2009 Hyundai Elantra / Elantra Touring

2009 Hyundai Elantra / Elantra Touring 2009 Hyundai Elantra / Elantra Touring
Review

Introduction

The Hyundai Elantra is the Korean automaker’s compact entry and fills a spot in its lineup above the diminutive Accent and below the Sonata family sedan. Completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, the Elantra features a spacious and handsomely designed cabin and an attractive base price. In fact, the Elantra is classified as a mid-size car by the EPA based on its 98 cubic feet of interior space and capacious 14-cubic-foot trunk. A wagon version of the Elantra, dubbed the Elantra Touring, is new for 2009.

Only one engine is offered in the Elantra, a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder that makes 138 or 132 hp depending on emissions tuning. The engine lacks the refinement and sweetness of the four-cylinder engines in the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Also, most competitors offer more horsepower than the Elantra can muster. Fuel economy is good at 24 mpg in the city for the slick-shifting five-speed manual and 25 mpg in the city with the optional four-speed automatic; both transmissions score 33 mpg on the highway cycle. Fuel economy for the Touring model is about 2 mpg worse than for a comparable sedan.

On the road, the Elantra exhibits a comfortable and supple ride that errs on the side of softness. Throw the Elantra into a corner, and the body roll gives the Elantra a big, almost Buick-like feel. On the highway, the engine roars a bit louder than those of the competition, but the Elantra does score well when it comes to passenger and driver comfort. The Elantra Touring features sportier suspension tuning that goes a long way toward improving the regular Elantra’s soft and dull handling.

In a recent comparison test, the Elantra sedan finished in fourth place in a field of six. The Elantra beat out a previous-generation Toyota Corolla and the latest Nissan Sentra. The Elantra did fall behind the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Volkswagen Rabbit. Holding the Elantra back were its boomy engine, unsatisfying body motions, and dull handling. We did praise the Elantra’s well-executed, large interior and comfortable seats. The Touring has yet to make a comparison-test appearance.

The Elantra comes standard with an excellent five-year or 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. The powertrain is covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Verdict

With an attractive price and a spacious and comfortable interior, the Elantra proves appealing to those who value space over an entertaining driving experience. Those seeking mechanical grace and a sporty driving experience may want to look elsewhere. But if you want your small car to drive like a larger luxury car, then the Elantra might be for you. The Elantra Touring adds some much-needed sportiness to the lineup, and its rear hatch brings practicality.

Click here to read our full review of the Hyundai Elantra sedan.

Click here to read our full review of the Hyundai Elantra Touring.

Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Hyundai Elantra.

What’s New for 2009

The Elantra sedan soldiers into 2009 with a new audio system. A revised interior, an improved suspension, and an auxiliary input with iPod connectivity become available later. The five-door Elantra Touring model is all-new for 2009.

Highlights and Recommendations

Two trim levels are available on the Elantra. The most basic version is the GLS, which comes equipped with power heated mirrors, power locks and windows, remote keyless entry, folding rear seats, and a tilting steering wheel. Air conditioning and cruise control are optional.

The lavishly equipped Elantra SE gives the Elantra a sportier look and more standard equipment compared with the GLS. Stability control is standard on the SE and not available on the GLS, which is why we’d opt for the SE if we were buying an Elantra sedan. Other standard features on the SE include the equipment from the GLS plus 16-inch aluminum wheels, cruise control, fog lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, air conditioning, an AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 stereo system, a trip computer, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. Leather seats are optional in the SE.

Our favorite Elantra is the new Elantra Touring. Not only does the Touring model look better than the sedan, but it also offers superior practicality and a better driving experience.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side-impact front and rear curtain airbags, front-seatbelt pretensioners, tire-pressure monitoring, and anti-lock brakes are standard on all Elantras. Traction and stability control are standard on the Elantra SE and Touring but are not available at all on the Elantra GLS.