2016 Hyundai Elantra India review, test drive

What’s it like on the inside?

Like the exterior, the interiors too are a departure from the curvy design of the predecessor, with the  straight-edged styling details giving it a very Teutonic touch. The dash holds a large 8.0-inch touchscreen which, apart from the regular connectivity options like USB and Bluetooth, also features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel has two circular dials for the speedo and tacho and a 3.5-inch mono TFT screen that displays the trip computer info.

The front seats are large, and a segment first is the three-level controlled ventilation system. I tried it out and it was super effective – you feel your hind sides getting cooler in a matter of seconds. Given the sloping roofline rear, headroom at the rear was bound to be tight but the seat base is set deep with an upward slope giving you a low seating position and decent under thigh support. Headroom is just about sufficient for average-sized adults. Also, the rear windows do seem a little narrow and while it isn't claustrophobic, it doesn’t give you a wide and open feeling either.

Like the ventilated seats, another unique feature on the Elantra is the smart boot unlocking system that automatically pops open the trunk lid when you merely stand next to it, if the key is on you. No waving your arms or shaking your leg around the bumper; it needs you to stand next to it for about three seconds, so that it won’t mistakenly pop open if you walk past the back. But it also means it will open if you stop to talk to someone briefly. I tried this out but had mixed results with the system working erratically.

Unlike past Hyundais, the Elantra isn’t loaded to the gills by segment standards. Yes, it does have some first-in-class features but the car does miss out on some crucial items like rain-sensing wipers, paddler shifters, memory seats and front parking sensors, among a few other smaller bits.