Hyundai Elantra 4 doors 2000 - 2003 sedan

The art of reincarnation

The updated Elantra, which debuted in April last year in the domestic market of South Korea, also reached us. We must pay tribute to the designers: disguising the model for Europe is done well.

Two hundred ninety million dollars and four years of labor were spent not wasted Koreans. The new Elantra looks much more European than her ancestors. Let's look at the car from the rear than not Audi? The profile has a real classic sedan, the contours of which are pleasant not only to the oncoming stream, but also to the eye. The facade was pumped out, first of all, the grille of the radiator: it kills all the solidity, giving out the Korean origin of the car.

The salon has become much more spacious, primarily thanks to the new body. Elantra overtook not only the predecessor in size, but also cars such as Opel Vectra, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The increase in dimensions is especially noticeable when you are in the back seat. Now there is more space for both the legs and for the head (you will not shorten with a winter hat on the ceiling).

There is enough space and a driver with a front passenger. By the way, their places are equipped with two frontal and two side airbags. This is also European. Like everything else, as for the cabin: a complete electric package; expensive, soft plastic to the touch; convenient, with good lateral support, front seats; adjustable steering column; Easily readable instrument shield. In general, there are almost no associations with Korea. There are only a couple of teaspoons of tar in this barrel of honey.

I don’t think that designers developing the interior, say, Volkswagen, allowed the climate control display to glow other than the instrument panel. In Elantra, the shield burns blue, and the climate control and the receiver scale is green. It seems to be nonsense, the speed does not affect the speed, but the general perception of the torpedo after turning on the overall lights is no longer.

Or take a route computer. The thing is undoubtedly useful: both the average fuel consumption will show, and its balance (in kilometers), and the mileage is general and daily. It’s only difficult to use this device. The pin, with which information on the display changes, is located directly on the dashboard. Pressing it, especially during movement, is extremely difficult to interfere with the steering wheel. One thing comforts: this is the biggest flaw that we discovered in the cabin. It is convenient and pleasant to use everyone else.

A four -speed machine operates fine. Transfers switch smoothly and quickly enough. Only the kikdown is lacking in the efficiency: you will fuel the gas pedal, and you feel the response of the box to this action only after a second. When overtaking with a trip to the oncoming lane, such a machine gun does not please.

But what a pleasure to watch in a traffic jam behind a neighboring car, jerking the handle of the CP, like a shutter of a rifle during a hot battle. So far, for example, you can, for example, talk on the phone, the benefit of the right hand is completely free. And let you not be embarrassed by two seconds that this Elantra loses to your sister with a mechanical gearbox when accelerating to 100 km/h. In the end, for a car with an engine of 107 hp. and a working volume of 1.6 liters of 13 seconds to hundreds of a pretty decent result.

It is a pity, the motor is noisy. On his maximum 6000 min-1, he rumbled so that even the generous sound insulation of the cabin and motor compartment does not save. However, do not think that Elantra is sometimes likened to the 412th Muscovite. Naturally, in her salon is much quieter, but when compared with classmates, the result will not be in favor of Hyundai. True, after warming up the engine is practically not heard, thanks to not only good isolation, but also that the designers occurred to the designers simple idea to reduce the number of idle revolutions (we hope not to the detriment of the lubrication system).

They did not wise with the suspension: the good old MacPherson, the two -legged independent is in front. True, some elements have finalized. The changes affected the lower levers, stabilizers of the transverse stability and springs, they became tougher, which, however, did not affect the smoothness of the car. The bad road, as it turned out, does not repel the desire to go quickly. The suspension calmly practices irregularities that fall under the wheels. Even in the bend, Elantra does not crush, so the adjustment of the trajectory is practically not needed.

We also liked the steering: to the best of the light steering wheel is not in Korean informative, clear feedback, well-fed reactive effort. In general, it is almost impossible to lose controlled wheels, as well as to break them into the SEZ during braking. This is the merit of the anti -lock system, which on the new Elantra is included in the basic configuration.

Summer tires installed in the standard did not become an obstacle to the test in ice conditions. The car slowed down without any problems. Nine on his studded rubber stopped flush.

Despite the frost, which fiercely in those days in St. Petersburg, all the glasses of the car remained transparent on Elantra a very effective heater with the right organization of air flows. Climate control helps to maintain the optimum temperature in the cabin, which, if necessary, adds the fan, and throws the shotgun to the stove.

But the uncomfortable antenna on the rear right wing, probably, feels uncomfortable. It is strange that it was located here. It hurts this profitable place for automobile vandals. It goes for himself on the sidewalk, but here are the times! Antennka sticks out. It is not to tie a sin in the knot. Although, of course, you will not take a whip of a whip with bare hands.

Hyundai marketers believe that 145 thousand Elantra will be sold in foreign markets in 2001. It is possible that the forecast will come true. Moreover, the car is going to produce a sedan and a five -door hatchback with two types of body. Plus, two transmission options and four engines are prepared for this, one of which is diesel.

Hyundai Elantra looks quite decent. Not Volkswagen Golf, of course, but more and cheaper (our subject on full minced meat will cost the buyer $ 13,900). This car will like, as it seems to us, to many.

Hyundai Elantra

+ Good front and rear review, energy -intensive suspension, spacious interior, high quality of interior decoration materials, comfortable seats, large trunk.
Noisy motor, delay in the work of kikdown, an inconvenient way to use a route computer.

Technical characteristics of Hyundai Elantra 1.6

The body is a 4 -door whole metal.
Number of places, people. - 5
Equipped mass, kg - 1225
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4495/1720/1425
Base, mm - 2610
Maximum speed, km/h - 170
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, C - 13.0
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle - 9.8
- country cycle - 7.1
Engine:
- Type - in order, 4 -cylinder
- working volume, cm3 - 1599
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 107/5800
- torque, NM at min -1 - 146/3000
- power supply - injection
The transmission is automatic
Tire size - 185/65R15
Wheel suspension - independent
Brakes:
- front - disk, ventilated
- rear - disk
Price, $ - 13900

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [03/2001]