Hyundai Elantra 2007

By René Gervais

A winning hand

I don’t know what bit the Hyundai people but rivals are hoping it’s contagious. I thought the announcement of the entire fleet’s renewal within two years sounded like a political campaign overstatement; the overhaul of the company is now practically finished. The fourth generation Elantra benefits from the seriousness of the Korean manufacturer. And the 2007 model is a long way from the first Elantra in 1991.

What’s new?

One does not need to be Sherlok Holmes to see the makeover is total. Obviously, the new look as to appeal to today’s tastes. Having often borrowed from others, it now presents styles of its which brings them in line with the greats. It also decided on common aesthetic distinctions for the entire stable, making their products easily recognisable; the huge front grill, large headlights and the emblem proudly displayed on the nose.

The hugeness does not stop there. The Elantra’s interior space grew considerably, another feature shared by all new Hyundai products. Height increases by 65mm, the wheelbase by 40mm and 50mm in width. These substantial changes have led certain agencies to classify it not as a compact sedan but as an intermediary. If the trend continues, as they say, in ten years we’ll be back to the future with Chevrolet ‘57’s.

One thing did not get bigger: under the hood you’ll find the same 2.0 litre, 138hp engine, however, more can be gotten from the motor with this more rigid car that handles securely. Though not the sportiest of the category, it remains a good compromise between comfort and handling. If the goal was to reach the masses, mission accomplished. On a critical note, the Elantra and the Accent should have better soundproofing and a more agreeable manual gearbox.