Short Take Road Test
The Elantra Touring is the reincarnation of the old Elantra GT, a five-door hatchback that disappeared at the end of the 2006 model year in the transition from generation three to gen four of the sedan. It’s back for 2009, and, as with the old GT, it’s supposed to satisfy the needs of drivers who grow morose without big daily doses of lateral g.
Sorry, no sale on that part of the deal. The Touring edition has pleasant road manners, good steering feel, adequate power, respectable grip, and forward sightlines worthy of a Honda, but the chassis feels a little flexy when pressed, and the suspension runs out of travel on rough roads. If you’re looking for athleticism in a small five-door, the Honda Fit is a better, although slightly smaller, bet.
But the 141-hp Elantra Touring has its own appeal. It’s packed with standard safety features: stability control, for example—a first for this class that includes anti-lock brakes and traction control—as well as curtain airbags and front side airbags. The list includes convenience goodies such as air conditioning, a very good audio system, power windows, heated power mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, and a steering column adjustable for rake and reach. There’s more, too; remarkable content for a $19,000 car.
The Elantra we tested included the Premium Sport package—power sunroof, heated front seats, and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with H-rated 215/45 Kumho Solus tires—for an estimated price of $20,500. Still remarkable.
Remarkable also applies to this car’s cargo hold—65 cubic feet with the rear seats folded—and to the quality of its attractive interior. Hyundai keeps raising its game in this regard, and the result here is a very pleasant and useful small car. It won’t turn any heads, but its interior will reward the owner for his savvy, as will its fuel economy. With the standard five-speed manual gearbox, the EPA projects 23 mpg city and 31 highway. We averaged just 24 mpg but feel sure that less spirited driving will yield better results.
