2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Timing Is Everything
It’s into a market that is crossover crazy that Hyundai releases the new Elantra, a more solid, refined and pleasing version of its small/midsize four door sedan. Whether its improvements will be enough to keep sales near the level of the outgoing model—the company’s best-seller in 2015—in the face of market forces is in the fickle hands of the car gods.
Model Car
The ’17 Elantra, looking like a 7/8th scale version of the larger Sonata, and featuring Hyundai’s newer, more chamfered styling, pushes few buttons visually, either pro or con; innocuous is perhaps to harsh a term, but with every shopper’s eyeballs seeming glued to jacked up hatchbacks masquerading as SUVs, more visual punch might help. Speaking of glue, Hyundai vastly strengthened the Elantra’s structure using hundreds of feet of the stuff, meaning the new model is a light as the outgoing one but much stiffer feeling and more refined. The cockpit is very space efficient and comfortable, both front and in back. Quality of materials is sufficient, but no longer class leading, such is the level of competitiveness in the car business. The touch screen infotainment interface is quick and easy to figure out, and standard equipment generous.
Laws of Physics
Simple math dictate that sedans, with their lower center of gravity, generally ride and handle better than higher-cg crossovers, which need to be made stiffer so as to go around corners adroitly, to the detriment of a smoothness over bumps. So it is here; the Elantra’s progress is quiet, refined and it handles urban acne well for this class. It turns into corners with less lag than many crossovers as well, and the three steering “maps” allow the driver to choose the amount of resistance they want through the wheel’s rim. The test model’s 2-liter was also refined and unobjectionable, its 147hp/132lb-ft outputs meaning decent performance and fuel economy. The Eco model’s 1.4-liter turbo is the more intriguing option, however, and since this Limited model doesn’t have the driving élan of a Mazda3 or Ford Focus, it is hard to see how it can seize and hold the interest of people in the class.
Left The Dock?
How long the crossover craze will continue is hard to predict; it is partly fashion, partly based on how cheap fuel is and how well the economy is doing. Take away one or two of these factors and sedans may swing back into favor. They are more efficient, less expensive and generally better value. For its part, the Elantra is a well resolved, unobjectionable form of transport, but since it has nothing unique with which to temp buyers, it is hard to see it getting as much recognition for its inherent qualities as Hyundai’s own Tucson crossover.
More info: Hyundai.com
Isaac Bouchard is owner of Bespoke Autos, an auto brokerage that helps people save time, money and hassle when buying or leasing vehicles. Since 1991 he has helped his clients save over $1 million dollars. He has written extensively about getting the best deal possible when buying or leasing a vehicle, arranging financing or trading in a car. Isaac has been a professional automotive journalist as well for over 12 years, having reviewed most all types of car, truck and SUV.
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