LANTRA&stock=HC&bodytype=ALL&searchtype=&Submit=
ENJOY:
Hyundai Motor America is pleased to announce the release of the 2012MY Hyundai Elantra. The 2012MY Elantra is rated among the highest in residual value according to ALG, continuing its strong resale performance from the 2011MY when it won the ALG Residual Value Award for the Compact Car segment. The Elantra also continues to deliver 40 MPG highway standard; no other competitor offers 40 MPG highway for all trim levels. Elantra also delivers “class-above” interior roominess. Elantra is categorized by the EPA as a mid-size car rather than a compact car like Civic or Corolla. With 40 MPG highway, “class-above” interior roominess, and a starting price of $15,195, the 2012MY Elantra delivers exceptional value.
Fuel economy is the most important purchase reason for the compact segment, especially with gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon in many areas of the U.S. To deliver better fuel economy, all 2012 Elantra automatic transmissions are equipped with an Active Eco System to improve real world fuel economy. The Active Eco System modifies engine and transmission control for improved fuel economy by smoothing out throttle responses. By selecting the Active Eco button, drivers can realize up to a seven percent increase in real-world fuel economy.
NEW EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2012MY
• Active Eco System is standard on all Elantra automatic transmissions to improve
real world fuel economy up to 7%
• Front fog lights added to the GLS Preferred Package to enhance the front
exterior appearance
• The GLS Preferred model adds a passenger side sunvisor extension to complement the
driver side
• The Limited badge was redesigned for better visibility
• The horn sound was improved to sound more prominent on all trim levels
Standard and Optional Features
GLS Manual Transmission
The Elantra GLS M/T MSRP is priced at $15,195, excluding $760 freight, and includes the following standard features:
1.8L Nu MPI 4-cylinder engine
6-speed manual transmission
15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers and P195/65R15 tires
Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS)
Advanced dual front airbags with Occupant Classification System (OCS), front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control System (TCS)
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), 4-wheel disc brakes, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Adjustable head restraints for all seating positions
Daytime running lights
AM/FM/XM® Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with 6 speakers and iPod®/USB auxiliary input jacks
A/C prep package
Trip computer =i>Power windows with driver’s auto-down, power door locks, dual heated power outside mirrors, and remote keyless entry system with alarm
Tilt steering wheel
Front 2-speed intermittent wipers
Map lights with sunglass holder, dome lamp and cargo area light
6-way adjustable driver’s seat including height adjustment
Front passenger seatback pocket, front and rear door map pockets
Center console with storage compartment and armrest
Lower multi-box with cover
60/40 split fold-down rear seatback & rear center armrest with cupholders
Tinted glass
Bodycolor door handles and mirrors
Rear defroster
Trunk lid inner cover
GLS M/T Options:
GLS Comfort Package – M/T only ($1,250 MSRP):
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Telescopic steering wheel
Solar glass
Windshield shade band
16-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers and P205/55R16 tires
GLS Automatic Transmission
The Elantra GLS A/T MSRP is priced at $17,445, excluding $760 freight, and includes the GLS manual transmission content plus the following:
6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
Active Eco System
16-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers and P205/55R16 tires
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Telescopic steering wheel
Solar glass
Windshield shade band
GLS A/T Options:
GLS Preferred Package – A/T only ($600 MSRP):
16-inch alloy wheels
Steering wheel audio controls
Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition
Fog lights
Cloth insert door trim
Sliding center armrest
Illuminated vanity mirrors with extensions
Illuminated ignition
Limited
Limited with standard 6-speed automatic starts at $20,445, excluding $760 freight, and includes all the GLS Preferred Package plus the following:
17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires
Power tilt-and-slide sunroof
One touch up drivers window
Leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
Leather seating surfaces
Heated front and rear seats
Black chrome grille
Side repeater mirrors
Limited badge =ul>
Limited Options
Technology Package ($2,100 MSRP):
Navigation system with 7-inch screen
Rearview camera
360-watt premium audio with external amplifier
Automatic headlamps
Proximity key entry with electronic
push button start =i>Immobilizer
Model
Code Model Engine Transmission MSRP
-------- --------------- ------------ -------------------------- --------
45413F45 Elantra GLS 1.8L 4-cyl. 6-Speed M/T $15,195
45412F45 Elantra GLS 1.8L 4-cyl. 6-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC® $17,445
45412F4P Elantra GLS 1.8L 4-cyl. 6-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC® $17,445
45442F45 Elantra Limited 1.8L 4-cyl. 6-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC® $20,445
45442F4P Elantra Limited 1.8L 4-cyl. 6-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC® $20,445
-------- --------------- ------------ -------------------------- --------
Model codes ending in “P” indicate PZEV model
I just picked up a GLS w/ the prefered package for $18,000. Should have held out for a month or so.....
I'm enoying the can but man the engine and road noise is loud!!
Reprogramming the auto door lock / unlock for your Elantra needs to be done here at the dealership by one of our techs. It's not something that takes a long time in the shop (probably less than a half-hour) but it should be scheduled anyway.
Expanded engine production
There are plenty of pictures out on the web of the I40. I have owned two Elantra hatchbacks (a 2001 with auto and 2007 with manual ) and I currently own a 2007 Sonata. I love hatch backs but I traded the 2007 Elantra hatch for the 2007 Sonata because I needed a bigger car.
After driving the Sonata I felt the "perfect" car for me would be a slightly smaller Sonata hatchback that had a firmer ride. Based on what I have read about the I40:
-It will have a ton of room.
-It should get at least 30+ on the highway depending on what engine they put in it. In Europe Hyundai will offer several engine options including a diesel.
-It should have a "bigger car" ride than my old Elantra hatch.
If you like wagons or hatches check out the I40 on the web & let Hyundai know you they should sell it in the US.
Berto
2011 Elantra Top Safety Pick Press Release
Full listing of all picks
heh...sure can. I think the point was you'll need to fix it...
A solid rubber spare tire is going to weigh 40lbs to drag around every single day.
Doing it myself as Round Rock Hyundai ruined our first 2011 Elantra when they did the first oil change. Had to wait 3 months to get the car replaced.
Wondering what weight oil to use as we are having an extremely hot summer. They recommend 10w -30, 5w -20, 5w -30. I am thinking 10 w-30. The dealer said to change every 3750 mile. What should the interval be for synthetic?
thetic?
Oil filter for regular oil?
Oil filter for syn
We had to wait 3 months to get the next new one. They sold our first one used for more than we paid for it new. Round Rock Hyundai did not report to Equifax that the engine had been ruined and rebuilt and/or replaced.
CNNMoney.com