Hyundai Elantra 4 doors 2003 - 2006 sedan

L-club

Mitsubishi Lancer
The new, the ninth generation of Lancers debuted at the Russian Auto Show-2003 and is already offered by dealers.
The car is still represented on the domestic market with two 1.3 liter gasoline engines, 60 kW/82 liters. with. and 1, 6 l, 72 kW/98 l. with. with mechanical or automatic (for version 1.6 l) gearboxes.
The sedan stands out among the competitors not only with a high level of equipment, but also with very interesting prices - from $ 13,900 to 16,950.
Hyundai Elantra
The updated Elantra also debuted in 2003 and is represented by sedan and hatchbacks on the domestic market.
The car comes to us with a 1.6 liter gasoline engine, 77 kW/105 liters. with. And two gearboxes - mechanics or automatic.
Depending on the level of configuration (GL or GLS), the prices for Elantra Setan in the salons of official dealers range from $ 13 190 to 15,990.
Suzuki Liana
For the first time, four-door liana was presented in 2001 for the first time, and in 2002 its European presentation took place.
A sedan and hatchback are supplied to Russia only with a 1.6 liter engine, 78 kW/106 liters. p., aggregated with five -speed mechanics or four -speed automatic. A full -wheel drive version of the machine is also provided.
We sold the basic package of vines for the soldier’s basic equipment. The price range is from $ 14,900 to 16 850.
These cars were already in the editorial fitting room and somehow left the first and, possibly, the most vivid impressions. However, everything is known in comparison, so we were not afraid to collect them together in order not only to highlight the advantages, but also to emphasize the shortcomings.
Of course, the event of the event was the laureate of the Grand Prix at the wheel, a model of the new corporate style of Mitsubishi - Lancer. With it, the company connects great hopes, including in advance in the Russian market. After all, it is he who should replace the slightly bored carism, as well as make serious competition to other whales of the Japanese auto industry - Nissan and Toyota.
In our test, the opponents of Lancer got non -standard, although not deprived of the attention of the domestic consumer. Hyunde Elantra recently renewed, having received an even more European shell and a number of improvements. Well, Suzuki Liana is not only a native Japanese, maybe not as promoted as eminent brands, but also a classmate, combining a lot of unusual design solutions that attract attention. So, our wards are three sedans with 1.6 liter engines, about one price category, each of which will probably be interesting in its own way.
 
Stylistic standards
Oh, these modern cars designed by a computer. It seems that their creators forgot about the revolutionary of exterior, bright, juicy lines. Alas, with rare exceptions, the cars become more and more similar to one another. And then there is still a universal love for silver colors and shades ... I repent, more than once I caught himself on the fact that, studying, for example, Lancer, suddenly unexpectedly discovered the Hyunde emblem and vice versa. What then to say about the people inexperienced, for whom they are all on one face? Interesting, but against the background of such one -faced, Liana suddenly acquired a lot of external virtues. Its unusual proportions, and even factory tuning design, suddenly turned out to be a pass into the world of recognition. Nobody has ever tried to name this car with a stranger. Of course, this colossus is on small wheel legs (by the way, a completely adult dimension 195/55R15), to put it mildly, does not shine with the sophistication of forms and lines, but it is at least distinguished by a non-standard appearance.
Let's hope that the internal content will be released to the rest. Therefore, let's take a closer look at the interiors, carefully studying the individual characteristics of everyone.
I remember that the same Mitsubishi Lancer at the first acquaintance did not make a stunning impression. He seemed thoughtful, solid, well equipped, but looked more than familiar.
Now, against the backdrop of competitors, he suddenly began to look even more comfortable. Polled inserts under a black tree began to play, plastic began to look more pleasant, an individual and novelty immediately felt in the car. As a result, it was only worth it inside, all questions with a confusion in stamps and emblems instantly faded into the background.
A convenient, spacious seat, a well -readable combination of devices, carefully verified efforts and movement of controls. Everything is logical here, everything is at hand - as a result, you get used to the car almost immediately, without getting used. Of course, not everything in this car is perfect. It is difficult, for example, not to complain to the larger for the diameter of the steering wheel - a tribute to Japanese traditions or not to notice the picket fence from the rear head restraints covering half the glass. But in general, everything is thought out to the smallest detail.
But in the back seat is cramped to knees, and the roof frankly hangs over his head, so, from the point of view of passengers, Lancer is quite ordinal.
Against the backdrop of the thoughtful Japanese Hyunde Elantra, it looks by no means simple, although not so located. It seems to be a standard combination of gray and dark shades, but a little rougher style, more modestly upholstery, easier performance. Nevertheless, if you sit down and take a closer look, then everything you need will be found in this car, because in terms of equipment level it is not inferior to the Japanese. Here you just need to get used to the large -scale lattices of deflectors on the front panel, to penetrate, so to speak, by the Korean approach to the layout of the workplace, and the Elantra will be very at the level. At least in matters of convenience of landing or using one or another equipment. A somewhat peculiar, but convenient combination of devices, logical toggle switches and twins of the ventilation system.
Of course, not everything here is perfect, and, for example, the box lever immediately alarms in large moves. The driver's seat offers a very good range of longitudinal movements and as many as five adjustments, including fitting the front and rear parts of the pillow in height. According to the configuration, it is very similar to the Lancer, but less tough in the lateral direction. Naturally, the breathing back is slightly annoying, but otherwise you sit down almost exquisitely: I raised it a little, tilted it, and the seat took comfortably and unobtrusively into its arms.
Walfrostnaya and rear passengers. The picky will surely celebrate a low pillow and a pressing roof, but everything is in order with the knees, there is even a stock to sitting ahead.
Suzuki Liana is definitely a different view of the concept of a modern sedan. It all starts with the fact that you enter this car, and not getting down, and when you sit at the wheel, you twist your head for a long time, in your soul believing that the dealers were still mistaken and still slipped compactiven. But how else, when above the head is not just full of space, but also with a margin? The wide front racks are facilitated by small additional windows, and you sit here unusually high, almost like in an all -terrain vehicle. The unusualness of the machine only enhance the narrow strip of a digital device of the devices, a high and massive front panel and a machine gun selector. Alas, one of the most expensive Liana’s settings, a Russian dealer called only Aero, we also got an automatic transmission. Nevertheless, a pedantic examination reveals not only the emphasized high cost of the finish. You find the trunk (which means, after all, a sedan!) Such impressive sizes that competitors with their solid cargo compartments can only envy. Having entered the taste, I immediately want to try myself in the role of a passenger. After all, you can also enter the back seat and ... but it wasn’t there. The stylish roof is interfering here. But the rest is great: a tall, comfortable pillow, a solid supply on the knees, eh, if the ceiling was like in front.
And yet it's time to settle behind the wheel. I must admit that the enthusiasm was gradually reduced. The range of longitudinal movement of the seat, and most importantly, is clearly short of its pillow, not at all European proportions. As a result, the hips are slightly hanged in the air, in the hands again in Japanese, a large steering wheel, and in front of the eyes is too bright a stain of a stylish combination of devices. Here he is, another sedan in Japanese!
 
Mitsubishi-Lenser
Its horse is a balanced sled. The characteristic of the engine is extremely flat and as convenient for the consumer. In most situations, the Lancer motor is a little monotonous (stretched gear rates), but it will very reliably disperse the car from 1200-1500 rpm and do this up to the power limiter. In principle, it is convenient for the layman, but if you go from the heart, the temperament of the car will seem boring. But acoustic comfort is definitely on top. This is noticeable from the first minutes of dating. Of course, with 4000 rpm, the voice of the motor breaks through, but it sounds veiled, as if ears had shut up with cotton.
A good car and on the settings of suspensions. Although I will not hide - domestic roads adjusted the assessment. If in Finland (during the presentation) the settings of the chassis caused only admiration, then now Lancer annoy with sharp vertical shocks at high speed. It is very likely that our gentle waves are more laid in the design of the moves of suspensions.
But handling has not changed. The car is accurate and very assembled on the road, while it does not bother at all, allowing you to reliably and confidently move in space. In general, an understandable and logical machine that does not present any surprises.
And so, perhaps, in everything. On the one hand, nothing special, outstanding, on the other, is a clear adherence to all the designed design schemes, which allows you to achieve stable results.
 
Hyunde Elantra
But this one with character, ”we note, hardly starting measurements of longitudinal dynamics. Of course, the Korean is unlikely to boast of the correctness of Lancer settings, but that its motor is more fun is obvious. Pretty burdensome, it is already lucky from 1000-1200 rpm, and to three and a half - suddenly flashes with a pickup and then spins easily and naturally, up to the limiter. Suddenly it turns out that the transmission falls into all the desired ranges: the car has not only convenient, but also very dynamic in nature. Eh, if it were not for a too long -legged switching mechanism and not very intelligible clutch, one could generally talk about the sports settings of the power unit. Hyunde is noticeably noisier than the right Japanese. He sings the motor, itching tires, very actively reacting to the quality of the coating. On the one hand, this, of course, emphasizes the morale, but on the other hand, in certain modes, annoys persistent sound pressure.
But the pendants seemed quite successful. They are not as comfortable as Lancer, and much more actively transfer all the small bumps of the road to the body. Nevertheless, they hold a blow well and they cope with gentle waves without problems. Only at high speed, the car is slightly annoyed by sharp vertical impulses that occur on a gentle wave.
Not a good Elantra and in terms of controllability. Of course, it is inferior to Mitsubishi in the accuracy of responses, but in general it is reliable in most everyday situations. Of course, here the most bores of the body are, and when you quickly drive you, you will certainly feel some kind of mismatch between the driver’s teams and the reactions of the car, but in general Hyunde tries not to change the logic of his behavior on the road.
 
Suzuki liana
The car is emphasized by the cutter and dynamic, the machine gun is abruptly and abruptly switches the gears, strengthening the sports spirit. But something does not fit in the ideology of a large family sedan with impulsive fighting qualities! And the point is not only that the engine is annoying in the cabin already from 2500 rpm and frankly presses on the ears, and the gearbox strives all the time striving to stick the lowered, you only need to carefully touch the accelerator. In the end, there are vines and ordinary mechanics in the configuration. Just such sports, embedded, by the way, in the characteristics of pendants, makes the sedan excessively nervous, somehow illogical. On a table, even as a table, Suzuki surprises unexpectedly fast and exact responses, but, falling on small waves in a bend, begins to bury and swing, striving to straighten the trajectory. Or, having imposed the uncompromising rigidity of their contested pendants, it gives up very quickly, it is worthwhile to appear serious bumps. Honestly, the struggle with such complex manifestations of character was not impressed, and the car was quite unusual in style immediately ended up in outsiders.
 
Summing up
Non -standard competitors, unusual results ... Who, for example, could have assumed that an interesting on the outside and inside Suzuki, Liana, having encouraged competitors with the size of a salon and trunk, will suddenly refuse to play adult games, being a very naval in a rider plan? Honestly, they themselves did not expect this. Although, I admit, Hyunde Elantra surprised, but already in a pleasant direction. The Korean was competitive, first of all, by sled capabilities. Otherwise, he, of course, is simpler, but he takes with price, equipment and the size of the cabin.
Well, the main instigator of the test? Convenient, practical, thought out by Mitsubishi Lancer - a solid good in most nominations. And this, perhaps, is his main advantage, because it is almost quite difficult to be an excellent student in everything, and for the layman this is just what you need.
 
Mitsubishi Lancer
A cozy, handsome salon, where there seems to be nothing unusual, thoughtful controls, well -read devices. Unless the bagel is too big.
The rear head restraint is not the best design solution, as, indeed, the trunk with a complex configuration of the side surfaces.
The electric drive of all four windows is standard basic equipment, which includes the central lock and air conditioning.
 
Hyundai Elantra
The interior in Korean does not look so located: the plastic is simpler and the style of loading. Nevertheless, everything necessary here is in abundance.
A built -in glass, a combined armrest in the back is very convenient.
Double boxing between the front seats is an almost integral part of the modern car. The main thing is not to forget what and where I put it.
 
Suzuki Liana
Inside the liana is originality itself: a spacious interior, a powerful front panel, bright scales of digital devices. The peculiarity of this version is also emphasized by expensive upholstery materials.
In the back seat you feel a close ceiling, but otherwise it’s just great. A roomy trunk will be envied by many.
High landing is not only a good visibility, but also the ability to hide a roomy tray for small things under the seat.
 
SUMMARY
Mitsubishi Lancer
+ Convenient ergonomics of the workplace, good balanced sled capabilities, high acoustic comfort.
- difficult for the headrests, visibility through the inner rear-view mirror. Hyundai Elantra
+ Convenient places for rear passengers and trunk, frisky engine, energy -intensive pendants.
- Large movements of the gearbox lever, slurred clutch pedal.
Suzuki Liana
+ Original design and interior, spacious interior, roomy trunk.
- noisy engine, low smoothness, insufficient longitudinal range of front seats adjustments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sergey Voskresensky
Photo: George Sadkov
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"