Full Test: 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring

it all sounds good, except I will never buy another 4 cylinder car with a 4-speed auto. If Honda and Mini can fit 5-6 speed auto's in their entry level cars, then everybody else can too. Yes, yes, yes, I know, get the 5-speed manual. I can't, my wife doesn't drive stick and we only have one car.

I would have no qualms about including Hyundai in my shopping the next time I buy. They make a good quality product at a very fair price and offer a fantastic warranty.

Does it matter if it drives like a Mazda3? No. Why you ask? Because it looks like the Mazda 323 reincarnated for the new millenium.

As a former Mazda3 owner - no thanks.

It's very spacious inside--it reaaly is more like a station wagon than a Mazda3 or Golf, but the 4-speed auto is glaring. Hyundai has a 5-speed automatic on the 2.4l--does the 2.0l have a different bolt pattern, or is it a space or cost issue?

It's unsurprising these days that the sunroof is only available packaged with other options, but $1500 is too much, given that the 17-in alloys are the ugliest wheels I have seen in decades--silver painted with chromed plastic inserts between the spokes? Combined with the huge chrome mustache on the grille and the narrow chrome strips in the bumpers, they scream "tacky" from a mile away. The standard wheels may be only 16-inchers, but they are much more attractive.

At the price point, a 6-spd auto would kill the sales of this thing. You know how much the
mini costs? Yeah, Hyundai should put a 5-spd auto in it, but honestly, most drivers wouldn't care about the 4-spd.

I, however, would buy the manual. But that's just me.

Also, I'd be surprised if Hyundai doesn't offer the 2.4L with the 5-spd in this in the future.

I concur - need 5-spd automatic for the wife. Most of the other details sound very promising. Otherwise, the front is nearly attractive, but the rear sytling is boring.

From the review: "consider test-driving one before you plunk down $30,000 or more on a vehicle that's overweight, overpriced and over the hill."

Stick to comparing it to like vehicles and leave the soapbox for another article. This type of thing can go in an opinion column, but is out of place in a car review.

brn,

A car review is an opinion column, otherwise it would just read like a spec sheet. If you don't agree, that's what the comment section is for.

Flicmod, The base Mini is $19,200 with alloys, stability control, a 6-speed tranny, PW/PL and AC. Really the only major addition that the Hyundai has is the iPod/Aux input, which I will concede should be standard or a low cost option on all vehicles these days (my CD player gets no more use than a cassette deck would, I listen to the radio or my MP3 through the aux in).

The 4-speed slushbox is $800. Make it $1,100 and upgrade to 5 or 6 speed. It is well worth the extra cash in my experience.

Looks more like a Daewoo than a Mazda3.

I'm a big fan of this car. I'm looking forward to test driving one with the manual transmission and 17" wheels.

I just wish it was more interesting to look at.

Kia did much better with the Soul.

@bc1960

The engine in this car is the tired old iron block Beta II. The 2.4L is the all-aluminum Theta II. I don't know if the bolt pattern is different or not, but a 2.0L version of the Theta II with a 5-speed automatic will appear in a "Fuel Economy Package" version of the Kia Forte. So I'd suspect it won't be much longer before HKAG will kill off the Beta II and once the Theta II replaces it, a 5-speed auto will become available in all versions of the Elantra, too.

Hey Edmunds! How about adding one of these to the long-term fleet?

62.6 mph doesn't look like it drives anywhere like a 68 mph Mazda3.

Did they do the test with the 16" or 17" wheels?