Hyundai Elantra facelift review, test drive

What is it like to drive?

The engines remain unchanged, and that means a 1.8-litre petrol engine that produces 148bhp and 18.1kgm, and a 1.6-litre diesel engine with 126bhp and 26.5kgm of torque. We drove the diesel manual variant of the car, and as before, driving it in traffic necessitates a bit of gear shifting, because the engine falls off boost below 2,000rpm; but there is good punch and more than enough power for stress-free overtaking and cruising. The engine is also one of the smoothest and quietest in its class, but the clutch is on the heavier side and which can be tiresome over long journeys.

Like before, the Elantra is excellent at ironing out bumps at low speeds. Even high-speed stability is very good, though the softly-sprung Elantra does tend to bounce, and also to roll a fair bit when driven fast. What's nice is that, save for some tyre noise, the cabin is well insulated from the happenings outside, and this (combined with the refined engine) really helps make this Hyundai a soothing cruiser.

Should I buy one?

With the Elantra, Hyundai has gone further to cement its core strengths. It looks even better than before, has a plush, new-look cabin and, as with every Hyundai, it also sports a lengthy features list. The Elantra may not be as sophisticated as its European rivals or exceptional in any one area, but it remains a very well-rounded car that’s easy to live with. The Elantra's top SX diesel manual variant is priced at Rs 16.68 lakh, and it still undercuts many of its rivals by some margin, which makes it a great value too.