Big car looks and a new, punchier 2.0-litre engine highlight Hyundai’s all-new Elantra sedan
Better yet, there’s a sporty SR model with a 150kW 1.6-litre turbocharged engine set to join the Elantra range later this year.
Now that’s what we call putting some ‘zip’ back into compact sedans – a sales segment which struggles in Australia but is massive in Asian markets.
Slow sales saw Nissan withdraw its similar Almera sedan from the local market last year and Hyundai is the first to admit the all-new Elantra will forever live in the shadow of its top-selling stablemate the i30 hatchback.
We certainly like the looks of the all-new Hyundai Elantra – it is larger than the previous generation and actually looks like a mid-size sedan.
It’s also more spacious on the inside.
And you can’t argue with the value-for-money with both entry-level Active and higher-grade Elite models boasting inclusions such as a 7-inch touchscreen, rear-view camera, cruise control, park assist, Apple CarPlay LED DRLs and automatic headlights.
Over the Active, Elite models add items like 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-trimmed interior, one-touch turn signals (3, 5 or 7 flashes), dual-zone climate control with rear seat vents, ‘Supervision’ instrument cluster with colour 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen and some extra exterior chrome.
Underneath is a new, stiffer bodyshell and revised suspension (for example the dampers for the rear torsion beam are now upright).
Hyundai says the changes deliver improved NVH and a more driver-focused dynamic.
Again substantial local development has delivered a unique suspension tune for Australia.
The new lineup looks like this:
| Active (6-speed manual) | $21,490 |
| Active (6-speed automatic) | $23,790 |
| Elite (6-speed automatic) | $26,490 |
