- #180 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [backy]
by joe97
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Dec 25, 2008 (9:54 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 25, 2008 7:34 pm)
It looks like the 2008 model year was tested on the side protection of the Elantra but I agree with you fully, the small cars in the Hyundai product portfolio needs more improvement on crash safety.
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- #181 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [GCF]
by joshuag
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Dec 27, 2008 (12:02 am)
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Replying to: GCF (Dec 24, 2008 3:20 pm)
I agree with you on that. I wouldn't buy a Elantra over a Fusion. In my town they have new Fusion's advertised for around 16k dollars. Of course it is the base model, but with even that you get a lot of features for the money, plus a safer car. We have a couple of later model Ford's in my family, and they have been very reliable cars. Don't forget also about the new Chevy Malibu, that's a great car for the money.
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- #182 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [joshuag]
by GCF
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Dec 27, 2008 (7:12 am)
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Replying to: joshuag (Dec 27, 2008 12:02 am)
With so many superior, safer cars such as the Impreza, Civic, Corolla, and Rabbit, I don't know what people are thinking when they buy the Elantra these days. Back in the early 2000's it made more sense to purchase an Elantra since it could save you as much as $5000 over a comparable car. Now, Hyundai seems to have priced their car out of being competitive.
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- #183 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [GCF]
by backy
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Dec 27, 2008 (7:36 am)
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Replying to: GCF (Dec 27, 2008 7:12 am)
The pricing is still competitive, but not nearly the big difference it was a few years ago, as you pointed out. For example, in 2004 I got a fully loaded Elantra GT (leather, alloys, moonroof, ABS/traction, trip computer etc.) with 3 years free maintenance for $13.2k + T&L. A similarly-equipped 2009 Elantra SE today, although a nicer car with six airbags (vs. 4) and ESC, would run $4000-5000 more. Still less than a comparably-equipped Civic or Corolla, but not a huge difference.
I don't think the Elantra is overpriced in today's market, since it has improved a lot over the years and offers mid-sized room for a compact price, but I do expect that for its higher asking price it be fully competitive with Civrollas et. al. on safety, fuel economy, and other key aspects. On crash safety at least, Elantra has fallen behind. I hope we don't have to wait for the next generation Elantra to improve in that area.
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- #184 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [joshuag]
by backy
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Dec 27, 2008 (7:42 am)
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Replying to: joshuag (Dec 27, 2008 12:02 am)
The low-end pricing on the Fusion and Milan is very attractive, except what I've seen in my area is that the Fulans advertised for around $16k don't include the optional ESC package. If that kind of pricing holds for the re-worked 2010 Fulans, which have many improvements including (I think) standard ESC), they will be a compelling choice. I am also seeing new Malibus advertised for around $16k now, so that is another great value although I am not sure I would take a chance on GM at this point.
Actually, compared to the Elantra, the Sonata offers a much nicer car for about the same money after rebates and discounts, with more power, better safety (crash scores and standard ESC/traction), and more room without much of a fuel economy penalty. Probably why the Sonata has outsold the Elantra for much of the recent past.
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- #185 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [backy]
by GCF
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Dec 27, 2008 (8:14 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 27, 2008 7:36 am)
My neighbor just got a loaded '09 Corolla XLE Auto w/ ESC and Alloys for $16.8K + T&L. A comparably equipped Elantra SE is the same if not a bit more money. With the Corolla he got a safer, higher resale and arguably more reliable car. Given this, I can't think of one justification to buy the Elantra over the Corolla.
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- #186 of 239
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Re: IIHS Crash Side Test results...:-( [GCF]
by backy
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Dec 27, 2008 (12:55 pm)
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Replying to: GCF (Dec 27, 2008 8:14 am)
A loaded Corolla XLE lists for over $24k with an invoice over $21k; an XLE equipped as closely as possible to the Elantra SE (XM, alloys, ESC, cruise, all weather guard package) lists for nearly $20k and has an invoice of nearly $18k. So either way, your neighbor got a really good deal on the XLE, although there is a $1000 rebate on the Corolla right now and only $500 on the 2009 Elantra SE. I expect the rebates on the Elantra to increase once the 2008s are gone, especially with competitors like Toyota offering such aggressive discounts and rebates.
One justification to buy an Elantra over a Corolla is if the buyer simply likes the Elantra more than the Corolla. That is not far fetched. I happen to prefer the Elantra over the Corolla, except for side impact crash safety of course. CR rated the Elantra over the Corolla also--although I expect they will take away the Elantra's
"Top Pick" designation now that the IIHS side impact crash test has been published.
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- #188 of 239
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End of the "Hyundai Experiment"
by hutch7
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Dec 27, 2008 (5:56 pm)
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After thinking it over I have decided to dump my '08 Elantra and go back to Toyota. I've read all the responses to my last post on the poor side impact data collected by iihs. Either the Hyundai engineers didn't pass their classes in structural engineering or Hyundai Corp. just felt like defrauding it's customer base. Either way I am done with this name plate! 
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- #189 of 239
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Re: End of the "Hyundai Experiment" [hutch7]
by backy
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Dec 27, 2008 (7:04 pm)
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Replying to: hutch7 (Dec 27, 2008 5:56 pm)
You have to do what's right for you. But to say that the Elantra getting a "marginal" score on the IIHS side impact test is "fraud" is off base, IMO. Hyundai never claimed the car would get a specific IIHS side crash test score. While the score is disappointing to you and me and others, it's not fraud. Also, if Hyundai's engineers didn't pass their classes, then it appears that the engineers from GM, Chrysler, Mazda, Volkswagen, Suzuki, and Toyota (!) didn't pass their classes either. Their cars also got a Marginal or even Poor score in the IIHS tests on small cars, as did Hyundai on the Elantra (and Kia on the Spectra). Hyundai isn't the only car company that needs to work on bettering its crash protection on small cars.
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