2012 Hyundai Elantra Manchester

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The 2012 Elantra is offered only in four-door sedan configuration with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.  The cabin has enough volume to be classed by EPA a mid-size car and by key dimensions like head and legroom, and real-world space and comfort it is by many considered it a roomy compact.  The 2012 Elantra has a nice ride with good control over noise and bumps.  The least-expensive model includes XM radio and iPod/auxiliary inputs, heated outside mirrors, and a trip computer. The loaded Elantra Limited model features leather seats, heated front and rear, Bluetooth audio streaming, navigation with traffic, moonroof, and proximity key.

Interior Features of the '12 Hyundai Elantra

Heated rear seats are standard on the Limited, along with leather upholstery and faux leather door panels all perforated in a wave pattern. GLS models use cloth covering but all the seats are the same construction. The headliner employs a mix of material that includes volcanic rock to an interesting effect more attractive than fuzzy cardboard or plastic.  Room up front is very good and the seats are set well in from the doors for extra elbow space.  There's a lot of passenger volume in the Elantra and it has competitive dimensions.  Front seats are comfortable and provide support for your your back, your lumabar area in particular.  The rear seats are also comfortable, the center floor nearly flat and the center seat higher but well padded.  Analog road and engine speed complement digital fuel and temperature, bathed in blue at night.  Cabin storage is good in quantity, variety and location. Each door has a map pocket, electronics plugs aren't right next to the cupholders waiting to fill with coffee or cola, and there's a pocket on the right side of the console with an adjacent 12-volt power point. It's handy for charging things but anything in it takes away the passenger's left knee-rest.   Outward visibility is good. The windshield pillars are thicker than they were but so far away that rarely presents any issues. A tall windshield and articulated mirror mount ensure a good view on winding or hilly lanes, and the hood can only be seen by those sitting far forward and high

Exterior Features of the '12 Hyundai Elantra

The tail lights are long, wavy wraparound fixtures echoing the curves that lead in to the rear bumper and promote airflow to help keep the lights clean; on a dirty road surface the license plate should be the first part shrouded in muck.  The headlight housings wrap into the fenders, the trailing edge back as far as the centerline of the front wheels. This is the faceof in-your-face styling as far as commuter compacts go, and makes some of the competition look quite dated.  In side view, the Elantra again borrows from the Sonata school with a raked windshield, roofline flowing into the trunk, coupe-like rear side window shape, and a generally-forward leaning shape.  The Elantra appears to have the sleekest, highest tail in its class and looks faster because of it.  Elantra Limited models can be distinguished by their larger alloy wheels, fog lights, and mirror-mounted signal repeaters.

Driving impression of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra

The 6-speed manual shifts effortlessly and allows max performance or economical driving habits. The 6-speed automatic is just as good, holding gears as needed to maintain speed and eliminate a lot of gear changes trying to save fuel by uphsifting only to have to downshift two seconds later because speed fell off.  Electric-assist steering points the car where you want to go with minimal effort, reasonable feedback and U-turns in less than 35 feet. Brakes are all disc on all models and more than capable of slowing down anything the 1.8-liter engine gets going. Directional stability is good, with little of that vague on-center feeling that characterizes some electric-assist steering systems.  Electronic stability control and antilock brakes are standard across the board, and the steering assist is now part of the system: it adds assist when the steering wheel is turned in the correct direction, and lessens assist, requiring more driver effort, when the steering wheel is turned the wrong direction. It won't steer for you in case of a slide, only help you steer the correct direction.  The Elantra's structure is very stiff so the car feels solid, tight and squeak free. Suspension is tuned more for ride comfort than outright speed but the vault-like structure means it can do a commendable job on twisty roads and still glide down the highway. It does exhibit body lean in hard cornering but this is more than acceptable; it remains controlled and makes the driver aware it is working toward its limits.

Model Lienup

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra four-door sedan is built in two trim levels. All are powered by 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, with the choice of a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

Elantra GLS comes with cloth upholstery, six-way manual driver's seat, 172-watt 6-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD with MP3, iPod, and USB compatibility, 60/40-split fold rear seat, power windows, locks and heated mirrors, tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, anti-theft system, trip computer, and 195/65TR15 tires on steel wheels.

The GLS Popular Equipment package includes air conditioning, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel, solar glass, windshield sunshade band, 16-inch steel wheels with 205/55HR16 tires, and is available with the manual transmission or automatic. The GLS Preferred includes all that and the automatic transmission and upgrades with alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, cloth insert door trim, sliding center armrest, illuminated vanity mirrors with driver extension and illuminated ignition. The GLS Navigation package builds on the Preferred, adding navigation with XM NavTraffic, rear-view camera, upgraded 360-watt audio system and automatic headlights.

Elantra Limited comes only with the automatic transmission and includes leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats, air conditioning, moonroof, 215/45HR17 tires and alloy wheels, fog lights, leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob, mirror-imbedded turn signals, black chrome grille, solar glass, minor cabin upgrades, and most of the GLS Preferred content. A Limited model with navigation includes everything in the GLS navigation pack plus proximity key for key-in-pocket operation.

Conclusions

Whatever your reason for buying a 2012 Hyundai Elantra, whether the quiet ride, the airy interior, the fuel economy, the stylish wrapper, or all of the above, you will be happy that you purchased this car.  It is also a fun looking car to drive and it is sporty looking.  Click here for more information on the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.

Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive.com