Ask the Car People.SM


Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Sentra

66 messages,  Last post on Jun 03, 2007 at 10:34 AM

You are in the Nissan Sentra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Sentra, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 8

#43 of 66 Re: Polarizing Style? [sandman46] by backy

Nov 02, 2006 (7:45 pm)

Replying to: sandman46 (Nov 02, 2006 6:46 pm)
C/D called the Civic "hugely polarizing" in their December comparo. Two quotes from their editors:
 
"I dig the futuristic, artsy look."
 
"I hate everything but the way it drives."
 
Did you sit in the 2007 Elantra before buying your Civic?
 
BTW, there is a Civic vs. Elantra discussion...

#44 of 66 Re: Polarizing Style? [sandman46] by herotakesafall

Nov 02, 2006 (8:03 pm)

Replying to: sandman46 (Nov 02, 2006 6:46 pm)
It really does have very polarizing style. Most people go into the love it/hate it category, but I'm in the middle. I think the front/side/most of the interior looks really sharp, but I think the taillight design is horrible. It's all opinion, though. It's at least an interesting enough design where I don't make fun of people who drive them. I save that for all the Five Hundreds, Tauruses, and Sebrings I see.

#45 of 66 Re: Car and Driver review [backy] by herotakesafall

Nov 02, 2006 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: backy (Oct 31, 2006 5:30 pm)
I think whatever highway noise the people are talking about is only with the Elantra manual, probably. It's still a strange comment. If you read Consumer Reports' review of the '07 Accent, they say the same thing - engine noise is very pronounced due to the gearing of the manual. I don't really understand how that works myself, but they didn't have any complaints about the automatic version. Maybe that's the case with the new auto Elantra, then.

#46 of 66 Re: Car and Driver review [herotakesafall] by backy

Nov 02, 2006 (8:26 pm)

Replying to: herotakesafall (Nov 02, 2006 8:05 pm)
Yes, I think that's it. But what is really odd about C/D's comments on engine noise on the Elantra is that it was the quietest car in the test at 70 mph cruise. It is actually as quiet as the 2007 Altima that they tested in the same issue. So go figure... maybe going from 70 to 72 mph triggers the screaming banshees in their cages in the engine bay, so the noise is a lot greater .

#47 of 66 Re: Car and Driver review [backy] by eduright

Nov 03, 2006 (8:56 am)

Replying to: backy (Nov 02, 2006 8:26 pm)
Hi,
 
I have driven all of the cars discussed in this thread many times, just recently.
 
Elatra- very noisy as it goes faster, and especially with the manual at high speeds (and rpm). Automatic has a "hole" in its third gear power. Suspension hadles concret section bumps that recurr reguarly very poorly- the car bobs like a basketball being bounced fast at three feet- the stick does not have the power freeze in third gear.
 
Sentra- A better engineered car than Elantra- quieter, plushish ride with good handling- less taut than my Corolla-
suprisingly smoothe and quet ride in the Sentra- feels a bit too plush to corner well, but it does- seems to be a better seat/leg fit to use pedals than Corolla, but neither car has tilt telescope steering; the Elantra does.
 
Corolla- My Corolla LE averages 31 to 34.5 mpg. depending on AC use, etc. But unlike the other cars, it does not have active head restraint system- stability control is an option but there were only three cars produced this way and I think that two of them are in Bosnia (tisk-tisk) The ride is a bit noisy and taut, but it is comfortable compared to a Mazda 3 or 6 THe Corolla is an amazing 1.8 engine driven car. Only the Civic can match its MPG.
 
Civic- annoying reflection in winshield of dashboard- rough riding car on bumps- you can hit the ceilng on bigger ones!
I am tall.... So-so acceleration, Good MPG. HMM, the Civic might not have active head restraints??? Not impressed by the Civic at all. Ride is not very good- too taut, stiff, nervous...............
 
Gas prices are going to rise again, and low mpg. cars will become more and more unattractive- in Britain they may be heavily taxed soon....

#48 of 66 Re: Car and Driver review [eduright] by backy

Nov 03, 2006 (9:05 am)

Replying to: eduright (Nov 03, 2006 8:56 am)
... the car bobs like a basketball being bounced fast at three feet...
 
That was an exaggeration, right? Like the Corollas in Bosnia?
 
So you are saying the Elantra is "very noisy" even with the automatic? At what speed does the automatic Elantra get "very noisy"?
 
FYI, the Civic does have active front head restraints.

#49 of 66 Re: Car and Driver review [eduright] by bamacar

Nov 03, 2006 (10:25 am)

Replying to: eduright (Nov 03, 2006 8:56 am)
Strange observations on your Corolla as all auto reviews have always said soft suspension and rather poor handling. The 1.8 is smooth gets great mpg, but is not a performer when compared to the Civic. A person may not like the looks (exterior or dash) of the Civic, and may think the road noise a bit much, but otherwise it dominates the Toyota in every other way. Much better handling, manual shifter is better, modern less fluffy interior, better seating position, better standard safety equipment, cruise/stereo controls on steering wheel, and auxillary input. It also has better resale value.
 
Wonder why the Civic is selling for near sticker and the Corolla is going for under invoice? No wonder Toyota delayed the new 2008 Corolla to make sure they can get it right as even the new one may not be much of a competitor for the present Civic.
 
So from the reviews so far it looks like the Elantra may outdo the Corolla as it is more luxurious, spacious, with a soft ride even if it is noisy at higher speeds with lower mpg. The Sentra it appears can't compete well even with the old veterans in this segment.

#50 of 66 I think that by pat

Nov 03, 2006 (10:28 am)

you folks are probably looking for the Economy Sedans (~$16k-$20k) discussion.
 
We're comparing the 2007 Elantra and Sentra here.
 

#51 of 66 Re. the Corolla, Civic, etc. by eduright

Nov 06, 2006 (9:30 pm)

In my opinion, the Corolla does not handle all that badly. It is a little sporty, and holds the road OK. I was not impressed with the "sportiness" of the Civic- it does not have the power to be sporty, except perhaps with a stick shift???
 
I liked a lot about the Elantra manual version. It has a funny problem with floating and choppiness that kind of ruins its otherwise smoothe ride and decent, but not at all inspird, handling (in the non-Sport modlel). I drove a Sport automantic- it may have handled a bitt better. Not sure.
 
THe Elantra automatic is a bit quieter than the manual when going over 72 MPH on the highway. THe manjuall gets super noisy abouve that, and if I remember right, the automatic gets almost as noisy as you hit 80. My Corlaa is quieter, in spoite of what you see in the ratings on noise in C ar and Driver's Dec. 06 edition, which I just read.
 
I agree with the C&D remark on "New Car Smell" in the Corolla.
Toyota is into non-toxic interiors, but I doubt if this is the case with the Corolla. Probably on more expensive models there is less toxic plastics and fabrics???
 
See www.ecocenter.org for info on toxic car interiors. Your new car is probably more toxic than a new home! Hyundai, as a fleet, has the worst plastic toxin rating, by the way.
 
I like the Quiet and plush ride of the new Sentra, but it really does not handle all that well. THe Altima is a nicer and sportier car, just too big and heavy for good MPG. Better MPG ratings for Sentra and Altima in 07 models, but I don't necessarily believe the EPA on this.
 
The big reason I got the Corolla was tthe MPG and decent ride- slightly sporty too. I could not hack the Mazda 3s tautness of ride. Same with the Jetta (may be more noise than tautness), and the (bigger) Passat.

#52 of 66 Re: Re. the Corolla, Civic, etc. [eduright] by backy

Nov 06, 2006 (10:01 pm)

Replying to: eduright (Nov 06, 2006 9:30 pm)
Hyundai, as a fleet, has the worst plastic toxin rating, by the way.
 
According to the info on www.ecocenter.org, Hyundai leads the auto industry in having the lowest PBDE emissions, but is ranked low on phthalates. So your statement seems like it would apply more to Chrysler, or maybe Toyota, which ranked low in both categories.
 
Anyway, do you happen to know the plastic toxic ratings for the 2007 Elantra and Sentra?

Messages Page 6 of 8

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement