I have just purchased a Hyundai Elantra and these are my first impressions. Prior to purchase, I had honed in on three vehicles- Optra 1.8, Toyota Corolla and the Elantra. Apart from the usual test drives and testimonials, I had done extensive research on the net.
Its then I realised that the Elantra was launched first way back in 1992. It has gone through many iterations, the latest being Elantra 2004. Over 3 million Elantra’s have been sold and it is the largest selling model from the Hyundai stable world wide. The Elantra launched in India is identical to the models available the world over. Only that, the more powerful 2.0 litre engine is not available here.
On paper, there is hardly any difference in the specs between the Corolla and Elantra. Both deliver 125 ps of power at 6000 rpm, their dimensions, except height (Corolla is taller) are almost identical. The Corolla engine is the peppier of the two. It does 0-100 a full 3 secs faster than the Elantra but both are matched in 0-60- a little over 5 secs.
The Optra delivers 115 ps of power and is least peppy of the three. In fact for city traffic there is little perceptible difference between the 1.8 and 1.6 Optra. I therefore ruled out the Optra after the test drive. For sheer value for money or call it features for money you can?t beat the Elantra.
In fact that?s its world wide USP. In USA, it also comes with an unbeatable 5 year unlimited mileage warranty. Here it is limited to 2 years. The features- the works- twin airbags, ABS, TCS- Traction Control System, independent rear suspension, gas shock absorbers, 15 inch R 60 low profile tyres are all pluses in favour of the Elantra. The icing on the cake is that it is a full 1.5 lacs cheaper than the Corolla.
I opted for the Elantra GT- the base version which clips another lac off the price with the same power train and identical exteriors to the GLS. The interiors in black are elegant. I think I have made the right decision. The Elantra is great to drive- much better than the Corolla. The driver is perched at a comfortable height which gives a clear view of the front of the car- no guess work required.
The car is incredibly powerful for Mumbai city and you can be the first off the blocks with its superb acceleration and TCS -which ensures that the tyres grip the road like Velcro. My driver?s first feel- it?s like riding on a cushion of air! The car feels so light. In fact it?s a very heavy car at 1260 kgs but the ride quality and handling is superb. The steering gives me a feeling of being in total control. For its size, the car is very nimble- ideal characteristics to wriggle out of a jam.
It?s a high performance car- exactly as the ad claims. The true performance of the car is when one blazes on the highway. It touches 190 kms with ease and the car is extremely steady. Try that on a Corolla and you will know the difference. Elantra’s looks are distinctly European. Its looks are so distinctive that you either like it or dislike it. No middle ground here. Its mileage is a let down as compared to the Corolla. It gives 6-7 kmpl. I hope it improves as I run the car some more.
However, for all that one gets- performance, features and safety, I don?t mind this shortcoming. Most probably the engineers at Hyundai were mandated to make a car strong on performance which it is- 10/10. Mileage will be a casualty. Abroad, it is stated to give 26 miles to a gallon city driving, which is roughly 9 kmpl. Perhaps the Mumbai traffic pulls it down. Take my word for it- Elantra is a great car for those who demand top performance coupled with safety and stability. For its price, there is no choice but Elantra.
Why take my word? Go through the thousands of testimonials and test reports on the web and then decide. A few words about the dealer- Shreenath Hyundai. When I expressed the need to try out the car for a few hours, their MD, Mr. Shailesh Kachalia was good enough to allow me 24 hours of the car. That was a real clincher. The people there know how to take care of the customer- professionally.
No wonder they are the top Hyundai dealer in the country. I am really surprised as to why there are so few Elantra’s on the road. Its still early days for the Elantra in India- it was launched in May 04. Perhaps it requires more time. Till then, let me enjoy the real exclusive feeling of being one of the few who enjoy the privilege of having an Elantra.