Hyundai India has brought the latest generation Elantra to India, and it is clearly the best product Hyundai has ever launched here
The first thing you notice when you look at the new sixth-generation Elantra is how smart the car looks; devoid of the lines and creases of the previous-generation car it may not have the looks for the fashion ramp, but that does not matter. And even inside, despite the all-black interiors, there is no impression of being in an underground dungeon. Far from it, in fact, the new Hyundai Elantra is worthy of an adjective that one does not bestow lightly, nor did one ever feel would sit well on a Hyundai. That adjective is 'classy'.
The automatic SX Option model that Hyundai India sent over for me to test was a revelation on many fronts. Because it isn't just interiors and exteriors that make the car, it is also performance. And the new 2-litre petrol engine mated to a new six-speed automatic gearbox makes this package a pretty enticing one.
So what is the catchIJ
Well, there is the segment itself. The premium sedan segment - which consists of the Skoda Octavia, Volkswagen Jetta, Chevrolet Cruze and the Toyota Corolla Altis. The Altis dominates sales with monthly sales averaging above 450 units per month over the last year, the Octavia in second place averaging around 200 units a month. But the segment itselfIJ Sales usually topped out at 1000 units in a good month. And the odd thing is, that this segment of vehicle is one of the most popular classes of car in the world, and the Elantra as such is a vital car for Hyundai because it is the carmakers best-selling model globally.
Yet it was India where Hyundai's road to becoming the world's fifth-largest carmaker entered a high-speed stretch, and remains a remarkable marketing parable that ought to be taught in B-schools. But the models that sell in India have always been relatively unique, take the Grand i10; it is a modified version of the car sold in Europe. The Xcent, a new success among Uber drivers is also a made-for-India car with limited sales traction in certain global markets.
The Elantra, along with the slow-selling Santa Fe and soon to be launched Tuscon are the truly global cars in Hyundai india's line-up. And that shows in small things, such as the quality of the plastics, the impressive and responsive touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and the seats. Forget the fact that the seats are comfortable, the fact that they have ventilated cooling, that single feature in itself is a reason to buy this car (albeit only this top-end variant).
Now for the driving, I have not been particularly impressed with Hyundai automatic gearboxes in the past and a lifetime of driving a lot of double-clutch systems have spoiled me. Yet, despite the occasional moment of madness when you are staring at the rev-counter wondering why the engine is red-lining when you are not engaging the accelerator hard, the gearbox is for the most part civilised. In 'Eco' mode and normal traffic conditions on a working day in Delhi, the Elantra potters along comfortably.
So the 'Nu' 2.0 litre engine has 152PS and while you think Hyundai could have eked out more power from the unit; it revs freely and can, if you really want to, make the Elantra go pretty fast. Frankly, this petrol unit is by and away is the best one available across the segment. And over a few days of city driving, the car returned an economy of eight kilometers per litre, with air-con on full blast, ventilated seats operating. Given that my 2011 i20 returns 12 kmpl, not bad at all. I am looking forward to driving the 1.6-litre diesel unit though that the car shares with the Creta.
Where the Elantra really scores over prior Hyundai's though is the sudden disappearance of what I've always called the 'Hyundai Wobble' a sort of disconnected mid-corner body-roll. The family has owned Hyundai's for a while, and while nothing matches the severe roll of the initial India-build Accent, it is distinct in the sense Hyundai's are not cars you would throw into a corner at speed. No, not this one, this car holds the road, yes it is assisted by electronic stability aids (again, only on this optional specification), but that is welcome. Some tyre squeal, but I'm sure if you fitted an Elantra with premium tyres, this could be a truly fun car. Not that I'm suggesting you should drive like that.
The entry-level S-specification model of the Elantra lacks some of the bells and whistles such as the leather upholstery and the daytime-running lED lights, but has the same engine, minus the automatic though. This specification of the car is really worth the money in my opinion - yes, I love the cooled seats (try them sometime) and the infotainment system, even if the headline-grabbing price of the base petrol model at Rs 13 lakhs is tempting. But then you have to live with a car, and for what it offers the SX option is worth it.
The Elantra is better looking in my opinion than the Corolla but the top-spec petrol automatics cost more or less the same at Rs 18 lakhs at the showroom, around Rs 22 lakhs on the road (Delhi). Yes, I have a soft spot for the Skoda Octavia, it is a beautiful car, the notchback is useful and that DSG gearbox is sublime, but even I can't justify the additional three and a half lakhs on the showroom price, making it over five lakhs more expensive on the road.
The new Elantra then, a great package deal - nice features and good performance. Yes, most people would still wait for the Tuscon in a few months if they're buying a Hyundai this size, but if it is a large sedan you want, you really could not do much better than this.