Okay - got to take a top-of-the-line model out for a test drive - here are a few thoughts.
Exterior - Yes, subjective, but I think it is just gorgeous. Flowing lines, pleasing proportions, nice stance - "sporty elegance" might describe the design theme.
Interior - Wow. VERY nice. Again, mine was the top tier model, but this was a really nice place to be. 7" nav / multifunction touch screen dominates - in a good way. Very crisp graphics and sharp colours. Made the unit in my Altima look very yester-tech. Center stack was very well organized and pleasing, both from aesthetic and functional points of view. The Cruze made a similarly good impression interior wise (also a fully loaded model), though I found the seats in the Elantra more comfortable. The ones in the Cruze weren't bad at all - I just never got them quite right and gave up after some prolonged fiddling. The Elantra is very spacious for a compact. I've read statements to the effect that it offers more interior space than an ES350 or a Maxima, and while I don't know whether that's true, I can say that the front driver / passenger space seems ample. I sat "behind myself" in the rear seat and again thought that this was a very comfortable place to be. Good leg and hip room. At 5' 10", I found headroom to be just fine, despite the sloping roof line. But someone 6' 2" may have a different impression.
The Drive - engine feels stronger than the numbers suggest. It took me a while to figure out overall what I was REALLY liking about the drive, because it was an element that impacts almost all aspects of experience - this is a pretty lighweight car. Contrary to the mass = quality approach of some (I don't need to name names, do I?) Hyundai clearly made lightness a design goal, and it gives this car a nimble feeling that reminded me of my wife's Fit - though not to the same degree. The engine is quick-revving and eager, and the 6 sp. auto is very responsive to the demands of your right foot. You definitely get some engine noise in the upper rev ranges, but otherwise it's pretty quiet - particularly on the highway. I did not notice much in the way road and wind noise. The ride is on the firm side with the 17" rims, but not harsh by any stretch. Those looking for a soft, floaty ride will probably still gravitate toward a Corolla. Steering was okay - there's no sports sedan level of feedback, but neither was it overboosted to the point of lifelessness. Handling was good.
Price with every available option was $24k and change. May seem like a lot, but you can spend nearly $6k more on a loaded Cruze. And of course, you don't need to go whole hog on the options list.
Overall - a very solid car that should do very well indeed. In a way, it's bugging me that I drove this, because if I were to be brutally honest, this is all the car I really need. And I actually prefer the styling inside and out to the Sonata (though I still really like the Sonata a lot).
I haven't driven much of the contemporary competition for the Elantra, so I can't say where it fits - but I can say that it is a car I could live with quite easily. Good thing the auto show is coming - I may have to check out some of the newer compact offerings just to further complicate my purchase decision.
Jaeger
