It’s a tough task, but Hyundai’s Elantra seems up to the challenge.
Hyundai’s compact sedan manages to stand out in a highly competitive segment just about every automotive marquee participates in and considers a pathway into continued brand loyalty.
Two years ago, the front-wheel-drive Elantra earned the coveted ‘North American Car of the Year’ award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. While scores of automotive honors are promoted throughout print and cyber space, the NACOY award is tall among the trees because of its cross section of 50 established writers (jurors) throughout all sectors of the industry. It’s not a self-promotion tool for buff books or hit-seeking web sites. This past January, Chevrolet’s eye-popping, Corvette Stingray earned the honor. While it’s easy to eat up the appeal of a Muscle Car with standard 455-horsepower, a value-priced, compact sedan winning the award is a notable achievement.
The current 2014 Elantra is based on the winning 2012 platform. Reasons cited for the award were many including a gaggle of standard features, stand-out exterior styling, available luxury-type nuances including heated rear seats and one of the lowest starting prices in the segment. South Korea’s largest automaker’s 10-year 100,000-mile warranty represents the cherry on top of the Sundae.
Hyundai added a third shift in the fall of 2012 to its 3.2 million square foot Montgomery, Alabama assembly plant to churn out more mid-size Sonata and Elantra products. It’s the Korean automaker’s sole U.S. assembly facility, running three shifts 24 hours a day five days a week.
The first car (A Sonata) rolled off the assembly line in May of 2005 while Elantra Alabama production began in October 2010. For 2013, Elantra easily ranked as Hyundai’s top-selling vehicle with 247,912 units, up a sparkling 23 percent from 2012. Some Elantras sold in the U.S. are also assembled in South Korea to keep up with demand.
Elantra is available in two-door coupe, four-door hatchback or higher-volume four-door sedan body styles. Four-door sedans (the subject of this story) are available in three trims, up one from 2013: new-for-2014 SE, Limited and new-for 2014 Sport. Back in 2013, sedan trims included only GLS and Limited. Elantra drops the entry GLS trim in favor of the SE.
The biggest change for 2014 is a new Pport trim, available with a second engine choice, a 2.0-liter gas direct injected four cylinder cranking out 173 horses with tweaked sporty front suspension and standard rear spoiler. Also new this year, the 4.3-inch color touch screen with rear backup camera is now optional in the entry (SE) trim.
While under hood enhancements increase horsepower, Elantra continues turning heads for its stylish exterior beauty. Elantra eludes the stylish self-confidence of a sedan many levels higher in the automotive caste system. While its short, high deck lid and contoured, downward-sloping hood are a repeated theme among many sedans, Elantra adds flair with side character lines, narrow side windows and thin headlight housing stretching halfway to the front windows along the fender-hood line. Tail lighting shares the long, wrapping theme. The front grille also receives a new open-mouth lower bumper. Strap-like handles are chrome plated in Limited, and body color with SE and Sport trims.
Base SE trims include air conditioning, cruise control, Satellite radio, heated power outside mirrors, power window and locks, rear defroster and many high-tech safety nuances families seek. Another nifty lower tech but highly useful standard-for-2014 feature is concaved blind-spot alcoves built into side-view mirrors. Cloth seat coverings come standard in SE.
Hyundai smartly keeps the purchasing process simple with impressive standard features and a scant few option packages. Aside from transmission choices, SE offers a ‘preferred’ option package while Limited offers a ‘Technology’ package with bigger, 7-inch center screen and upgraded, third-generation navigation system.
The lowest-priced 2014 Elantra, an SE with six-speed manual, starts at $17,200. Our SE tester, with automatic transmission, started at $18,200. The sole factory option, an automatic transmission preferred package ($975) included a 4.3-inch in-dash color screen with backup camera, siding center armrest, illuminated ignition and front fog lights brought the bottom line to $20,110 with carpeted floor mats and $810 destination fee. The in-dash 4.3-inch touch screen is standard in Sport and Limited. The new-for-2014 Sport trim with six-speed manual transmission and 2.0-liter engine checks in at $21,700.
By comparison a 2014 Mazda3 sedan starts at $17,740 while a Ford Focus sedan checks in at $17,635. Elantra currently offers no gas-electric hybrid or pure electric version, while Ford offers an all-electric version of Focus
The SE trim’s single zone temperature gauges include inline dials (temperature, fan speed) ensconced in U-shaped pattern of buttons controlling direction, air conditioning etc. Below is a nicely thought out deep-set nook with auxiliary-iPod-USB outlets as well as a 12-volt power outlet and retracting cover for keeping small portable electronics in-tune but out of sight. This area connects with dual, inline beverage holders and the single-unit storage bin/arm rest between front buckets. Both the fuel door and trunk release levers are floor-bound left of the driver’s seat.
The standard engine (in SE and Limited trims), returning from 2013, is a 1.8-liter double overhead cam, four cylinder cranking out 145 horses. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard in SE and Sport. The six-speed automatic is a Limited standard feature while optional in SE and Sport.
The medium-depth instrument panel includes two analog gauges flanking a small, digital readout with bar-type fuel and temperature gauges forming a ‘V’ and transmission indicator in the middle. All illuminated in patriotic red, white and blue lighting. Push-button start is optional in Limited and Sport editions. The manual, tilt-and-telescope four-spoke steering wheel includes cruise control face-front right and audio controls left. Power window, mirror and locks reside at a convenient 45-degree angle on the driver’s door. The two-tone dash concaves inward front of driver and front passenger seats while jetting out near the center.
Interior seat colors include beige or grey in all three trims. Sport and Limited add a black option. Second-row seatbacks fold down with a 60/40 split and unlock via pull-knobs found in the trunk-cargo region, sporting a generous 14.8 cubic-foot girth, dimensions usually the norm of midsized sedans.
Two adults fit with optimal comfort in row two; three for short distances since headroom is tight for those more than six feet; in front, noggin room rocks. All four doors include single cup holders. Entry into the second row is aided by wide-swinging side doors with above average dimensions for legs to move comfortably.
Expect generous, but not class leading fuel economy. Our 1.8-liter four-cylinder with six-speed automatic transmission registered 28 miles per gallon city and 38 mpg highway, the best in the lineup. Elantra SEs connected to manual transmissions register 27 and 37 m.p.g.s respectively. The Mazda 3 coupled with automatic transmission registers 30 m.p.g. city and 41 highway.
Many worthy rivals in the compact segment include the aforementioned Mazda 3 (sporty ride and high-tech engine) and the Ford Focus (agile handling, solid build). Elantra may have the widest appeal because of its widest net approach with gentle handling characteristics (SE and Limited trims) along with insulating enhancements keeping the cabin quieter.
At A Glance
2014 Hyundai ElantraPrice as tested: $20,110
Engine: 1.8-liter four cylinder
Horsepower: 145
Fuel Economy: 28 city/38 highway
Length: 179.1 inches
Width: 69.9 inches
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
Curb Weight: 3,880 pounds
Built: Montgomery, Alabama