Hyundai Elantra Touring Review

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring Hatchback Shown

A lot has changed at Hyundai over the past decade. Thanks to exponential leaps in quality and design, the Korean giant today offers a thoroughly competitive product lineup that includes sedans, SUVs, a minivan and even an award-winning luxury car. One of its latest offerings is a spunky and spacious four-door hatchback/wagon called the Elantra Touring.

The Hyundai Elantra Touring is based on the European version of the Elantra compact sedan. The Touring model has a wagonlike body style, a slightly longer wheelbase, different styling and enhanced chassis tuning. The latter yields a more stable and sporty driving experience than the softly sprung sedan can offer. The cabin design is courtesy of Hyundai's European wing as well, and here the news isn't so good, as the cabin materials are inferior to those in the American Elantra sedan. Where the Elantra Touring really shines, as you might expect, is in its hauling abilities: The rear seat is roomy, and cargo volume is class-leading with the seat up or down. If you need a practical yet sprightly car with more space than the typical hatchback, the Elantra Touring deserves a close look.

Current Hyundai Elantra Touring

The well-equipped Hyundai Elantra Touring debuted for the 2009 model year. This small four-door hatchback is offered in a single trim level. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, foglights, air-conditioning, power accessories, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a CD/MP3 audio system. Also standard are six airbags, antilock brakes and stability control. Major options include larger wheels, a sunroof and heated front seats.

The Elantra Touring is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 138 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. Inside, there's plenty of room for all occupants and their gear. The Touring is almost more of a midsize wagon than a compact hatchback, as it can hold up to 65 cubic feet of stuff with the rear seats lowered -- about what you can load up in many compact SUVs.

On the road, the Hyundai Elantra Touring gets up to speed reasonably well, albeit somewhat noisily at higher engine speeds. Its ride is smooth and stable, and a relatively quiet cabin makes this Elantra a good highway cruiser. It's also a much more capable handler than the Elantra sedan, boasting good grip and respectable body control. One disappointment is the lack of steering feel, which makes the car less fun to drive than it otherwise would be with more communicative steering.

Overall, if versatility and utility are at the top of your list, the Hyundai Elantra Touring is a top choice among small hatchbacks or wagons, especially considering its feature content, extended warranty and overall drivability.

SELECT A SPECIFIC HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.