RSS
Home
Comparison review: seven economical sedans (third place)
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
Though you might have expected the exact opposite from a Hyundai, the Elantra is
an excellent car whose competitors aren't any more expensive.
Viewed as a budget-priced economical car, the Hyundai Elantra might seem to be as good as anyone could expect. It’s pleasant to drive, it has a very spacious interior, and it generally lacks the sense of cheapness that comes across in some of its competitors. Consumer Reports also predicted that the Elantra will be the most reliable of these seven, and Hyundai’s extra-long warranty protects against problems that do crop up.
But the best economical car is the one that will offer you the most for the least. And while the Elantra offers a lot for a relatively low price – Fitzgerald Auto Malls will sell you the identical car to the one driven for this review for $15,739 – a few competing economical cars either undercut that price or give you even more for no extra money.
Drive the Elantra, and you’ll get the same sense of forgettable competence that has proven very popular for Toyota. For the most part, nothing about the car will jump at you as a “wow!” positive, but there’s also nothing that’s bound to grate on your nerves over the years like in most of its competitors.
Get in, and you’ll get a sense of quality and find a simple user-friendly instrument panel. However, while the seat fabric is nice, you might notice a few hard and cheap-feeling plastics on the lower dash and door panels. But a few other automakers might consider taking a lesson from the Hyundai interior design playbook; the cheaper materials are where you wouldn’t normally touch, which cuts costs without compromising an impression of quality. You’ll also find the front seats offering plenty of space and good comfort and support. Some reviewers have complained that the steering wheel is too far away and that all Elantras need the telescoping steering column from the high-end SE model. I didn’t have an issue with it myself, but I do like to sit closer to the pedals than most people. When shopping, give that aspect of the Elantra a careful look.
You’ll also find a very roomy back seat, that offers more leg and head room and overall more comfort for two people than many midsize sedans. The Elantra’s high-mounted and well-shaped seat is the most comfortable rear quarters of any economical car. A third adult will fit in less of a pinch than in most other small cars as well, as there’s no cupholder in the footwell like in the Chevrolet Cobalt and Ford Focus.
The engine is smooth and quiet, and offers acceptable performance. Gas mileage, at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway, is slightly better than the norm for these seven.
The Elantra rides comfortably, too, but while it’s pleasant to drive, you don’t get the greater feeling of substance or sophistication that you’d find in a few competitors. It rides comfortably and it’s quiet, but it’s more like a nice (forgive the profanity) economy car, while the Focus or Cobalt generally feel more stable and solid on the highway.
The Elantra doesn’t have sharp handling either. It’s perfectly maneuverable and well-behaved at low speeds, but the steering is too light and excess body roll discourages you from flinging it into a corner as you could in a Focus or Mitsubishi Lancer, or even a Honda Civic. Other reviewers have also noted that the Elantra’s tires will also grip less and squeal more than those others when you're really in a hurry.
But while a lack of sporty handling isn’t necessarily a big deal in an economical sedan, the Elantra’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety side-impact crash test is a bit unfortunate. Though the Elantra’s standard side airbags kept it from failing the test, it scored only Marginal, the second-lowest of four ratings. While only two small cars got anything but the lowest rating only a few years ago, you can find better-performing competitors today. The Elantra did well in other crash tests by the IIHS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.While feeling like a good compact car and not earning perfect crash test scores could be considered nitpicking if the Elantra were a smashing value, it’s not. Though it’s certainly competitively priced – Fitzgerald Auto Malls will sell you one identical to this very well-equipped tested car for $15,739 – that price only significantly undercuts the Civic’s among these seven. The Automotive Lease Guide also gave the Elantra only two stars out of five for its resale value. (That’s based on how much a car depreciates from its original sticker price however; the buyer of a new Elantra sees more than $2,000 of that “depreciation” himself in discounts below the sticker price.)
The Elantra is a strong enough car to be a top choice among economical sedans even without being the least-expensive car available. It’s very spacious and comfortable, it’s economical, and it drives well for anyone who isn’t looking for a sports car. While nothing about it gives a sense of sophistication, nothing seems cheap or cruddy either. And even while $15,739 isn’t the best price out there, it’s still very competitive.
Keep the Elantra high on your shopping list, but don’t forget that the Hyundai name doesn’t automatically mean the lowest price.
Overall grade: B+
Vehicle tested: 2009 Hyundai Elantra GLS
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $14,120
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $17,965
Estimated transaction price as tested: $15,739
Test vehicle provided by: Antwerpen Hyundai of Clarksville, Md.
For more info:
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/elantra/elantra.aspx
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/elantra/elantra.aspx
Coming up tomorrow: Second Place
Wednesday, Dec 24: Fifth Place
Thursday, Dec. 25: Fourth Place
Friday, Dec. 26:
Third Place
Saturday, Dec. 27: Second Place
Sunday, Dec. 28:
First Place
Monday, Dec 29:
Conclusion
Photos by Brady Holt.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
When TrueDelta.com reported yesterday that owners of the 2009 Mazda3 report a fairly high defect rate of 70 problems per 100 vehicles in its quarterly …
The previous-generation Subaru Outback, sold from 2005 through 2009, never had a surplus of passenger space. The redesigned 2010 model, which is …
