Road Test: 2015 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 A/T Elegance

Lots of people buy cars in the RM50,000-RM90,000 price range. This range includes a variety of cars ranging from small hatchbacks to small sized family sedans. The most popular would be the 4 door sedan. We Malaysians love cars with 4 doors and a boot. This car concept still holds true even though Perodua and other manufacturers have made inroads with popular small hatchbacks. But do note that you do see a large number of B segment sedans out there.

The thing with B segment sedans on sale right now is that they are mainly sedans based on B segment hatchbacks. This basically means a supermini sized car with a wheelbase of under 2,600mm most of the time and is also narrow. It usually means entry level fittings as it is obviously made to a price and designed to the category and price it needs to sell. Now usually if you buy a supermini, you have this amount of soundproofing, this amount of space and maybe this amount of engineering required and usually manufacturers, do to wanting to keep costs down give you this amount of car. This is why you do not get the amount of refinement, high speed performance and other good stuff you could get if you bought a larger C (small sized family car) or D (full sized car).  So whilst popular, those who bought B segment cars, or small sedans are paying less for more compromises.

So if you are one of those on a budget, a B segment car makes sense as it would have good fuel economy and is affordable to purchase. The top specced cars would have all the electronic equipment thrown in it - like SATNAV, blueteeth, USB ports, infotainment, some cow skin for seats and other perceived items of luxury. But you don't really get really good stuff like extra space, extra roadholding that comes from a longer wheelbase) and added soundproofing as well as other stuff that has to be engineered into the car during manufacturing. This is why a larger category car is always the better buy in terms of actual value for money. You want a better infotainment system? Buy one after market. 

This is where the 2015 Hyundai Elantra facelift comes in. I tested the Hyundai Elantra 1.6 A/T Elegance and it actually ticks all the correct boxes when it comes to affordable car ownership in Malaysia. It costs RM88,577.34 with insurance to buy and drive away. It is a C segment or small family sedan that you can buy for the price of a top of the range B segment sedan (like the smaller Toyota Vios and Honda City or that fugly Nissan Almera). 

It is a larger car. It has a 2,700mm wheelbase compared to many B segment cars which have a sub 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that there is more space between the front and rear wheels folks. This is the space required to fit the passenger cabin of a car and an extra 100mm in length actually makes ANY car a nicer place to be in. That longer wheelbase also translates to a comfortable ride too. And the boot is big too. 

Aside from the space, the interior is also made up of nicer to touch plastics. There is a soft touch dashboard instead of one with just hard plastics. The plastics used are well put together and feel like a C segment car. This Elantra, being a facelifted version gets better placed air vents in the middle that can now direct air to the rest of the cabin instead of blowing air to my fingers and hand. Hyundai has corrected this major flaw in the Elantra with this facelift. The seats which are of course manually adjustable gives decent support and I somehow find myself perched lower than when I drove the Elantra when it was first launched a few years back in Malaysia. So Hyundai has corrected the flaws in the cabin. Yay.

As for the driving experience, the engine, a 1.6liter 130ps/157Nm 4 cylinder engine coupled to a 6 speed automatic is actually smooth and provides ample performance. I think Hyundai has tweaked the power delivery of this facelifted model as it feels like it has more low down power than before. 0-100kmh is done in about 11.5seconds. This is about right for a 1.6liter C segment sedan and that 6 speed automatic is as good as the one fitted in the Sonata. It is smooth and has suitable gear ratios. It is willing to drop down two gears if you are in the mood for spirited driving.

The all round disc brakes is a nice thing to have at this price range. No drum brakes is always a plus point. Brakes feel good and easy to modulate. Cruising at around 140kmh is also pretty serene. That very aerodynamic looking shape allows the Elantra to be quiet at high speeds. There is very little wind noise even from the front A pillars of the car (Again, its that longer wheelbase - it allows a very aerodynamic design compared to smaller, B segment cars). 

The only real issues with this basic, entry level model is there is some slack and vagueness in the steering. I think it is because of the 16inch wheels and tyre combo. You cannot expect ride comfort and pin sharp handling from comfort spec 205/55/16 tyres. Good ride though. This fact was confirmed by a Mercedes Benz owner as well as my eleven year old daughter who said that the rear seats are comfortable enough for her (take her word for it as she has spent most of her life in the back seats of everything from an SUV, MPV, luxury sedans, airport limos, taxis and to hitching a ride in a tow truck). So personally, the Elantra 1.6 base model here is about very average in terms of driving pleasure. It does everything else very well though. I am also sure that handling is the furthest from the minds of families who want comfortable and decent transport.

Sure this car does not have all the bells and whistles of something fully specced like a nice infotainment system instead of a basic radio/CD player and other luxuries. But at least the vanity mirrors in the front sun visors both have lights and covers. Very upscale.  I had this base Elantra I was not unhappy at all with it even once. It did what it was meant to do, which is transport me from A to B in relative comfort. The Elantra may have been around for awhile already but it did not fall short of any expectation on what a sub RM90,000 family sedan should be. Or how a RM100,000 C segment car should be either. There would not be much difference if you drove a Toyota Corolla Altis or even a Honda Civic instead of this. It fact, because of this it is the most spacious, comfortable, refined car in the price range. The only other cars that come close are the Kia Cerato 1.6 (slightly pricier) and the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Sedan (better handling less interior space). But I have to say, the Elantra, whilst being the cheapest, covers most of the important bases when it comes to affordable family motoring. 

I truly wonder why there are not a whole lot more of them on the roads of Malaysia. At this price range I do suggest that people stop being brand snobs and actually buy value. Imagine, a larger segment car for the price of a smaller one. It's the deal that those who are looking should grab. That slightly Italic 'H' logo, i.e Hyundai, should not be taken lightly anymore. It is actually very, very capable.

Pros: very affordable, spacious, good ride quality, decently equipped, larger than most cars offered at this price, good drivetrain, fresh looking styling, a soft touch dashboard when all in this price range is hard plastic

Cons: vague steering with some off center freeplay, average handling,

Conclusion: best sedan money can buy under RM90,000. May not be a driver's car, but it does everything averagely well.

Hyundai Elantra Facelift 1.6 A/T Elegance

Engine
1,591 cc 4-cylinder in-line 16-valve Dual CVVT

Transmission 6-speed (A) Front-wheel drive

Performance
Power 97kW (130 bhp)
Torque 157 Nm
Acceleration 11.5s (0-100 km/h) as tested
Top speed 195 km/h
Fuel consumption 8.5ltr/100km (as tested)

 Kerb weight 1,267 kg