Hyundai Elantra Series II 2014 Review

Hyundai’s roomy base-grade Elantra is updated with better road manners, and minor styling tweaks. Otherwise it remains true to form, and delivers hearty petrol-only performance and generous accommodation and amenity levels. With the longest warranty in the biz, and capped-price servicing to boot, the Elantra offers better after-sales service than most, especially when you consider its starting price of just $20,990 (plus on-road costs).

The Hyundai Elantra competes in the busiest passenger car segment in Australia, and is in direct competition with the best-selling Toyota Corolla (43,498 units in 2013), and near second-place getter the Mazda 3 (42,082).

On its own, the Elantra’s 2013 sales tally of 8801 seems a little way off these heady figures, but when you combine it with its hatchback sibling, the i30 (with 30,582 sales in 2013), the place this humble sedan has to play in the Aussie small-car market is not inconsiderable; in fact, the combined figure sees Hyundai’s small-car contingent rank an impressive third place.

So what’s the reason this South Korean stalwart is so popular?

Well, that’s what we spent a week finding out. And the truth is there’s not just a single explanation. The Elantra is a proposition that is as much about the vehicle itself as it is the support its manufacturer places around it – and to us, that speaks volumes of Hyundai’s commitment to its product, and is a benchmark we find hard to believe many rivals have yet to espouse.

But let’s start with the car.

Updated in January this year the Elantra Series II benefits from a localised ride/handling tune, revised electric steering system and more generous standard equipment list. However, these added extras do attract a small premium over the outgoing model, and depending on variant, the Elantra Series II is between $400 and $1000 dearer than its predecessor.

On test we have the base model, and best-selling, Elantra Active. Available with six-speed manual (from $20,990 plus on-road costs) or six-speed automatic (as tested, from $23,190 plus ORCs) the model is fitted exclusively with a 1.8-litre petrol engine, which is unchanged from the preceding model.

As noted during our launch review, the ‘Nu’ four-cylinder does require a few revs to muster any significant impetus, but this is true of all normally-aspirated engines in this class, and seems to have little impact on the Elantra’s fuel economy.

According to the brochure, the Elantra Series II develops a class-comparable 110kW at 6500rpm and 178Nm at 4700rpm, and is respectable in its fuel consumption at 7.1L/100km (ADR Combined cycle). With a week of mixed urban and freeway driving, the Elantra Series II averaged 7.3L/100km. It’s a fair effort, and places the Elantra as one of the few vehicles we’ve sampled in this class capable of adhering so closely to its published number.

Running about town and cruising the freeway the Elantra Series II is a calm and composed vehicle with a dextrous flair for cornering. It’s agile and lithe in even demanding situations, and gives plenty of notice as to when it’s nearing its grip threshold. As such, the stability control system is seldom called upon, but is both subtle and effective once summoned.

Just as subtle and effective is the newly updated Flex Steer electric steering system. Switchable through three modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) it is best experienced in the firmer ‘Sport’ setting for improved on-centre feel and return-to-centre action. The weighting is simply too light in either Comfort or Normal modes, though inner-urban drivers may prefer either if their daily commute involves a lot of wheel twirling.

The base-grade Elantra Active is not fitted with a rear-view camera, which would be of benefit considering the model’s reduced rearward visibility. In complete contrast to its forward and lateral aspects, the car’s upward-raked rear and thicker C pillars can conspire to hinder the view behind. Thankfully, acoustic rear parking sensors are installed as standard.

But as well as having good on-road manners, the Elantra Series II’s cabin comportment is amongst the best in its class. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are well allayed while seating comfort and accommodation levels remain apposite for the class. Ergonomic considerations seem especially well addressed, with the driver’s relationship to the primary controls rated as well above average when compared to the best sellers listed above.

However, there are little things that will tick you off. The quality of the Bluetooth telephony is quite poor in contrast to that of the audio streaming, and the touchscreen is nigh on impossible to sight on a sunny day. Some of the screen’s landing buttons are also a little tight, though this is the entry-grade audio system, and if technology is a big priority, the mid-grade Elite or top-spec Premium variant may be a better choice for you.

Those issues notwithstanding, the audio system offers a great level of sound quality, rich bass and crystal-clear radio reception.

As we touched on earlier, the Elantra Series II is about more than its amenity levels, on-road manners and admirable five-star safety rating, but also its value for money equation. Yes, it costs about the same as any other vehicle in its class and, yes, it offers similar levels of equipment for that coin. But where the Hyundai product (and indeed Kia’s) differs is in its ownership experience down the track.

The Hyundai Elantra is offered with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty where most offer three years/100,000km. The service intervals are further apart at 12 months/15,000km (most are six months/10,000km), and three-year capped-price servicing sees the average cost of a tune-up come to $219. Additionally, 24-hour roadside assistance is included for 12 months free-of-charge while a 24-hour Customer Care Centre is just a phone call away. In short, we can’t think of another manufacturer (besides Kia) that offers this level of commitment to its customers.

Unfortunately the Elantra doesn’t fare as well where resale is concerned. After three years, redbook.com.au shows an Elantra is worth 58 per cent of its new price compared to 62 per cent for a similarly specified Toyota Corolla and 64 per cent for a base grade Mazda 3. Unlike these two, however, the Hyundai Elantra will still have two years of its new-car warranty leftover by then...

Although these arguments tend to fall on preference, the prospect of dependable long-term ownership and honest value for money places the Elantra Series II in good stead. It’s a car whose mix of ability and amenity see it able to compete on an equal footing with its more prominent competitors, and one we think is well worth considering if sense, and not dollars, is a driving force in your buying decision.

What we liked:
>> Improved ride/handling
>> Real-world fuel economy
>> Cabin NVH and ergonomics

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