Wheels Magazine 
October, 2000
The new Elantra, a car that's as modern as many in its class, should make Japan, Europe and the United States worry. It has more going for it than low price alone.
The first thing you need to know about the new Elantra is that it's much bigger than the Lantra it replaces. Length, width, height, wheelbase and weight have all grown significantly. This is a Holden Vectra-size car.
The list of standard equipment will be very persuasive. How does air-conditioning, power steering, central locking, engine immobiliser, six speaker radio and CD player audio system and power front windows sound? And this is the base model GL. The GLS adds remote to the central locking, an alarm, power rear windows, alloy wheels with wider tyres and a list of small convenience items that's far too tedious to describe in full.
Presuming Hyundai can price it a little below equivalent Vectra models, currently estimated at $25,000, the Elantra should ring most buyers' value bells.
With driver airbag, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, as well as a lap-sash centre rear seatbelt standard, the Elantra appears to have strong safety credentials. Hyundai claims the car has scored a five star result in US NCAP testing. This is impressive stuff by the standards of all but the acknowledged car safety leaders.
While both 1.8 and 2.0 litre engines are upgraded versions of the four-cylinder Beta used in the Lantra, a host of alterations have quietened and smoothed them at the same time as slightly boosting power outputs. Road noise, too, seems well isolated.
Ride comfort is also a strength.
None of the major controls deliver much in the way of feel or feedback. Steering wooden, brake pedal spongy, clutch take-up vague, throttle pedal unresponsive.
So this is an almost-good car. Roomy, quiet, smooth, comfortable and certain to be nicely priced, all it lacks is some polish and precision to the way it drives. But at Hyundai's rate of progress it won't be long until they begin to master this skill as well.