2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring unveiled in Montreal
by Alex Nunez on Jan 23rd 2008 at 8:27AM 
Click image for gallery of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
The eye-searing Hyundai Elantra Touring "Beach Cruiser" Concept that appeared at last year's SEMA was the first real look we had at Hyundai's new US-bound station wagon. Since then, we've been interested in seeing what it looks like in non-Phoenix Suns colors augmented with a tribal tattoo pattern. Today, we get our wish.
Hyundai has officially unveiled the 2009 Elantra Touring at the Montreal International Auto Show, giving us a proper look at the car we can expect to see in showrooms a little later this year. Sold in Europe as the i30 CW, the Elantra Touring is a handsome small wagon with a nicely-detailed interior. The instrumentation and switchgear look like quality stuff, leather's optional, and it has both USB and AUX ports for iPod compatibility. Power comes from a 2.0L four-banger making 141 horses mated to a five-speed manual or an optional 4-speed automatic. Exterior accents include subtle brightwork on the front and rear bumpers, available 17" wheels, and wraparound headlamps. In all, the Elantra Touring looks like a practical, appealing package. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but we expect it to be very competitive, in keeping with Hyundai's value-oriented approach.[Source: TheCarBlogger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
psarhjinian 10:22AM (1/23/2008)
It actually bears resemblance to the last Elantra wagon we got in it's shape and front-end detailing. Overall, not a bad design. It'll be interesting to see if it squeezes the Civic much--especially in Canada--as Honda really doesn't have anything in this market.
It's also telling that this was revealed in Montreal. Canada in general--and urban Quebec in particular--sell way, way more wagons and hatches than the rest of North America. I remember how much attention the Rondo got last year and I think Hyundai is showing some smarts in it's product planning.
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RPM 10:31AM (1/23/2008)
Very clean design, I like the chrome details on the front, its high quality. I really don't see how ignorant people can put Hyundai down anymore. This is another solid offering, unlike what we've been seeing from Honda (new Accord) or Mercedes (new SL, MLK). This brand is on its way up.
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iSpec 11:02AM (1/23/2008)
'they did rip off the grill and overall front end design of the 06-07 Accord'
Well before you go making such assertive assumptions you should research the Elantra's design history as this grill was used on the early 1990's Elantra. So, now, who ripped off what grill?
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Pat 12:17PM (1/23/2008)
If this car was manufactured by another automaker there wouldn't be as much criticism of ressemblance.
All the points brought forward are minor. If you look at all cars you will surely find elements that are similar in design --either because it's functional or because it's in style.
Uumh, the plastic ring under the shifter looks to be a copy of the one found in the Ford Focus ... oh wait, the Hazzard button bears the same symbol as in the Subaru Legacy, oh and the wheels are round ...
If the car was 100% original you would mock it and say it doesn't have a prayer.
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Brian 1:10PM (1/23/2008)
It's the same thing over and over again. Biased people who can no longer rip about Hyundai's "cheapness" now can only make vague comparisons about the Hyundai looks like this and that. It looks like a quality, high value vehicle. None of the BS can change that.
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Brian W 7:49PM (1/23/2008)
Looks just like a hyundai to me. Plain, boring and over rated by people who haven't seen of driven it yet. If this was a new Ford, you would be criticizing it for being ugly.
Bob-omb 1:15PM (1/23/2008)
So IS this thing more Kia than Hyundai? Not that I care since I like Kias just fine and they usually have much better handling. But we did hear that this is using that cee'd platform, right?
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flanken 1:19PM (1/23/2008)
Saab wants the back end of their 9-3 SportCombi back.
Otherwise, it doesn't look too bad.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 10:35PM (1/23/2008)
Hey! Hey! What's wrong with the 9-3 SportCombi rear???
I like big wagon rears!
(cue Sir Mix-a-lot) ;)
flanken 10:40PM (1/23/2008)
I actually think the 9-3 wagon looks very nice from the back. I guess few wagons have that combination of wedge-shaped roof line and vertical taillights.
jsjs 1:57PM (1/23/2008)
Not surprisingly, we have the same whiners who b!tch and moan about Hyundai borrowing this and that (tho, the funny thing that they can't even agree on which auto manufacturer Hyundai purportedly "borrowed" from).
In the last couple of weeks - there have been models introduced by pretty much all of the major auto manufacturers where posters have said the front looks like a [ ] or the rear reminds me of [ ] and yet, the others seem to get a pass for such "borrowing".
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Punkcrisis 2:12PM (1/23/2008)
I like this car, although it has a volvo c30 feel to it I still like it. Hyundai continues to impress with each new car it release's.
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AlexP 2:36PM (1/23/2008)
Why aren't you posting the Pontiac Wave?
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Bob-omb 5:54PM (1/23/2008)
Yes, yes. You own a Wave. WE GET IT.
seb640 4:13PM (1/23/2008)
YEAH !!!!
We finally have something to brag about our auto show !!!
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James 6:38PM (1/23/2008)
At first glance, I thought it was the Opel-cum-Saturn Astra....
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Jake 5:31PM (1/24/2008)
Hyundai ripping off another companies design yet again.....tisk tisk.....all i have to say is zoom zoom zoom.......mazda 3 resemblance anyone?....the new refreshed version?....i see it do you?
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rfreeman 10:36PM (1/25/2008)
I actually had a hard time finding the right Mazda because they all look the same. Even then I don't see what you're talking about.
jsjs 2:33AM (1/26/2008)
No - you obviously don't have any spatial acumen.
The fact people are bringing up a no. of various auto manufacturers shows that most cars these days tend to look alike.
Dario 7:19PM (1/27/2008)
Just hope they bring it over in Euro-spec i30 form, like they did with the previous GT, and keep the price low enough to impress people. Otherwise it'll just bump up against the Mazda 3. Unfortunately 141hp sounds like they're perfecting the previous 2.0L engine still. It would be nice if they offered their 2.4L 160+hp as an option - now that would be "fun to drive."
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