click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
While the big Japanese auto manufacturers have been incrementally improving their vehicles ever since they were first launched in the U.S., Hyundai has been bettering itself in leaps and bounds. While we're not quite ready to anoint Hyundai as the second coming of Toyota, it just isn't all that shocking anymore to hear that the Hyundai Elantra is now Consumer Reports' top-ranked 2008 vehicle amongst 19 other compacts and subcompacts. Beating out such high-quality stalwarts as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Prius is very impressive work, and Hyundai is justifiably proud of the accomplishment. Jim Trainor, a Hyundai spokesman, told the Detroit Free Press, "As I got the note from Consumer Reports, we were ecstatic. Coming from such a highly regarded industry source like Consumer Reports, it really says a lot about what we're doing."
Besides the aforementioned Honda and Toyota models, Mazda also scored fairly well with its popular 3 sedan and hatchback. The popular-with-the-people Ford Focus managed a mid-pack rating. Holding up the rear was the Chevy Aveo, which shouldn't be too surprising given the extremely low cost of entry into that model.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pacman @ Jun 3rd 2008 12:41PM
Car and Driver did the same comparo but the M3 won.
cowbell @ Jun 3rd 2008 12:46PM
HAHAHA!!
I think I pissed myself a little at that one.
Pluton @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:27PM
Hmm... Car & Driver AND Consumer Reports are 2 diferent companies.... Wake up!
TRAVIS D @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:03PM
funny, me and your mom did the same test and she ended up on top.
Jason @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:22PM
Yeah they praised the M3 for being larger than the other sub-compacts.
Dario @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:44PM
I think you're commenting on the wrong p.... oh... oh I get it! LOL!!!!!
Noe @ Jun 3rd 2008 12:50PM
im starting to like the touring more and more
meatycheesyboy @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:04PM
If they shorten it and throw away 2 doors, I'd like it alot more.
john riley @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:02PM
I vote for the touring as well. Very few cheap wagons and this looks like a nice one.
bob cobb @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:10PM
Im really interested in the elantra touring. It's hard to find an affordable wagon these days, and I really dont want to spend $25k on a jetta diesel wagon
chrisdavis @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:22PM
Kia Spectra5
bob cobb @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:47PM
Not really a fan of that car
tanooki2003 @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:11PM
Hyundai should be proud because the Elantra really is a great car. The interior space is also amazing , being that it is only .9 cubic feet smaller than the 08 Malibu.
I can tell you that personally from ownership (2007 Hyundai Elantra Limited) it truly does have fantastic handling, and this coming from also owning a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. The acceleration is quite peppy, with thanks to the CVVT technology used on the 138HP 2.0L BetaII DOHC engine, giving it an impressive torque curve at lower RPM. It is even zippier with a 5 speed, that's if your dealer gets off their high horse and offer one with a stick. In my wife's 07 Elantra it can easily out accelerate a Civic, Corolla, Cobalt (non turbo), Imprezza (also non turbo), and most automatic V6 domestic vehicles. Once you get used to the tricky clutch you can easily bark the tires in the first 3 gears.
As far as handling where I live there are a lot of hilly roads with a lot of sharp turns and curves. This Elantra has taken a lot of sharp turns from me sometimes going a little too fast and misjudging a curve. It takes my punishment with ease. Also with the type of suspension they used the car feels a lot more sporty over most of the compacts in the same class.
The Elantra also has some of the little features that matter to me a lot such as the seating position. In most domestics they have their seat placement between 110-130 degrees whereas I prefer to sit more upright so I can stay awake for my long commutes. I can adjust the seat to a full 90 degrees. Also the head rest don;t just move up and down, they can be pulled forward too in case your neck is a little tired and you just want to rest your head back without staring at your headliner. I am a tall person and the foot room in this car is amazing. Also I love how the odometer displays my average MPG usage. Lastly I love the dual electronic climate controls for both the passenger and driver.
Another perk is all of the goodies the dealer threw in along with the car purchase such as free 6 months of XM radio, the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. it's not the standard powertrain warranty, it's the full bumper to bumper which means it covers everything that is not general wear and tear. If my headlamp or parking lamps burn out they cover them as well. Also I get free oil changes for the life of the car ownership. I got all of this for less that $16,800 and it has been the smartest purchase I made since my 3000GT, which is still running in decent shape.
Hyundai IMHO has seriously come a very long way and will continue to do so. As I have said beofre they had become on eof my favorite automotive companies because they actually listen to the consumer and continue to deliver what people want, not what they think people might like or buy. That's what GM is for
Sofa King Cool @ Jun 5th 2008 10:18AM
Jeez, do you work for Hyundai??
Noe @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:29PM
where did you buy ur's? it sounds like a great deal! free oil changes for life
tanooki2003 @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:34PM
It was a bit of a drive for me but I bought the 07 Elantra at Danbury Hyundai. They had the best deals on all of their new cars.
Chris @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:19PM
I see they loved the Aveo just as much as we do here, and to think how that must make Pontiac feel knowing they are going to get a rebadged Aveo
psu48187 @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:42PM
Good work for Hyundai. I've yet to purchase a car in that segment, but I'm sure reliability and comfort receive much more emphasis over performance and design.
On a side note Hyundai has done a good job addressing quality concerns that consumers may have with the brand, but then again Honda hasn't really fallen from grace in addition to a Ford and GM with a very competitive product lineup.
ASEVENSEE4 @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:47PM
I sat in the new Elantra limited and just wow, the interior materials are excellent, much better than most in it's class.
The doors even close nicely.
PJ @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:52PM
To be accurate, the Elantra didn't *beat* all other compacts in CR's rankings. The SE model tied with the Honda Civic EX 5-speed for first.
The lower-trim Elantra GLS ranks several spots lower, below the Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Corolla, because of the dynamic effects of not having stability control.
Still an excellent small car for those who would otherwise buy a Corolla.