2012 Hyundai Elantra Active Manual
16-January-2012
- Vital Stats
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$20,590 - $20,590
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Unleaded
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Bigger than you may think!
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4
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Hyundai is calling the Elantra ‘The Big Small Car’ and it’s true. Technically the Elantra is classified as a small car, but it’s a bit like Mary Poppins’ magic bag – on the outside it looks like a regular small-size sedan, but open it up and the space is pretty impressive.
Style & Drive
The 5-seat Elantra Active Manual is a small sedan with a decidedly sporty look. It has sleek lines, a low sloping roof (which might be a bit of a hindrance for tall passengers in the back seats) and a sharp interior to match.
The Elantra comes with a 6-speed gear box and a 1.8-litre ‘Nu’ petrol engine which replaces the old Elantra's 2-litre engine, giving the car a bit more power and a bit less torque. To begin with, the car feels a little soft on takeoff and can be quite jerky when you hit the brake, but once you get used to the sensitive pedals, the motion smoothes out and you get a pretty nice ride.
For its price, the car is very well put together and does not look cheap at all. Standard features on the entry-level Elantra Active include air-conditioning, a six-speaker stereo system with single-CD player, USB/AUX inputs and Bluetooth integration, cruise control, power windows and power mirrors. The dash is well designed for the most part, but the air vents could be better placed. They are quite low on the dash, and the driver’s side vent is blocked by both the steering wheel and the driver’s arm. The car also comes with a Gear Shift Indicator which tells you which gear you should be in for maximum fuel efficiency.
Space-wise the Elantra has a surprising amount of room. Though it’s a sporty little thing, it could actually do double duty as a family car. I had a rear-facing baby car seat installed in the back seat and the front passenger still had a reasonable amount of leg room available with their seat scooted forward to accommodate the car seat. The boot, which measures 420L, is generous enough to fit a couple of suitcases or a full-sized pram laid flat. The 60/40 split rear seats fold down, but don’t fold quite flush with the boot floor. Rare in this day and age, the car has a full-sized spare wheel.
Safety
The Elantra scored a 5-star rating from ANCAP, the highest level for a motor vehicle in Australia. It comes with six airbags, including front, front side and full-length curtain airbags, an Anti-lock braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM).
Eco
Fuel consumption: 6.6L/100km
CO2 emission: 158g/km
Describe the car in 3 words
Sleek, Sporty, Spacious.
What are the best things about this car?
It’s size. It’s a mid-sized car masquerading as a small car.
What are the downsides of this car?
The brake is a bit jerky.
What kind of petrol does it use?
Unleaded petrol.
Liked it?
Yes. It looks good, and is great value for money.
If personified, who would this car be?
Emma Stone – cool yet sensible too.
