Hyundai Elantra Interior Review
Expanding the Elantra platform has provided more interior room translating to a more comfortable passenger compartment. Stretching the wheel base by 2.3 inches results in increased rear legroom as well as increased headroom and hip room for both front and rear passengers. Hyundai continues expanding a higher level of quality in Elantra's passenger cabin. This improvement isn't measured by bells and whistles, but by a clean, efficient design, that invokes a more pleasant interior. The instrument panel is more contemporary, presenting gauges in an easy to read manner.
The cloth-upholstered seats are larger than the previous version making way for more comfortable seating. The driver's seat has six-way adjustments and height adjustment. Front headrests and seatbelt anchors are also adjustable. Side airbags are now standard equipment in the Elantra making a much safer sedan, especially welcomed in a car of Elantra's price.
Remote trunk and fuel release and a carpeted cargo compartment are standard.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning are now controlled with rotary switches, rather than the sliding type. They're much easier to locate and adjust while driving. Unfortunately, Hyundai didn't extend these improvements to the radio controls, and that's our primary gripe. The buttons are so small that adjusting them distracts from the task of driving.
No one is going to mistake the Elantra or any compact vehicle for a luxury car, but offering a lush cabin isn't what this car does best. This Hyundai was designed and built to provide the most economical transportation it can, while providing as much comfort as possible. Let's face it folks we aren't talking a luxurious limousine here. The Elantra is a compact sedan that will carry four adults, five in a pinch, just about anyplace they have reason to travel comfortably, economically and worry free.
Hyundai Elantra Road Test
The Elantra's engine performs well and in many cases beats the competition. The twin-cam four-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower and 133 foot-pounds of torque, which is impressive power in this class. We noticed that the engine can be particularly inharmonious when run at high revs for an extended stretch. But it launches quickly from a stop and offers good acceleration performance for passing other cars.
We tested the new Elantra through city streets and over Interstate highways. We even climbed some pretty treacherous mountain roads, and everywhere we took the car, except the steepest grades, the Elantra preformed well. Even on mountain passes it had no trouble keeping with the flow of traffic. We often recommend selecting a manual transmission when performance is a priority; and this is especially true on economy cars. However, the Hyundai four-speed automatic is up to the work-a-day grind of commuting and running errands.
Elantra's suspension is fully independent and quite sophisticated for the economy category. Plenty of cars that cost $10,000 more than Elantra, don't have multi-link rear suspension, or speed-sensitive power steering. The steering assist gives the wheel a light touch at low speed, for easy parallel parking, yet it's not overly sensitive at highway speed. Feedback through the steering wheel gives the driver a pretty good idea of how well the front tires are gripping.
Elantra's ride quality is reasonably compliant, yet controlled, and it handles twisting mountain roads in fine fashion. Only on the most uneven stretches of freeway, where joints and undulations can get the suspension hopping does the Elantra get bouncy.
Hyundai's continued effort to moderate shakes and limit cabin noise have made the newest Elantra a much tighter package. Noise and vibration exist inside the Elantra's cabin, but below that of other subcompacts. The engine can get loud when run wide-open. Yet overall, the Elantra is smoother and quieter than previous-generation models.
Hyundai Elantra Lineup
Only one trim level is available, the GLS four-door sedan. The sedan retails at $12,499 with the 5-speed manual, and $13,299 with an automatic. (The wagon has been dropped from the lineup for 2001.)
Elantra GLS includes such popular features as air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and door locks, thick cut-pile carpeting, a tachometer and six-way adjustable driver's seat. Better still, Hyundai is providing more features, while retaining a very reasonable price.
With the reasonable base price, and judicious selection of options, a buyer can tailor the Elantra to taste without breaking the bank. We appreciate the available 5-speed transmission that came on our test car. Our vehicle was equipped with the most popular of the factory options, cruise control and keyless entry, which adds $400 to the price. Other options available include a moonroof, alloy wheels and stereo upgrade, which can bring the price to $14,134 with the $435 destination charge. Adding the optional ABS, brought the price to $15,284.