Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Our most recent addition to the long-term fleet went to Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig for this month, and like many editors before him, he was pleasantly surprised (OK, shocked) by the Elantra's level of refinement.

Not that he expected a substandard ride from the up-and-coming Korean automaker, but it's no secret that Hyundai has traditionally lagged behind its more experienced Japanese competitors when it comes to simple things like material quality, panel fitment and overall drivability.

His initial comments related to the Elantra's simple interior design and functionality. "Hyundai has done a great job by simply sticking to the basics with this car. Nothing in the interior is particularly fancy, but the overall look is pretty sharp," Ed wrote in his notes. "The gauges are simple with few idiot lights, and the rest of the dash is just a few basic dials and a couple of buttons. I wish more luxury cars on the market would use this philosophy."

He found the seats comfortable for his long 6-foot 2-inch frame, and finding a good seating position was a simple affair. He liked the convenience of the two-tiered center console and was surprised to see small details like door-panel water bottle holders and a nicely crafted shift knob. "Little stuff like this is what usually gets axed in cars at this price point; it's nice to see Hyundai still managed to keep them despite the low price," Ed commented in his notes.

After zipping around town for a few weeks, Ed further praised the Elantra for its easy-to-drive character. "This is exactly what an A-to-B car should be like. All the mechanicals work so easily; the steering is light for easy parking-lot maneuvering, the clutch never makes your leg tired, and you can snap the shifter in and out of gear with barely two fingers on the stick."

So how does Hyundai's 2.0-liter 140 horsepower engine measure up against the competition, according to our road test editor? "I'll admit, the engine isn't the most refined four-cylinder on the planet, but it's far from being annoying. It will emit some shrill-sounding noises when revved right up to the redline, but overall it's a nice unit. There's plenty of power for getting on the highway, and the light feel of the car in general makes it seem quicker than it really is."

As far as the lightweight feeling of the body structure, Ed thought that it managed to filter out road noise and pavement jolts fairly well, with no noticeable creaking or rattling. "You really have to hit a hole hard to bottom out the suspension. On most roads, however, it soaks up small bumps easily and is quite comfortable while cruising. Try to muscle through a turn, and it will give in quickly, but considering the small tires, it's hard to fault it for not being much of a canyon-carver."

Ed's only real complaint after a month in the Elantra was its lack of a CD player, which he readily admits is a little nitpicky on a $12,000 car. "Considering that this problem could be remedied by a one-hour trip to Best Buy, I would hardly call it a major issue. If anything, it goes to show just how solid the rest of the car is."

So there you have it, yet another editor who thinks that this Hyundai could be one of the best budget cars on the market. If you're considering an all-new Civic or Corolla, you might want to add the Elantra to your list, as well. If ours continues to hold up as well as it has so far, we would see no reason to pay a penny more for anything else.

Current Odometer: 4,570
Best Fuel Economy: 31.4 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 21.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 26.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None