Today, we have brought the first look review of the recently-launched Hyundai Elantra. We will show you the exterior, interior and salient features of the car. Furthermore, we will discuss pros and cons of this new sedan.
Engine and Transmission:
The car has a 2000cc engine, which is the biggest engine in this category in Pakistan. The engine produces 154hp @6200RPM and 196Nm torque, mated with 6-Speed Automatic Transmission.
Exterior:
At the front, you will see chrome and matte dark-grey colour grille. Meanwhile, the company has installed Tetra LED lamps and eyebrow shaped DRLs. Below the front lamps, you will find side indicators at a very unconventional place and shape, along with air curtains that enhance car’s aerodynamics. The bumper has a scooped-out modern look with a grey-coloured lip.
Coming to side profile, there is a sharp character line starting from the rear light to bonnet at the front. The car has 16-inch alloy wheels with a dated design with not so good finishing. The door handles are chromed with smart entry sensors. Furthermore, the side-view mirrors have indicators.
On the top, the car has a sunroof and shark-fin antenna. Meanwhile, Elantra has Lava lights, halogen indicators, and LED brake lights at the rear, which look beautiful. On the trunk, you will see badge of GLS. At the bottom, there are reflectors and reverse lights with a piano black number-plate area which gives a premium look to the car. The trunk’s shape gives a rear spoiler glimpse, which has a rear camera and Hyundai logo. By pressing that emblem, you can open the trunk of the car.
Trunk Space:
In the trunk, the company has provided a 16-inch alloy wheel spare tyre. You can open the trunk with three methods, i.e., Car Key, Hyundai Emblem and Smart Trunk option. The intelligent feature works; if you have the key, stands near it for three seconds, its side indicators will blink three times, and boot will be opened. This feature has been offered for the first time in sedan category in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the car’s trunk space is ample, and you can increase it by folding the rear seats. The seats are folded in a 60:40 ratio.
Interior:
We will start from entry/exit from back seats, which is quite comfortable. The leg space on the rear seats is very good, while headspace is just ok. Furthermore, you will find Rear AC Vents and an Arm Rest in the middle of the seat. The company has also offered the ISOFIX option to install a child seat.
You can unlock the car by pressing the button on its key and pressing the sensor on door handle. You will find buttons of Master Lock/Unlock, Auto Down, Auto Retractable Side Mirror On/Off on the driver’s door side. Meanwhile, on the dashboard, the car has Meter Illumination Setting and Traction Off buttons right beside the door.
The driving seat of the car is a 10-way Power Adjustment and Two-Way Lumbar Support. The passenger seat also has a Height Adjustment feature, but it is manual.
You can start the car with Push Start/Stop Button, as the meter will show you starting lights. The car’s meter is up to 240km/hour speed, while on the left side, you will see Tachometer and RPM meter. Meanwhile, it has a 4.2-inch coloured MID display in the middle that can be accessed through steering control buttons. Through these buttons, you can control Lights, Speed, Convenience and other options in the MID display. The display also shows Fuel Average, Trips and Digital Speedometer. The steering also has buttons of Voice Control, Audio Control, and Cruise Control.
The car has two steering adjustments, telescopic and conventional. You will find Auto Headlights Handle on the right under the steering and Auto Rain Sensors option on the left.
Driving Modes:
The car has four driving modes, i.e., Eco, Smart, Normal and Sport. You can set the desired mode through MID as well as Infotainment display. The Mode Setting button is on the Central Console, where you will also find 6-Speed Auto Transmission.
Infotainment System and Console:
The system has Rear View Camera with Dynamic Guiding Line. The system has Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity with physical buttons, through which it is easy to control all the features in the system. Furthermore, this 7-inch display is driver-centric, meaning it is a bit tilt towards the driver seat.
Under this system, you will find 12V Charging and a USB port. Meanwhile, the car has Two Cup Holders in Centre Console. The car has Manual Handbrake, which we think is a downsize, especially in a car launched in 2021.
Seating:
The car has Fabric Seats with texture making them two-tone. Meanwhile, its competitor Toyota Grande has Leather seats, while in Civic, leather seats are optional. We think Hyundai is offering fabric seats because of Pakistan’s weather, which remains hot most of the year.
Safety:
The car has dual airbags in the front, making it a relatively safe vehicle.
AC:
The car has Dual Zone Digital Climate Control, which has also been introduced in the sedan sector in Pakistan for the first time. The driver and passenger can set the AC temperature as per their convenience.
Future of Hyundai Elantra:
Currently, this car’s future looks promising as it will give tough competition to Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Furthermore, there is a shortage of cars in market, and Hyundai offers a very short delivery time, which is a great advantage for this car. Also, the car’s engine size is bigger, and it has some additional features like Wireless Charging and Smart Trunk.
However, in the long-run, it would be hard for Hyundai Elantra to compete with Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla’s upcoming models, and those cars would have way more features than Elantra. Meanwhile, the global market has received a 7th generation of Elantra, while this one is the 6th one.
Booking:
The company is booking Hyundai Elantra at full price, and it has significantly less lead time, meaning you will get the car in April 2021 if you get the allocation now.
