Road Tests: Long-Term Test

After taking delivery of our long-term Hyundai Elantra last April and racking up 1,000 indifferent break-in miles, Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw offered this observation: "If this thing holds up, there won't be any reason to buy a Japanese economy car anymore."

Since then, six months have elapsed, and our Elantra has accumulated 10,000 additional miles. We spent a total of $21.20 to service the car at the 7,500-mile mark, and nothing has gone wrong with our Hyundai. Let us repeat that last statement, because it bears mention: After 11,000 hard, indifferent auto-journalist miles, nothing has gone wrong with our Hyundai. Nothing has ceased operation, divorced itself from the car, broken off in our hands, worn thin from use, required issuance of a recall, yadda, yadda, yadda. Unless you count a gearshift knob that has loosened up and no longer points north-south when tightened down, and we don't.

Wardlaw is so impressed with our $12,000 sedan that he's shelved his old notions about Hyundai quality. In fact, he's directly responsible for the sale of an Elantra GLS, equipped just like our car but in a different color. "My mother-in-law was finally ready to retire her 1987 Chevrolet Nova, " he recalled in the log. "She needed inexpensive wheels, and wanted new car smell and a new car warranty. I told her to buy an Elantra, told her what she ought to pay for it, and now she's thrilled with her new Hyundai."

She's not the only one. Read through the commentary offered by our editors during the past half year, and you'll find that even the most jaded and shallow among us are won over by the Elantra's sheer competence.

"Admittedly, I wasn't thrilled by the idea of driving a $12,000 econobox for a month," Wardlaw wrote, "but by the time my stint behind the wheel was over, I had been thoroughly reminded that the Elantra isn't just another $12,000 econobox."

Take, for example, the way the Elantra's doors whump shut with a satisfying heft not unlike that of a luxury car. Wardlaw noted the way the doors thump closed, comparing the car favorably to our Lincoln LS' solid portals. He also drove the car extensively at night, traveling poorly lit two-lane roads, and came away with nothing but praise for the bright and even pattern of illumination thrown by the Elantra's headlights. Also commented upon were the door panel lamps that glow red when the front doors are open to warn approaching motorists not to get too close.

"Driver seat comfort is easily equal to or better than sedans costing twice as much," he noted, "thanks to firm padding, generous seat track travel, and adjustments for both seat height and cushion angle." The stiff fabric, however, feels thin and low-rent, according to Wardlaw.

There is a solution to this problem that comes in the form of the Elantra GT, a new five-door hatchback equipped with a sport-tuned suspension, leather upholstery and a host of standard goodies for less than $15,000. Wardlaw drove one back-to-back with our GLS sedan and offered the following observations:

"Sporting the same general shape and appearance as a Saab 9-3, the Elantra GT is the model I'd choose. The steering and suspension are a smidge tighter than our GLS' but the GT could never be confused with a true canyon-carver. Rather, the appeal here is the leather upholstered interior and leather-wrapped steering wheel, the VW-knockoff blue and red instrument lighting, the utility offered by the gaping hatchback and fold-down rear seats, and the spiffy alloy wheels. And while 140 horsepower is more than adequate for the class, imagine how much more fun the car would be with 20 additional ponies under the hood. Plus, a local dealer advertised the GT for $12,500 over the weekend. What a steal."

Those who transport children in an Elantra will be pleased to find automatic locking retractor seatbelts in the back seat, which make it easy to install and cinch child seats tightly. A handy rubberized bin under the center of the instrument panel is ideal for holding a cell phone, gum, sunglasses case, garage door opener or what-have-you. Unlike many offerings in the class, the center console bin has a nicely padded armrest that most people take for granted until they drive, say, a Ford Focus.

"Small car manufacturers need to take notice of the Hyundai Elantra," wrote Wardlaw. Small car buyers do, too.

Current Odometer: 11,042
Best Fuel Economy: 27.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 24.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 27.1 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None