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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

Messages Page 2 of 13

#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.

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

Oct 25, 2006 (5:47 pm)

Replying to: w9cw (Oct 25, 2006 1:21 pm)
I recall reading in one of the Hyundai press releases re the 2007 Elantra that because of the car's stiffer structure compared to the '06 model, they changed the suspension tuning. I wonder if that means anything other than the larger rear sway bar?

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

Oct 25, 2006 (6:51 pm)

Replying to: germancarfan1 (Oct 25, 2006 7:10 am)
Note that C/D's mini-review had many positive things to say about the new Elantra, including their closing:
 
Of course, cars in this segment are seldom asked to be sporty. More often they are asked to be above all affordable and reliable transport. For a price that’s a couple grand less than the VW Rabbit and Honda Civic, the Elantra offers both, and adds comfort and space in spades.
 
In this and other comments in the review, C/D's editors seemed to remember that the Elantra is an economy car and competes in that class, not in the sports-car class. In that class, average power plus above-average comfort, space, and standard safety features at a low price make for an attractive package.
 
I haven't driven the new Elantra yet so I can't comment on the ride and handling. But something seemed odd about C/D's comments on the stick shift. Then I remembered why. Here's what C/D said about the stick on the 2006 Civic Si:
 
Shift efforts are light, and the clutch engages smoothly and predictably. Our only gripe with the close-ratio gearbox is that the shift from fourth to fifth requires you to move the lever quite far to the right to find the fifth and sixth gear plane.
 
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/10836/2006-honda-civic-si.html
 
OK. Now here is a note re the Si's shifter in from Town Hall:
 
I test drove a 06 Civic Coupe (5 speed) and a Civic Si with a 6-speed stick. They feel different in terms of smoothness. The 5-speed on the Coupe is smooth and light.
 
In comparison, the 6-speed shifter on the Si is very smooth and light too. I call it 'effortless' to the extent that I didn't have much positive feedback (don't know if I shift it in the next gear or not)when I up or down shift.
 
bf109ace, "Honda Civic Si 6-Speed Shifter - Very Smooth but No positive feedback?" #1, 25 Oct 2006 12:38 pm
 
So C/D complained about the last Hyundai stick shift they drove, in an Accent, saying it was too "rubbery". Then they drive the new Elantra, and now it's "light", "direct", and "silky" but maybe it's too silky for some of them. But the Si's stick was fine in that regard, according to C/D. Very interesting. Maybe they'd rather have a shifter that "clunks" with every shift like on the Versa, or a notchy shifter like on the Fit--C/D didn't mention either of those issues. I'll take "light", "direct", and "silky" any day.

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

Oct 26, 2006 (6:46 am)

Replying to: backy (Oct 25, 2006 6:51 pm)
I think what is most striking about the C&D preview is the shear amount of negative comments about three (3) main drivability issues in such a short review. As an avid C & D subscriber, it is not common (in fact quite rare), to see any car faulted in this way. Describing the sound and feel from the engine bay as stressed above 70 MPH and sounding "thrashing...that can get maddening" is not something i've seen noted in recent years about any car, save for a Suzuki.
 
While the clutch issue is probably one of personal taste, the suspension problem is of far more interest to me. Anytime a suspension in a car is compared to that of a "floaty Buick," you know you're not in praise land. Concerns over the responsiveness and stiffness of the frame and suspension are not issues to be quickly discarded for anyone concerned with safety.
 
The Elantra may have moved up market in terms of space, "features," and price, but if the underpowered carry over powerplant/tranny and sloppy designed suspension are what is holding the car together, it doesn't appear to be a great overall value. This is especially true, given the fact that far more responsive and solid cars are available for not much more money (if at all).

Messages Page 2 of 13

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