We are with the Hyundai Elantra.
The Elantra that reached its sixth generation seems to strengthen its hand against its rivals with new infrastructure, brand new appearance and more powerful diesel engine.
Let’s see if it is really so?
Let’s analyze it together.
Let’s start to talk about the new Elantra, as usual, from its design.
First of all, this car is much more attention grabbing than the old generation.
The hexagonal grill that is used in every model now and is almost became the characteristic of the brand is also used in the Elantra and ensures it to look very aggressive from the front.
Another piece that ensures the car to appear aggressive are the pointed form headlamps extending backwards.
Of course there is another piece that should not be forgotten and that is the boomerang form black piece around the fog light just next to the bumper.
When all these pieces come together, it displays the Elantra to be much more sportive from the front.
All right, let me tell you briefly what kinds of differences are there on the Elantra’s side-view.
First of all, in the previous generation Hyundai’s fluid design philosophy were implemented and therefore there were lots of shadow plays at the side-view.
Frankly speaking, if you are wondering about my opinion, I cannot say that I liked that design type.
But when you observe the new car, the line that start from the front fender and continue all along the doors and end at the rear fender looks good on the Elantra.
This way, the side-view devoid of shadow plays ensures the car to look more elite and elegant.
With the top equipment level Elite package, you can get these 17 inches wheel rims that you see here.
The wheel rims apart from being bi-color, adds a plus by its as if turning effect.
When we analyze the dimensions, the new Elantra is 2cm longer than the old.
But my guess is that this growth is only due to the new bumper design.
Therefore, I do not think there is much difference in the interior.
Still, let’s see what kind of living space is offered at the rear seats.
As you can see there is a very good knee room here.
Despite the descending roof I can say that the headroom is not bad at all.
The transmission hump is almost negligible and therefore a very good sitting is offered for the third passenger.
In addition to all these, an armrest being here shows that the Elantra can satisfy the class expectations.
You can understand that the Elantra stepped into new age by looking at its rear.
Compared to the old generation this place now appears much younger and dynamic.
At the rear of the new Elantra more pointed taillights with LED technology are used now.
There is no problem at the design of the Elantra, we may even say excellent.
But when it comes to user-friendliness, you encounter certain problems.
For example, when you want to open the boot you cannot open it from here, in other words even though it is a car of this class, it either opens from inside or by pressing the key and open it this way.
I personally must specify that I do not like this type of usage.
Because it necessitates either taking the key every time you get out of the car or thinking about opening the boot beforehand and this inconvenience the practicality.
Any way let’s put this aside, the boot of the Elantra offers 458 liters of loading capacity.
This as far as I know is smaller than the old generation but you can see by its outlook that it will satisfy the expectations of this class.
Come on let’s start to drive.
In my opinion not only the exterior but also the interior of the new Elantra is remarkable.
When you look at the mid console design, you now see a driver-oriented and more mature cockpit.
In the previous generation there was a symmetrical design that appeared as cross sign.
Strictly speaking, I cannot say that I liked that very much.
But when I look at this design, I can say that it has similar high quality appearance as its rivals.
At the center of the mid console a touch screen multimedia is located.
You are able to reach the music system, telephone and navigation from here.
The sensitivity of the touch screen is good and it can be used easily.
Directly under it there are A/C controls and they also are easily managed.
The indicators and trip computer are legible and you have no difficulty in following them.
There are lots of places for your small items here.
In front of the gear lever there is a lidded section, and behind it two cup-holders and an armrest.
With the new design, the steering wheel has been changed.
In the old generation Elantra there was a four-spoke steering wheel looking like the cross of the previous mid console.
But now three-spoke steering system that I can call sportive is being used.
It fits to the hand well and you are able to use the trip computer, cruise control, music system as well as your telephone from the buttons on it.
But even though the test car I have been driving is brand new, the control of the music system is not working.
Still, I do not think it is a big deal especially when the Hyundai offers very different warranty applications then its rivals.
What are these applications?
Let me briefly tell you about it.
The Hyundai offers the compulsory 2 years 60 thousand kilometers warranty just as all the other brands.
But apart from this, if you wish you can choose 3 years unlimited kilometers, or 5 years 100 thousand kilometers or 7 years 80 thousand kilometers warranty types without any payment.
And this in fact is a very important advantage for those people who do not think of covering too many kilometers after they buy the car.
Seven years is a very long time and this brings out the truth that the Hyundai trusts its productions and will stand behind them.
For this reason the Hyundai should be congratulated.
I have one critic about the interior and it is about the window controls.
Although the four windows are electrical, only the driver’s window comes down with one touch and even that does not go up with one touch.
When compared with its rivals this is an important failing.
Let us consider the engine and the driving features of the Elantra.
The new Elantra is imported to our country with two different engine alternatives.
One of them is 1.6 liters petrol engine and the other is the 1.6 liters diesel engine version that I am testing at the moment.
You can purchase both of them with either manual gearbox or automatic gearbox.
The 1.6 liters diesel engine I am testing develops 136 HP and 300 Nm of torque and can be bought with 7 speeds double clutch DCT gearbox.
If you want to buy this engine with a manual gearbox, I must point out that its torque value is a bit lower.
The performance of the engine is very good it definitely does not let you down and works with the gearbox in harmony.
The speed of passes and its smoothness of the gearbox are good.
But I must say that its reaction speed is not that good.
In other words when you order the throttle it is a bit slow to implemented.
I can say that it satisfy the class expectations at road handling especially when compared to the old generation where the suspensions were set rather soft and use to make you bounce and shake on road ripples and in my opinion it was very uncomfortable.
In the new generation this has been avoided and the suspension settings have been so adjusted that you do ride in comfort without bouncing.
The new Elantra definitely do not leave its line if you do not force its limits.
In the old Elantra you were able to select three different hardness levels for the steering.
In the new one you also are able to change driving modes.
There are three modes as ECO, Normal and Sport and you can choose them from the button next to the gear console.
When you choose the Sport, the steering becomes a bit harder but still artificial I must point out.
The throttle reactions get sharper and the gear selections actualize at higher rpm.
When you choose ECO, as you can guess, all these reverse and the Elantra advance in its most economical.
Now that we mention the subject of economy, let me tell you what kind of fuel consumption the Elantra offers.
I have been driving this car for a week in the city as well as outside the city and in traffic and the trip computer at the moment indicates to me 7.4 liters fuel consumption averages.
In other words at mixed usage if you ask me a standard driver will travel with this value.
But if your aim is economy then naturally you can definitely see lower values.
I personally drove with performance some of the time.
For example, when I started the car this morning before the test I have zeroed the trip computer and drove economically, and the trip computer at the moment indicates to me 5.7 liters fuel consumption averages.
In other words if you want to be frugal it is clear that the Elantra will satisfy your expectations.
In the subject of insulation the Elantra is with the class standards.
In other words it does not make you hear the road and wind noise in the cockpit.
But the diesel engine especially at high rpm works a bit noisy and you hear that in the cockpit.
Is it bothersome?
No, but it is beneficial for you to know it.
The new Elantra’s outlook is now much more assertive.
Its comfort level has been appreciably increased.
The diesel engine and automatic gearbox twosome offers more pleasurable driving.
But still the Elantra has few deficiencies that should not be in this class.
Those are, as I have mentioned while driving, the boot lid and the four windows controls.
Still, if you do not have too many expectations, you can be happy with this car in this class, especially with the seven years warranty option of the Hyundai that no other brand can offer.
See you…