2007 Hyundai Elantra

PROS
Class leading refinement, Clean and contemporary interior, Excellent fuel economy

CONS Average performance and roadholding, Only one body style

'scuse me, must be in the front row
Over the past decade, South Korean automaker Hyundai has made great strides in the U.S. market. In 2006, Hyundai posted its eighth consecutive year-over-years sales increase and sold 455,520 vehicles. That placed Hyundai tenth among all manufacturers and ahead of well-known makes like BMW, Cadillac, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Saturn, and Volkswagen.

A large part of Hyundai's sales growth has been expansion into new market segments. For example, Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Santa Fe are top-selling SUVs and the Hyundai Azera is a world-class premium midsize car.

Hyundai hasn't forgotten its bread-and-butter vehicles as it completely redesigns its compact Elantra for 2007. Next to Sonata, Elantra is Hyundai's best-selling car and competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and Toyota Corolla for value-conscious shoppers.

Three trim levels are offered: GLS, SE, and Limited. All are front-wheel drive and powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 138 horsepower and 136 pounds-feet of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes and front, side, and curtain airbags. Traction and stability control are not offered.

GLS models include tilt steering wheel, split-folding rear seat, power windows and locks, keyless entry, and rear defogger. SE models add to GLS air conditioning, tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, auxiliary input, fog lights, and alloy wheels. Limited adds to SE leather upholstery and heated front seats.

Key options include automatic transmission, power sunroof, cargo tray, and floor mats. GLS has a base price of $13,395, SE $15,695, and Limited $16,695. All models have a destination charge of $600.

Downshifting is a snap, thanks to a smooth-operating shifter and light and precise clutch. This is unusual among compact cars as most have vague and sloppy shift mechanisms. The engine itself is quiet in routine cruising and will happily lug around at 1500 rpm in fifth gear.

What the Elantra's engine lacks in absolute power, it makes up with miserly fuel economy. The manual is EPA rated at 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Everyday commuters will likely see about 28 mpg, perhaps as high as 31 mpg if your commute features lots of highway driving. Hyundai says Elantra's engine will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road
Previous generations of the Elantra have always favored ride quality over handling prowess. The '07 model is no different. Thanks to a longer wheelbase, stiffer structure, and new suspension the ride is considerably more composed than in year's past. Small bumps are absorbed easily and the harshness is removed from most large bumps.

Elantra's highway ride is particularly impressive. There's little float at speed and the compliant suspension does an excellent job of smoothing out the ride on scalloped concrete expressways.

Body lean in fast turns is minimal, as is brake dive and acceleration squat. In quick lane changes Elantra is too easily upset by minor bumps.

Continuing the refinement trend, Elantra's also very quiet. With the exception of a slight wind rush around the side mirrors at highway speeds, Elantra is otherwise among the quietest compacts on the market. Road noise is impressively low and the engine only complains when pushed above 4000 rpm.

Behind the Wheel
The new Elantra sports a bright and contemporary interior with clear blue-lit gauges, well-placed controls, and appropriate materials. Most surfaces are covered in grained, but hard, plasti--though the dashboard, center console cover, and armrests are padded.

Front seats are surprisingly roomy and supportive. There's ample head and leg room for large adults and the seats are long-haul comfortable. Height-adjustable seat and tilt-telescope steering wheel that's standard on SE are unexpected in the class and make getting comfortable a snap.

Rear seats offer adult-sized head room and good leg room--as long as the front seats aren't pushed all of the way back. Seat backs are upright and firm, but bottoms are comfortable. The rear seat features a fold-down center armrest, which is a nice plus in this class.

Thanks to its tall design, Elantra offers more absolute cargo room than most others in the class. Split rear seats fold but not flat and the pass-through is quite small. Trunk has hinges that eat into cargo space, though this is not uncommon among compact cars. Interior storage is good with a large glove box and ample front-door map pockets.

Bottom Line Hyundai has done a wonderful job of re-inventing Elantra. It's a compact car that offers the room and features of many midsize cars.

What Hyundai hasn't changed is Elantra's excellent value equation. Dollar for dollar it's hard to beat Elantra on room, features, and refinement. Given the improvements, Elantra can stand with its head held high against other vehicles in the class, yet still cost hundreds less.