2012 Hyundai Elantra
The high praises the 2011 Hyundai Elantra received carry over into the 2012 model year. The Elantra is a good value, but no reviewers label the Elantra fun-to-drive like the Mazda3 or Honda Fit. But they do say the 2012 Hyundai Elantra makes a great daily driver. Reviewers compare the 2012 Hyundai Elantra to the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Forte, all of which are very similar to the Elantra in terms of daily driving capabilities.That car is the Hyundai Elantra, one of the best compact sedans available today, and one of the strongest new-car values in recent memory.
The Elantra may have the best iteration of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" styling theme. It's an even smoother take than on the bigger Sonata sedan, and catapults the Elantra out of its old staid look, into a sporty, modern space. From some angles, the Hyundai Elantra looks like it's about to leap ahead; the rear door cuts in particular seem to keep the body in constant visual motion. Even the base GLS has power windows, locks, and mirrors; keyless entry; and (on automatic models) air conditioning; cruise control; and telescopic steering. Bluetooth and audio streaming are standard, too; a rearview camera comes with the navigation system, and to top it all off, the Elantra earns the IIHS' Top Safety Pick designation.
The Hyundai Elantra may have the best iteration of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" styling theme. The Elantra is an even smoother take on the larger Sonata sedan, and from the back you might actually mistake it for its mid-size sibling. The exterior builds on the automaker's Fluidic Sculpture theme that applies to the mid-size Sonata, but in the Elantra it's a little crisper and aggressive, a little more athletic.
The level of detailing for the Hyundai Elantra exterior is particularly noteworthy. In IIHS testing, the Elantra lands the Top Safety Pick accolade, including top 'good' ratings in all categories of testing--including the new roof-strength test. But in the federal tests, the Elantra only managed three stars in frontal impact despite top five-star results in both side impact and the rigorous side-pole test.
In short, the Elantra is a home run in the compact segment, allowing more drivers to happily enter a fuel-efficient future.--The 2011 Elantra sedan is available at Hyundai dealerships now and is offered in two trim levels: base GLS and upscale Limited. Hyundai has definitely met its goal, as the Elantra styling is as dynamic as it gets in this class.--Like the Civic, the Elantra front roof pillars have been stretched toward the front fenders, resulting in a windshield with greater rake.
Automakers have been racing to produce small cars that get great gas mileage using conventional engines, and Hyundai has succeeded on that front with the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, which is powered by a new 148-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that gets an EPA-estimated 29/40 mpg city/highway with either the manual or automatic transmission.
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| Hyundai Elantra |
There's no denying the Hyundai Elantra is a modestly powered car, but so are most of its competitors, including the Civic, Cruse and Toyota Corolla. We were, in fact, hustling the car pretty aggressively.--Contributing to the Elantra thrifty fuel use and good drivability is its optional six-speed automatic, which is a new Hyundai-developed transmission.
Before driving the Hyundai Elantra, I had my reservations about its driving dynamics. Some of Hyundai's other small models, like the Tucson crossover, don't offer the best driving experience, and I wondered if Hyundai had figured things out with this car.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Elantra is how willingly it tackles curving roads. I also got a feel for the car in more mundane driving, like highway cruising. The car has very good straight-line tracking.
The Hyundai Elantra exterior sets high design expectations, but the cabin gets a fair dose of style itself. --For a small car, the front of the Elantra cabin feels spacious, easily accommodating my 6-foot-1 frame. The Limited trim has heated rear seats — an uncommon feature in this class.
Standard safety features include all-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system. The stability system is part of the car's standard Vehicle Stability Management technology, which also uses the electric power steering to help keep the car on its intended course.
