Test Drive Hyundai Elantra 4 Doors 2000 - 2003 Sedan

Family Hyundai.

Elantra expands ideas about sedans from Korea

It seems that the South Korean manufacturers finally overcame the complex of the ever-catching world auto industry and is now able to offer a car that meets all international standards. After attentive acquaintance with Sedan Hyundai Elantra, it becomes clear that this machine is a global product designed to markets from different countries. At the same time, it feels the desire of the concern to get away from the image of the manufacturer of cheap cars. Elantra continues the line of family sedans of a small middle class, which in Europe were known as Lantra, and in Korea underwent Avante. From now on, with a solid processing of the model, Hyundai made a unification that it turned out, including, in a single name for foreign markets ELANTRA. Now in the markets of Russia, Europe, the United States and others, it is in the full sense of the word about the same car, emphasized in the Moscow office of Hyundai.

Hard Edge style

The appearance of Hyundai Elantra has undergone indigenous changes compared to previous models and is made in a modern style, calledmom Hard Edge (rigid edge). It includes a characteristic postpope on the hood, one-piece headlights with built-in separate lamps of long-distance and near light and turn signals. All this gives a car somewhat aggressive and not deprived of attractive appearance.

But the modern silhouette is not the only difference between Elantra from its predecessors, which gives the basis to put it in short with more famous competitors in developed markets.

The car has a serious stuffing that includes systems of active and passive safety, including protective beams in the door, airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as the fixation of the rear seats, which at the time of the collision prevents them from the offset. Elantra in the basic configuration is also equipped with an ABS system, power steering, air conditioning, a complete electric car, radio and all other attributes of the real car for the family to which consumers managed to get used to.

Potential Russian buyers can please the big wheels R15, which is important on our roads. In addition, they fit harmoniously into the general contours of the machine and do not catch up with their sizes, as it happens on some models. The stern part of Elantra is made in accordance with the European Fashion and has a large rounded stop signals on the sides, beveled down. Thus, behind, you will not immediately disobey that you are not the European middle journal, but the guest from Korea.

Functionality and Comfort

Dive into the salon. The interior is made of gray plastic, which does not look cheap. Plus, conscientiousness and even scrupulousness during fitting of all parts of the cabin are noticeable. In a word, the eye is not to complain about what, and the ear does not hear any embosns. On the front panel, in addition to the usual glove box, which is quite spacious and has a section for folders with documents, there are many different pockets, including even a special compartment for packing cigarettes (completely non-smoking Americans will surely come up with a different use).

Sitting on the front seat, immediately pay attention to the driver's footprint and sitting near the passenger, which is especially noticeable if you compare the current version with the previous generation of the model. Seat adjustments are mechanical, with a fairly wide range. In addition, it is possible to change the angle of inclination of the entire seat. To all this, you need to add good lateral support.

As for the governing bodies, access to them is light, including numerous buttons on the console (it is made as a logical continuation of the instrument panel). With their help, control of air conditioning and radio. It is necessary to note the successful location of the speedometer, tachometer and other pointers. Their readings are easy to read, which ensures a good configuration of the knob. Barca itself is adjustable in height, however, in small limits. However, it seemed to me that these limits should be enough for a person of any complex.

The convenience of the rear passengers does not cause questions, however, provided that they are two. In the middle of the back I personally did not like.

On the run

We start the motor, he responds barely distinguishable sound accompanied by light vibration. The car is new, so we write off this to unreliability of nodes. The start from the place is very easy, while paying attention to the smooth behavior of the engine, both on low and high speed: there are no failures, the machine confidently picks up speed. Compared to previous generations Lantra in the cabin much quieter, the motor makes itself felt when the tachometer arrow approaches 3000 rpm.

The steering wheel is informative, despite the presence of the hydraulic agent, and you quickly get used to sufficiently soft pedals. What else was pleased, this is a turning radius: it is almost four and a half meters long for a car only 10.2 m. The fact that it is a very good figure, I made sure, turning around in a narrow yard, where we drove for filming. It was possible to make a maneuver, which is called, at one reception, while on many other machines they would need at least two.

Movement in the city stream not only does not cause complaints, but also gives great pleasure. With an average speed of 50-80 km / hour, you can safely turn on the fourth transmission 'and adjust the speed only the engine power supply pedal is enough to make a jerk at the right moment. Superior confirmation of the elasticity of the motor even in high gears.

The Elantra suspension is also well thought out and meets the ideas about the car for the family. The car is practically not subject to longitudinal star. Side rolls are felt, but the overall rigidity is located on that golden middle when it can still be tolerated when moving through the tram paths. As for the brakes, they are very sensitive. At the same time, the effort that needs to be attached to the pedal is located on medium limits and will be familiar to most drivers.

The only thing that can overshadow the impression of the new Elantra is a hindrance when switching transmissions, which is detected only during driving. We are talking about the armrest to the right of the driver who personally, I constantly taped when manipulating the lever of a 5-speed mechanical gearbox. It is too high, at least for a man of medium height (180 cm). And it is impossible to remove it, you can only raise the lid, which reduces the height of the armrest of centimeters to five. It does not tire with long-distance trips, but with active ride in the city, it is able to deliver some inconveniences. It seems that the armrest was bodied or under people a certain set, or under the machine, which, by the way, is also installed on Elantra. This is a four-stage automatic transmission.

Perspectives in Russia

For the Russian buyer, Elantra still remains a novelty, despite the fact that its global premiere has passed more than a year ago. Last year, dealers managed to sell only 8 cars. So modest results, however, were caused by a non-small demand, but a shortage of machines. In the Moscow office of Hyundai, they explained that until recently did not bet on the promotion of new sedans in Russia, but now they intend to reconsider plans. In the meantime, the car can only be purchased in the metropolitan salons.

The cost of Elantra in the basic configuration with a 1.6-liter engine for the Russian market begins with $ 14,925. There is also a modification with a 2.0 liter engine with a capacity of 139 hp, but it is not yet supplied officially.

Among the direct competitors Hyundai Elantra can be called Nissan Primera, Mazda 626, Kia Shuma and Skoda Octavia. Note that in this row, the starting price of Hyundai Elantra is one of the most attractive, given the rich basic configuration.

Alexander Remizov
 

A source: Newspaper "Car Izvestia" [№5 (8), 2002]