A Whole New Elantra, A Whole New Hyundai

Author's Rating:

Pros: Awesome warranty, Good engine, Loaded with lots of features, Great price

Cons: You're constantly stopped and asked questions about the car...

The Bottom Line: 
You've got to drive it to believe it. It's amazing...and yes, it's a Hyundai.

Author's Review
ARE YOU SURE IT'S A HYUNDAI???
Do you remember back in the 80s when Hyundai was first introduced in the states? The model was called the Excel and it sold like hotcakes due to the incredibly lower sticker price than its Japanese counterparts... about $4,000 got you into a brand new one. Pumping these out of their manufacturing plants and shipping them over to the US was top priority, as they wanted to boost sales. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, quality was overlooked and so was their customer service.

IS THIS REVIEW BIASED?
If you're referring to the fact that I'm Korean and this review praises the Elantra, then you're probably thinking that I'm exaggerating the good points and skimming the surface on the bad points. WRONG! I'd much rather not waste my time on writing a review if I didn't think it was a good product. Also, if the Elantra wasn't as good as my review says it is, then my credibility would be shot down. So, keep in mind as you're reading this review that I'm actually being more critical and try to point out minor details that flaw the Elantra.

Hyundai has come a long, long way. With its disastrous start in the US back in the 80s, it's looking to build up its reputation from ground up (or more like 'underground' up). With countless hours of research and millions of dollars, Hyundai has finally received some respect. The 2001 Elantra is definitely something they're proud of, and so am I (as a Korean). You won't find a comparable car for the price Hyundai offers them... and Hyundai is so sure of the quality and reliability of their cars that they want all new Hyundai owners to be backed up by their industry-leading warranty.

THE NEW ELANTRA:
At first glance, you won't think it's a Hyundai. With a flare of European styling and tightness of Japanese build, the Koreans definitely hit the sweet spot with the Elantra. I have to keep on telling myself that this IS a Hyundai. The front styling is very sporty with round-spot headlights, a unique grill, and an aggressive front spoiler. The rear design is sleek with no abrupt interruption like many cars on the market today. For a car that sells for under $15,000, I was pretty impressed with the list of standard options. If you've shopped for Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas, Mazda Protoges, and the like, you know that they advertise a very low price but when you go to the dealership to check it out, you often get disappointed at the fact that it's a stripped-down model that offers a rear defrost as an extra option! What's up with that?

ALL THE BELLS & WHISTLES:
Okay. So what do you exactly get with a standard model Elantra? For starters, let's start off with a 4-cylinder 16-valve, dual-overhead cam engine that pumps out 140 horsepower and 133 lb.-ft. of torque. With a 5-speed manual transmission, the gas mileage is said to be about 25 in the city and 33 on the highway. A friend purchased his Elantra about four months ago and says he gets an average of 28 MPG. Not bad at all, considering his Elantra is fitted with an automatic transmission. The ABS/traction-control feature is an option, but you have to realize that a fully-loaded Elantra still costs under $15K. 15" wheels are standard and are fitted with 195/60 Michelin steel-belted radials. Steering is a cinch with power-assisted rack-and-pinion and just in case the weather's hot and muggy, the CFC-free AC will cool you off pretty quickly. Front and rear independent suspension is also a plus when it comes to steady ride and maneuvering. The standard luxury features include power locks, windows, and color-matched side-mirrors which fold away for tight parking spaces. For safety, it includes front driver and passenger airbags along with front driver and passenger side airbags. What I like is the front, center console/armrest that has two compartments for tapes or CDs and other miscellaneous items. There's also a large glove box that can be locked. The standard stereo comes with 4 speakers and an AM/FM cassette. If you pay a little more, you are bombarded with luxury options such as a 6-speaker stereo system with CD player (it actually pumps out some serious music), glass moonroof, ABS with traction control, 15" alloy wheels, remote keyless entry with alarm, cruise control, and mud guards.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING?
The Elantra's no Porsche, but it's pretty peppy. I was surprised at how nimble the Elantra was. Even fitted with an automatic transmission, it had the power it needed to pull itself around town and then some. Unlike some compact cars on the market, the Elantra gives you the confidence to execute a passing maneuver on the highway. Engine noise wasn't as loud as I thought it would be. Actually, it was pretty quiet. I've ridden in a Civic and in a Corolla and I'd have to say that the Elantra was a bit quieter in the cabin at high speeds. Handling was quite impressive for a stock suspension, wheels, and tires. I'd recommend wider tires, but that increases road noise.

AND THE NEW-CAR SMELL?
Having worked at a rental car agency, a car dealership, and test-driving numerous cars, I noticed that every new car has a different 'new-car' smell. Fords (with cloth seats) have a distinct barn yard smell that almost smells like you've stepped into a cow pasture. Hondas and Acuras (with cloth seats) have been my all-time favorite. They smell oh-so-good... the smells of fine plastic, precise electronic gadgets, and the firm seats all contribute to a perfectly orchestrated smell. This goes for Nissans and Toyotas, too. All the European cars (excluding Volvos) have a nice 'new' smell to them, too. Volvos don't smell that great, but I guess you can get used to it after a while... Ford owns Volvo, right?...hmm. And Hyundais... I've heard many complaints about the new-car scent not being so new-car like. It's different than the Japanese cars, but then again, it should smell different because it is NOT a Japanese car. It's not a bad smell. It smells 'new'. But that's my opinion. You'll have to check it out for yourself.

WHAT'S THE HYUNDAI ADVANTAGE?
If you buy an Elantra, the advantage is simple. You've just saved yourself at least $2,500. How? Try buying a brand new Civic or Corolla for $14,000. Sure, you'll be driving a Civic DX or Corolla CE putting down the highway powered by a 115 or 125HP engine and listening to your AM/FM radio. The Hyundai Advantage refers to the superior warranty. Try squeezing a 5 year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty out of Honda or Toyota. They'll probably laugh in your face and then send you on your way. The warranty doesn't stop there. Hyundai reassures their line of cars with a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, as well. And just when you thought you got the deal of the century, they throw in a 5-year/unlimited mile roadside assistance warranty, too! So, you can definitely see the advantage here. If you want to purchase a car that will reliably get you from point A to point B with a little style, but you don't want to spend a fortune, I think the Elantra is waiting for you.

WHAT ABOUT THE RESALE VALUE?
Good question. Since Hyundai hasn't racked up too many points in the reliability arena yet, it's probably going to take a couple more years to climb out of its 'cheap' image. But don't wait too long. Once Hyundai wins over a majority of the Honda/Toyota crowd, resale values along with the sticker price will only go up. My view is this: buy one while they're still cheap.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BAD THINGS ABOUT THIS CAR?
Okay, I'm sure if you've come this far into my review, you've been waiting to hear this part the most. One thing this feature-rich car lacked was power seats. It would have been nice even if they offered it as an option. Also, I wish the headrests were more supportive. I love the feel of a leather-wrapped steering wheel and I wish the Elantra offered it. Although the fit and finish of the Elantra is very good, I felt that the tilt steering latch was a bit flimsy. After a while, I'm assuming that it may either wear or brake off (but with the warranty, I wouldn't worry). And lastly, the keyless entry option allows you to lock and unlock your doors. When unlocking, it unlocks all of your doors. I wish there was an option to just unlock the driver's door. That's basically all of my complaints of the 2001 Elantra.

SUMMARY:
Hyundai has come a long way. I gotta' give 'em credit for making the extra effort to produce good cars at an affordable price, like they always have. Even last year, I didn't recommend Hyundai vehicles to anyone. I actually turned them away from even looking at them. But I'm proud to tell them that they make great cars now and they back them up with a warranty that can't be beat in the auto industry. What's even better? The price of these cars are still very much affordable.

The Elantra is a great example of what other car manufacturers should be doing. The Elantra was actually the first Hyundai model that was 100% designed and manufactured in Korea. The very first Hyundai introduced in the 1980s was the Excel. If you asked any Excel owners what the worst part of the car was, they'll more than likely say it was the engine (weak, unreliable, and always leaked or burned oil). A lot of former Excel owners say that they should have purchased a Japanese car... ironically, the engine of the Hyundai Excel was designed and made by Mitsubishi. Thus, the presence of the Mitsubishi Precis (an Excel with a Mitsubishi badge). The Excel was a perfect example of the saying 'you get what you pay for.'

You actually get what you pay for and that's a great car at a great price, with a great warranty that puts your mind at ease just in case something went wrong with the car. Although the Elantra might not be the perfect car, it sure comes close. If you're in the market for a Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, or similar car in this class, take a look at the Hyundai Elantra. Don't take my word for it, take it for a spin and decide for yourself.