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Hyundai Elantra: Reviews & News from the Pros (Edmunds, C/D, CR, MT etc.)

119 messages,  Last post on Dec 18, 2006 at 3:59 PM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Automotive News, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

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#1 of 119 Hyundai Elantra: Reviews & News from the Pros (Edmunds, C/D, CR, MT etc.) by backy

Oct 22, 2006 (8:15 pm)

What do professional car reviewers and the press think of the Elantra? Let's post these "pro" opinions and discuss them here!

#2 of 119 October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview by germancarfan1

Oct 25, 2006 (7:10 am)

http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/11922/2007-hyundai-elantra-se-driving-impre- - ssion-page2.html
 
"Passengers in all seats will be comfortable and content, but drivers will likely not find the same level of satisfaction in the Elantra experience. The car we tested came with the base transmission, a light and direct five-speed manual, but 138 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder is a bit off the class leaders, meaning straight-line performance is merely average. But it also feels stressed on the highway; above 70 mph, the thrashing from the engine bay can get maddening. And although many of us liked the silky five-speed and delicate clutch pedal, a few of the less-dainty on our staff thought both clutch and shifter were a bit too light.
 
The suspension, too, we thought was a little too light, too much like a floaty compact Buick. For 2007 the Elantra gets a four-wheel independent setup, with McPherson struts up front, a multilink rear, and stabilizer bars fore and aft. Hyundai claims a 49-percent increase in body stiffness over the previous model and a thicker rear stabilizer, but it just doesn’t feel like enough."
 
I'm thinking a mid to low pack finish behind Mazda3, Civic, Jetta VE, Sentra in the next C&D comparo. Thoughts?
 

#3 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [germancarfan1] by bamacar

Oct 25, 2006 (7:45 am)

Replying to: germancarfan1 (Oct 25, 2006 7:10 am)
If the reviews all run about like this one, it won't displace the Mazda3 or Civic but could finish ahead of the Jetta and Sentra.
 
The Sentra does not appear to be very quick from the early reviews even though the engine is smoother. Its appearance seems unpopular also. The Jetta engine is more powerful but as CD says provides "tepid performance". It has also has been reviewed as noisy like the Elantra.
 
I still hope to give the Elantra SE with manual transmission a test drive. The only concern for me from this review is the thrashy engine above 70mph. That could knock it off my list if true.

#4 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [bamacar] by germancarfan1

Oct 25, 2006 (7:59 am)

Replying to: bamacar (Oct 25, 2006 7:45 am)
Given that the 2007 Elantra has the same powerplant and tranny as the prior generation, I wouldn't expect it to be any better in the NVH category. Above 70 MPH in my 5-speed, I can barely hear a conversation. Let's hope it's a little better in the new one. A nice interior and decent interior dimensions mean little when paired to a circa 1998 designed powerplant.
 
Also, add to the mix the redesigned 2008 corolla and 2008 Saturn Ion (New Opel Astra), and Hyundai has some steep competition in this price range.

#5 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [bamacar] by germancarfan1

Oct 25, 2006 (8:12 am)

Replying to: bamacar (Oct 25, 2006 7:45 am)
"The Jetta engine is more powerful but as CD says provides "tepid performance". It has also has been reviewed as noisy like the Elantra."
 
Not sure what you mean by tepid performance, but the Jetta is actually one of the quietest sedans in the price range.
 
JETTA C&D 70 MPH cruise: 66 DBA
2006 Sonata LX: 67 DBA
2006 Azera: 66 DBA

#6 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [germancarfan1] by bamacar

Oct 25, 2006 (8:21 am)

Replying to: germancarfan1 (Oct 25, 2006 8:12 am)
Car and Driver called it tepid, and about all the reviews of the 5 cylinder have called it a disappointing engine. Fuel economy is embarrassing when compared to even the larger engines in larger cars such as the Accord, Camry, and Sonata.

#7 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [bamacar] by germancarfan1

Oct 25, 2006 (8:30 am)

Replying to: bamacar (Oct 25, 2006 8:21 am)
Many (all) of those reviews reporting that the 2.5 was "disappointing" were done back in late 2005 with a maxed out Jetta 2.5 reaching nearly 26K. Sure, it was disappointing when compared with V6 engines at the same price. However, things have since changed. Now for that same price or a bit lower, one can have a very nicely equipped 2.0T (a fantastic engine by all accounts). In addition, with VW's new pricing schema, I can now purchase a nicely equipped 2007 Jetta VE for under $17K delivered. At that price, it competes with the likes of the Mazda3, Civic, Sentra, Elantra, Cobalt LT, etc. When compared to those autos, I don't think many would characterize it as "disappointing."
 
The Jetta's EPA rating is not great, but many will find it to be far closer to real world driving (due to large amount of torque on hand at low revs) than say, my 5-speed Elantra, EPA rated at 26/34, but rarely seeing above 25 MPG in 50/50 driving.

#8 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [germancarfan1] by doohickie

Oct 25, 2006 (9:25 am)

Replying to: germancarfan1 (Oct 25, 2006 8:30 am)
germancarcheerleader: Get back on topic; this is an Elantra thread.
 
I saw the HD Elantra in the flesh for the first time at my dealer. They look fine, but don't inspire me. For someone who doesn't own and XD Elantra, the styling is probably favorable, but for people who like their XD styling, the new model just doesn't build on it, in my opinion. It seems like it will fill a different niche than the outgoing generation, which for me isn't great because the niche I see it filling is not the reason I bought an Elantra. I guess the way I viewed the outgoing model was a blend between style/sportiness and utilitarian. It was at home as both a modded, lowered, sporty car and a modest, slightly upscale small family car. The new model moves on that scale towards the latter and away from the sporty aspect.
 
In a sense, it would have been better to change the name of the car line because I just don't see this car as the natural follow-on to the outgoing model; there's a discontinuity there.
 
Most of the things that I find objectionable will probably attract new buyers though- the styling, the "look" of being a bigger car than it is, the upscale, roomier interior. These are all good things, but It's not too much to my personal taste.

#9 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [germancarfan1] by w9cw

Oct 25, 2006 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: germancarfan1 (Oct 25, 2006 7:59 am)
I haven't driven a 2007 Elantra 5-speed, but I do own a 2006 Elantra GLS automatic, and I can assure you I can easily carry on a normal decibel level conversation at 70MPH, or at 80MPH in the Elantra. The engine noise is minimal. So, what gives? Higher revs with the stick??? BTW . . . except for the larger diameter rear sway bar, the suspension systems between the 2006 and 2007 are essentially the same, as the previous generation Elantra also had a multi-link IRS.

#10 of 119 Re: October C & D 2007 Elantra SE preview [bamacar] by tsgeisel

Oct 25, 2006 (1:26 pm)

Replying to: bamacar (Oct 25, 2006 7:45 am)
If true, it's a change from the current model. I cruise over 70mph on a regular basis and have no problems.
 
Of course, my prior car had a lot of road noise, so maybe I'm still working on that comparison.

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