New Elantra takes on the Jetta, Cruze and Laura

Today, the bevy of executive saloons available are cars that offer a great blend of performance, comfort and features. They all have powerful and refined diesel motors, they all come equipped with automatic gearboxes and all of them are really well equipped. Each of them has a beautifully built cabin with plenty of space, and each of them will do 90 percent of what their larger cousins can, but at only 60 percent the cost.

So, what are your options? Hyundai has just made a splash in this segment with its stylish all-new Elantra. It’s well priced, is loaded to the gills with features and comes with the assurance of Hyundai’s vast service network. If that doesn’t have you interested, the fact that it is available with an automatic gearbox surely will. It certainly makes a lot of sense, but is it the best car you could buy over its rivals?

To find out, we’ve brought in the refreshed Chevrolet Cruze that recently received a new engine, and also the Volkswagen Jetta that has won itself quite a few admirers for being a mini-Passat. And we’ve also included the Skoda Laura which, despite its seven-year vintage, continues to be a popular choice among buyers in this segment.