Start up the Elantra, and you hear a subdued diesel soundtrack. You won’t mistake this car for anything other than an oil-burner, but the engine is reasonably quiet and unobtrusive. Acceleration is lively from low revs, as the diesel makes its torque keenly felt. Just like its Accent stablemate, the Elantra gives a surge of acceleration as the revs build past 2500 rpm, enough for city overtaking. Keep it below 2000 rpm for smooth progress and better fuel economy. The only transmission option for now is a five-speed manual.
The Elantra rides on all-independent suspension, with MacPherson struts in front and a muti-link setup in the rear. Four wheel disc brakes are standard, as is a driver’s airbag. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels and tires, once the sole domain of sports cars and tuners, are now the norm for this car.
The Elantra is not the cheapest in its segment, nor is it focused purely on one aspect of driving. It’s a well-balanced, tightly-assembled package that is differentiated strongly, once again, by the CRDi engine under its hood.
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| Shifter operation is alright, but for real sales success an automatic option should be made available. |
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| Center console is full of buttons, but you'll get used to it. Audio system is fully featured including a tape deck! |
