I own a 2003 Civic, started to look for a new car last month. I heard of the new Elantra and began to read the reviews. I got more excited about the car as more good reviews were coming out.
Last week the salesman called me that they just got the new Elantra in. I went in to the dealership, saw it and sat in it. Everything was great just as the reviews said, the look, inside cabin, features and all. It even has a spare tire that those in the US don't have.
I asked him if I could test drive one. He had a brand new demo, a GL automatic. I started the car, turned on the 2 stage heated seat, adjusted a few things and slowly pulled out of the parking lot.
I pressed on the gas pedal gradually. I couldn't believe myself when I heard the loud engine noise because many of the reviews said the car is quiet. Even after the car had warmed up, it still was very noisy when it was over 3000 rpm or so. It appeared to me the engine was making a huge effort to accelerate the car. It was definitely noisier than the Civic and Mazda 3. I was so disappointed. I was all ready to buy it. Then the Car and Driver review came out and I couldn't agree with it more.
How can so many first drive reviewers said the car is quiet? Do they make better ones for California? The demo I drove was brand new, only a few km on it. Will it get better after a few thousand kms? Is this 'Nu' engine inferior to the GDI engine they put in the Avante in Korea?
I like everything else the Elantra is offering, now I have to decide if I can bear with this engine.