Hyundai Elantra 4 doors for 2007 Sedan

Full "Next"!

Impressive? We ask ourselves, and answer in the affirmative: impressive! Moreover, we have not yet taken to the salon look at the car from afar, but the style is visible even at a distance.
 

Yes, and could the rapidly developing Hyundai not demonstrate its power and technology in the most popular car class? The new Elantra has grown in all respects from geometry to the price.

 

The proposal to test the new Elantra reacted calmly. On the one hand, the car is undeniably expected, on the other, it’s too fresh, let’s say, an ambiguous impressions of the previous novelty of the Korean manufacturer: Verna. Although to understand how justified many were in love with the old Elantra and so willingly accepted the new, of course, interesting.
 

General trend: a new generation should be slightly larger than the previous one. So Elantra has grown up. The width of the front of the cabin at the hip level is increased by 32 mm, and in the shoulder area by 22. The salon expanded at the rear, providing passengers with an extra 40 mm in the shoulders. The volume of the trunk, instead of 415, is 460 liters.
 

Actually, despite the success of the previous generation of the model, Koreans with the update of the model were clearly late. The third Elantra looked like a car of albeit bright for her, but still the past. And if her face looked quite modern, then the interior is undoubtedly outdated. Classmates have long visited the rooms of plastic surgeons: who for the sake of tightening, and who is for deeper rejuvenation. And then the turn of Hyundai came.
 

The new modification is so much different from the previous one that the story about its interior and exterior would take too much space. Let's do this: take a look at first in the photo (see the next page) and much will become clear. In my opinion, we can say that the novelty, from the point of view of design, did not take a step forward, but rather a jump. Do you agree?
 

Look at least at a well -completed central console, which received a finished original style. Of course, a picky motorist will find not original features in the design of the new Elantra (one of my colleagues, for example, has seen the resemblance to Lexus IS250 True, a juicy compliment?), But these are the current realities: everyone looks like someone.


In ergonomics, by and large, only the steering wheel disappointed. Firstly and the main ones, it is insanely slippery; You start working actively, and he, as if greased with fat, does not notice his palms. Secondly, it is too light and non-informative. It spins with one finger, which of course, good at low speeds, but when you feel racing excitement, I want to feel its heaviness.

 

But personally, I did not make a huge impression a huge impression, but the behavior of the car on the road. Thanks to the weather, which arranged an excellent check, organizing heavy snowfall on the eve, and at night a jump in temperature! And special thanks to our road services, who failed to quickly react: on the way we did not meet a single snowpock car.
 

Prices
Elantra is already attractive in the database: engine 1.6 liters, 122 liters. C, air conditioning, front and rear electric windows, salon filter, rear disc brakes, driver and passenger safety pillows, ABS and EBD. For the base they ask $ 17,790. In general, Elantra is offered with engines 1.6 and 2.0 liters. The last option only with an automatic machine for $ 24 890.
 

Oddly enough, in search of Elantra rivals, we are faced with certain difficulties. And all, because there is too much the difference between the lower and upper price thresholds.
 

Dealers offer cars from $ 17,000 to 25,000. It turns out that in competitors, Elantra and Skoda Octavia Tour (and New), as well as Lancer, Astra and the new Corolla. You can recall the compatriot Elantra, Kia Cerato, and one of the favorites of the race for the hearts of Russians Ford Focus. Of course, each has its pros and cons.

In Astra and Focus, for example, there are a lot of options that must be ordered for an additional fee; In addition, the lines are scared of them. Octavia is good, but the first is old, and the second is expensive. Corolla in one of the first places in the top list of the most stolen cars
 

So, ESP and ABS worked at full power and did not allow liberties: on a slippery road, the car stood like a glove. And acceleration was performed by it without hinders and discontent. This is a great merit of a new machine, which provides excellent interaction with a two -liter engine. Yes: on the test we had a top Elantra, because the base for it is a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter unit. There are 143 horses in a two -liter, which, you see, is decent for a car of not so outstanding sizes.

 

True, Elantra, even with a powerful engine, still does not give the impression of a pseudo -sports car. Either the machine does not allow to accelerate from the heart, or the security systems vote for the right ride, the new Elantra rather affirms itself in the rank of relatively roomy family machine quite comfortable and safe. Maybe right? In the golf class, there is someone to play muscles.
 


The car is provided for the test by the official dealer of Hyundai, the company East Market Motors. During the test, it is insured by Rosno.


Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 

 
   
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 114/2007]