Hyundai Elantra review, test drive

With brand new design, features and mechanicals at a competitive price, Hyundai makes a comeback with the Elantra

Published on Oct 25, 2012 08:34:00 PM

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The Elantra’s interiors reflect the impressive design language as well. The door pads are well sculpted and so is the multi-layered dash, replete with ridges and curves that flow into the centre console. The steering wheel looks and feels great, while the instrumentation is clear and easy to read. Even the fit and finish is really good and the cabin will live up to D-segment buyers’ expectations. In some places however, Hyundai has gone a bit overboard with its styling and compromised function for form. This is most evident on the hourglass-shaped centre console, where the air-con and music system buttonsare scrunched up in a small area.

Thanks to the long wheelbase, there’s a lot of space on the inside. There’s plenty of legroom for rear seat passengers and the rear bench itself is comfortable, with good thigh support and a flattish floor. However, the seat-back is a bit too reclined and the swooping roofline eats into headroom. Also, the rising shoulder line impedes visibility from the back seat. The back seat is set on the low side, so getting in and out takes a bit more effort.

The front seats are supportive and wide, making even long journeys comfortable. The 10-way powered driver’s seat makes finding the perfect driving position easy too.

There’s been no cutting back on features – even the base variants get front airbags, ABS, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, USB and aux-in ports for the audio system, electric mirror adjustment, Bluetooth connectivity and remote locking. Middle ‘S’ versions add a reversing camera, electric folding mirrors, and keyless entry and go. Top-end SX versions get cruise control, a powered driver’s seat, automatic headlamps, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and cooled front seats.