Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra Overview

Originally starting off as a small-car maker, Hyundai also offered a C+ segment sedan, Hyundai Elantra, in the Indian automotive market. Even though it was not as successful as the company's other cars, Elantra was best known for its spacious interiors and advanced features. Its exterior appearance was a style statement unto its own, which was embellished by various chrome inserts. Available in petrol as well as diesel models, the 2 L diesel variants of Hyundai Elantra car were quite popular in the market.

The sedan Elantra car was available in India from April 2004 until Hyundai discontinued the car just three and a half years later. The production of the model was stopped owing to a steep decline in sales. At the time, Hyundai had also mentioned the possibility of an upgraded model to replace Elantra soon. However, today even after four years, the upgraded model or any such replacement of Hyundai Elantra has not been launched.

Hyundai Elantra Introduction

The mid-size sedan offered by the Korean car-maker, Elantra first surfaced around 20 years ago. Upgraded as many as 4 times, the fifth generation Elantra car was unveiled in the year 2010, which is on sale in some countries since June 2011. Hyundai is planning on commencing the sales of the new Hyundai Elantra in some more countries from September 2011.

Even though Hyundai Elantra in India was on sale for just a couple of years, industry experts predict that the new car could brighten the company's prospects. While all premium cars introduced by the company failed to achieve success, Hyundai is hopeful of new Elantra in India would be propel it to new heights in the sedan segment of the Indian auto market.

Hyundai Elantra Launch History

Hyundai Elantra car's third generation was introduced in 2004 in Indian automotive market. Launched in three models, two petrol and one diesel, Elantra car was released in India to fill the gap between the entry level sedan Accent and the premium luxury sedan Sonata.

When Hyundai Elantra in India was discontinued in October 2007, the company had said that a replacement model may be launched soon. It is speculated that Hyundai would launch the upgraded fifth generation of new Elantra in India in late 2011 or early 2012. The company would definitely try to cash in on its recently adopted Fluidic design approach already seen in the new Verna.

Hyundai Elantra Variants (Models)

Before being discontinued, Hyundai Elantra car in India was available in three variants, which are briefly described below:

Hyundai Elantra Pricing

At the time of discontinuation, Hyundai Elantra price was placed in the range of Rs. 8 Lacs to Rs. 11 Lacs across the country. The new Hyundai Elantra car price depended upon a number of factors, such as the tax laws applicable in various states of India.

Hyundai Elantra Review

The first C+ segment sedan to be offered by the Korean car-maker, Elantra in India, received good reviews. The media appreciated the state-of-the-art, innovative features present in all variants of Elantra car. The stylish design was also liked by reviewers, who termed it an aggressive looking car. It was also praised for filling the gap between Hyundai's other two sedan offerings – Accent and Sonata – very nicely.

Owing to the exceptional performance of diesel engines, Hyundai Elantra earned a reputation for itself as an excellent highway car. There was never a decline in positive reviews for Elantra, even when the car was suffering a steep fall in number of sales. Reviewers could only find disadvantages in the car when compared to several new entrants being introduced in the market at that time.

Elantra was the first car in its segment to have Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Traction Control System (TCS) for excellent stability. Apart from that, it was the first C+ segment car in India that offered airbags for the driver as well as front passenger.

Hyundai Elantra Used Car Market

Despite having a used car programme 'Hyundai Advantage' in the Indian market, the company does not sell pre-owned Hyundai Elantra cars in India. However, in the open used car market, Hyundai Elantra cars can be found, albeit with faults. Subsequently, often a used Hyundai Elantra comes with certain problems that lead to frequent visits to the garage and expensive repairs. Owing to these factors, there is not much demand for a pre-owned Elantra in India.

Hyundai Elantra Specifications

The technical specifications for all variants of Elantra cars have been mentioned below:

Hyundai Elantra Exterior

Hyundai Elantra Exterior Appearance

With one look, buyers could notice that Hyundai Elantra sported a distinct design theme, which was different from any other car on Indian roads, thus making it an instant head turner. The unique air-dam, small chrome front grille, and evenly sloping bonnet defined the character of Elantra. Its side profile was quite simple in comparison, except for the chrome door handles that added style. The best profile of Hyundai Elantra cars was, however, the rear one. The stylish tail lamps added a sporty look to the car, while chrome on the boot lid continued to add luxury to this car's exteriors.

Hyundai Elantra Exterior Measurements

The exterior measurements of Hyundai Elantra cars have been specified below:

Hyundai Elantra Interior

Hyundai Elantra Interior Appearance

Upon entering Hyundai Elantra car, buyers were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the material used. The interiors were not only plush but practical as well, with many storage compartments within reach. The steering wheel and gear knob were wrapped in leather and added to the richness of the car. Apart from that, the leather seats in certain variants provided a luxurious appearance to the cabin of Elantra car.

Hyundai Elantra Interior Comfort

The C+ segment sedan Elantra was quite spacious overall, though its rear headroom was compromised a little owing to the sloping roof. Even though the seats were accommodating and comfortable, they were set too low, thus making it difficult for older people to sit and get up easily. The air conditioning, whether manual or automatic, was very effective even in Indian summers.

For the comfort of the driver, a dead pedal (foot rest) was also present on the foot-well of Hyundai Elantra car. The driver also had the privilege of holding a very comfortable leather wrapped steering wheel as well as gear knob. Drivers could also adjust the angle of the steering wheel as well as the height of seat to suit their height.

Hyundai Elantra Interior Measurements

Being a C+ segment sedan, Elantra car had seating capacity for 5 adults. All passengers could sit comfortably without any issues regarding headroom, legroom or width. It has plenty of cubbyholes for putting away small articles at the front as well as the rear section. In addition to that, boot space of 368 L was very helpful when going out for excursions.

Hyundai Elantra Mileage, Average and Fuel Economy

The sedan offered by Hyundai, Elantra car had a very decent fuel economy, especially as compared to other cars in its class. The petrol variants of Hyundai Elantra managed to achieve an average of 7 to 8 kmpl in the city, 13 to 14 kmpl on highways. On the other hand, diesel model of this car was capable of delivering fuel economy of 11 to 12 kmpl in the cities and 14 to 15 kmpl on highways. This fuel economy was good enough when compared to other cars in its segment. In addition to that, a 55 L fuel tank ensured that long distance journeys went off without interruptions in Hyundai Elantra cars.

Hyundai Elantra On-road Drive

Elantra cars did not deliver good on-road performance owing to a slightly stiff suspension. Consequently, the ride quality in the sedan was not as comfortable on rough roads and speed breakers and potholes were evidently felt in the cabin. In addition to that, Elantra was not very quick and did not reach the 100 kmph mark very easily. However, it felt very stable even when travelling at 3-digit speeds. This decent handling made it popular as a good highway cruising car.

Hyundai Elantra Power

Offered with two types of engines – a 1795 cc petrol and a 1991 cc diesel – Hyundai Elantra car was not amongst the most powerful cars in its segment. Churning out 127 PS at 6000 rpm and 112 PS at 4000 rpm respectively, these two engines lacked the power punch that was standard in cars of this segment. Consequently, the top speed for Elantra cars was not up to the mark as compared to other cars.

Hyundai Elantra Acceleration and Pick Up

Despite having large engines (1.8 L petrol and 2.0 L diesel), Hyundai Elantra cars had poor acceleration and pick up and took more than 10 seconds to clock 100 kmph. Other cars belonging to its segment and even lower segments could beat Elantra in acceleration as well as pick up.

Hyundai Elantra Safety and Security

A keyless entry system that provided central locking as well as theft deterrent system was the major highlight of Hyundai Elantra cars. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Traction Control System (TCS) helped in keeping the car stable in all conditions. In addition to that, in the unfortunate case of an accident, dual airbags at the front and automatic unlocking doors helped in avoiding injuries to passengers.

Hyundai Elantra Comfort and Convenience

For the comfort and convenience of occupants, Elantra cars had several features. The illuminated switches of power windows made it easy to open and close windows in the dark. The tilt adjustable power steering column helped in perfectly positioning the steering wheel according to the driver. The door courtesy lamps were not helpful in the night but exuded luxury as well.

While the reading lamps inside the cabin of Hyundai Elantra car were convenient, the lamps in the boot helped a lot while placing luggage in the vehicle at night. A coverable vanity mirror for the front passenger was an innovative feature of the vehicle. Electrical Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs) could be adjusted quite easily from the inside of Elantra car.

Low fuel warning lamp as well as door ajar and boot lid open warning lamp ensured that the driver could conveniently know the status of doors, boot and fuel. Dual height adjustable driver seat ensured that people of any height could comfortably drive Hyundai Elantra. A 60:40 split rear seat as well as sunglass compartment and cup holders provide spacious storage space in the car. Door armrest, front door map pockets with bottle holder, seat back-pockets, back luggage hook and ticket holder added to the comfort and convenience factor of Elantra cars.

Hyundai Elantra Wheels

All models of Hyundai Elantra in India were available with wheels of size – 5.5 J x 15 and tubeless tyres of size – 195 / 60 R 15. Except Elantra GT, which had steel wheels, the other two models came with alloy wheels.

Hyundai Elantra Stereo and Accessories

Apart from Elantra GT model, all variants of Hyundai Elantra cars came with a CD player with FM / AM radio. This audio system also included 4 speakers and 2 tweeters with chrome bezels and had a decent output and audio quality. Elantra cars had all accessories that were expected in a car of its price range, such as illuminated cigarette lighter, power socket, tinted glasses, rear centre armrest with box and glass antenna, among others. Apart from that, the company also offered optional accessories like a spoiler, exhaust with chrome finish and door sills.

Hyundai Elantra Dealers

Ever since it was discontinued, new Hyundai Elantra car has not been available at any dealer across the country.

Hyundai Elantra Company Quotes

Speaking at the launch event of Hyundai Elantra in India, in April 2004, B. V. R. Subbu, President, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), had said, “With the launch of Elantra, we have filled the gap between Accentand Sonata. We believe many Santro and Accentcustomers will upgrade to Elantra.” He also added, “Elantra will be the next step for Accent customers who have been looking for an upgrade. The A4 segment (comprising of Toyota Corolla, Skoda Octavia and Opel Vectra) in which the Elantra is placed is expected to grow around 25 per cent this year. We expect to sell around 8,000 units of the car.”

In October 2007, H. S. Lheem, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), had said, “ We have stopped production of Elantra.....the replacement should be either the sedan version of i-30, which is sold as hatch in Europe or sedan 'H'.”

Hyundai Elantra Competitor Analysis

During the three-and-a-half year appearance in the Indian market, Hyundai Elantra competed with the likes of Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer and Chevrolet Optra.

Skoda Octavia had looked like a luxury car, unlike Elantra that had an image of a standard, aggressive sedan. Apart from this, Octavia had more powerful engines and considerably more boot space, though it was quite expensive to maintain. Toyota Corolla is well-renowned across the world for its reliability, although it lacked the long list of features that Elantra car possessed. Mitsubishi Lancer was a well-balanced car and had good ride quality, but suffered heavily as it did not have a well-spread service centre network that Hyundai has.

Honda Civic entered the Indian automotive market at a time when Hyundai Elantra in India was suffering a steep decline in sales. Civic offered a very sporty and stylish design and the premium Honda badge, which added to the woes of Elantra car. Chevrolet Optra gave stiff competition to Hyundai’s car as it also had petrol and diesel engines. However, it could not match Elantra in terms of sporty and aggressive looks.

Hyundai Elantra LPG/CNG Version

Elantra cars in India were not available in LPG / CNG versions.

Hyundai Elantra Pros

Aggressive styling was the first thing that buyers noticed and liked about Hyundai Elantra cars. Availability of petrol as well as diesel engines was an advantage of the vehicle. It was decently spacious enough for five adult persons and was considered quite reliable, without any faults or defects. Presence of advanced and innovative features covering all aspects – comfort, safety, convenience, security, utility and luxury – was a plus point of Hyundai Elantra. A decent overall package at a reasonable price tag was another advantage of Elantra. In addition to that, the large dealership and service centre network of Hyundai helped Elantra cars.

Hyundai Elantra Cons

By the time, Hyundai launched new Elantra in India in 2004; the company had already established itself as a successful small car-maker. This fact somewhat worked against Elantra car, as a section of people avoided it stating that it came from a hatchback manufacturer. In addition to that, the ride quality of Elantra was quite poor. The rear seats in Hyundai Elantra car were quite low, making it difficult to sit and get up.

Hyundai Elantra Conclusion

Elantra car had a large number of features, option of petrol and diesel engines and was a reliable performer. However, its poor ride quality and low rear seat made it uncomfortable. Moreover, owing to the company’s image as a small car manufacturing firm, the car did not have a good resale value. Hyundai Elantra car, thus, was perfect for buyers who were looking for a well-equipped, reliable and stylish car which would not be replaced for many years to come.