Road TestCar reviews - Hyundai - Elantra - Elite sedanHyundai modelsOverviewHyundai gets serious with its value-packed Elantra sedan. We test the top-spec Elite11 May 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS SMALL sedans are big business in Australia, as private and fleet buyers alike make the switch from large and thirsty six-cylinder models like the Holden Commodore, into something that is more frugal, manoeuvrable and socially respectable. It is in this environment that Hyundai launches its fourth-generation Elantra small-car. As the generous specifications list reveals, going compact doesn’t have to mean missing out on life’s little luxuries. But no matter how jam-packed full of features the Elantra gets, can it take on ferociously capable competition as diverse as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta and Mitsubishi 380? Model release date: 1 October 2006 to 1 June 2011 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelNot Hyundai’s finest hour, the previous-generation Series II Elantra received a heavy-handed nose job, and a number of cabin trim alterations, but the car still felt as old, noisy and unrefined as the original XD Elantra (which replaced the Lantra in October 2000) - especially against its mostly newer competition. At least the essential five-door hatchback model was offered (that’s coming in late 2007 for the HD series). Engines were rationalised down to a single 105kW/186Nm 2.0-litre HVT twin-cam unit, mated to a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox. |
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