HYUNDAI CONTINUES TO ADD FEATURES

TO ELANTRA SEDAN, ITS TOP SELLER

Although SUVs and crossovers seem to be taking over the automotive world, at least one manufacturer seems to be bucking that trend.

South Korean automaker Hyundai’s best seller remains the Elantra, a compact sedan that outsold the company’s best-selling SUV/crossover, the Tucson, by over 58,000 units in 2018.

Sales of the Elantra hopped up to 200,415 last year from 198,210 in 2017 while the Tucson came in at 142,219 and the Santa Fe SUV at 117,038 for 2018. (Yes, combined the Tucson and Santa Fe outsold the Elantra, but adding the Sonata’s total of 105,118 to that of the Elantra, Hyundai still sold more sedans as opposed to the recent trend toward SUVs.)

Hyundai reports that over 9 million Elantras have been sold since its launch in the U.S. in 1991.

Early last year I had the pleasure of driving the 2018 Elantra SEL, a model introduced following the redesign of 2017, and was impressed with the number of safety and convenience features it offered for its class.

Trickle down apparently is not just an economic theory but applies to car development as well. Features introduced on high-price luxury models eventually find their way down to more affordable vehicles like the ones in the compact sedan segment where the Elantra resides.

Hyundai didn’t quit with the changes for 2017, however. For 2019, the company gives the Elantra a new hood, front fenders, front fascia, grille, and headlights along with a new trunk, taillights and rear fascia. The 16- and 17-inch wheels get new designs, and the Eco trim has new 15-inch alloy wheels. Top-of-the-food-chain Limited and Sport trims come with LED headlights as standard.

Inside the Elantra has a new center cluster and new instrument housing and controls, and the Limited trim gets Infinity Premium Audio with 8 speakers.

SEL and above models get the Smart Shift Drive Mode that adapts to your driving characteristics to enhance your overall experience. I opted for Sport mode most of the time.

All but the base SE model also get as standard a suite of safety features labeled SmartSense that includes Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Driver Attention warning, Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision warning.

With the base SE model, the most exotic safety system is a blind-spot mirror.

All Elantras get as standard a rear-view camera features dynamic guidelines to give you a better picture when you are backing, stability and traction control systems, anti-lock brakes, and front and side-impact airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger. 

Power trains vary. Most Elantras come with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, but the Eco trim gets a 1.4-liter turbo-4 and the Sport gets a 1.6-liter turbo-4.

The 2.0L offers only 147 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque, but fuel economy numbers are good — 28 miles-per-gallon city, 37 highway, and 32. You get less horsepower (128) but slightly more torque (156) from the 1.4-liter and more of both (201/195, respectively) with the 1.6 turbp in the Sport.

A 6-speed automatic with Shiftronic (manual gear selection) is available on the SE, adding $1,000 to the MSRP for the manual SE. The automatic is and standard on SEL Value Edition, Limited models. The Eco and Sport models are equipped with a 7-speed Eco-shift dual clutch transmission with Shiftronic, and you can also get a 6-speed manual transmission with the Sport.

SE Elantra manual models carry a base MSRP $17,985 (including destination and delivery). Pricing tops out at $24,385 for Sport models with the dual-clutch tranny. The Limited, which served as my test vehicle for the week, carries a starting MSRP of $23,485.

What I liked about the 2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited: It comes with a plethora of technological and safety features, many of them standard and all of the very user-friendly.  I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. Unlike some European manufacturers, Hyundai makes technological features, like say navigation, easy to operate.

What I didn’t like about the 2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited: I’d like to see a little more in the way of performance for a more fun driving experience. For that, you probably need to take a look at the Sport trim or, if you will accept a hatchback, the Elantra GT Sport with similar power numbers (201/195).

Would I buy the 2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited? Yes. Bigger families may want a vehicle with more room for passengers and their stuff, but if that’s not you, the Elantra has a lot of offer in a stylish package.

2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED

OFFERS BEVY OF EXTRA FEATURES 

Last October I spent a week driving a 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco and noted how many features were included as standard in the base MSRP of under $22,000.

They included things that are offered only as options or are not available in the class at all, like a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, cross-traffic detection, blind-spot detection, projector headlamps and LED daytime running lights, etc.

So when it came time to answer my closing question — would I buy this vehicle? — my answer was yes, I would. But I added a caveat. I’d also want to take a look at the Elantra Limited before making a final decision.

Well, I recently got that look at the 2017 Elantra Limited, and much of what I said about the Elantra Eco last fall (you can read my earlier review by clicking on “October” on the list on the right to get to the proper link) holds true for the Elantra Limited.

You get a ton of similar features as standard in both models with the key differences in the powertrain (a 1.4-liter turbo and 7-speed double-clutch transmission on the Eco) and wheels (17-inch alloys on the Limited, 15s on the Eco).

I guess you decision would have to come down to how much gas you want to save. EPA figures for the Elantra Limited are 28 miles-per-gallon city, 37 highway, and 32 combined) and for the Elantra Eco 32/40/35. Not a huge difference, really, considering how real-life results often vary.

On the other hand, the Limited enjoys a power edge with its 2.4-liter 4-cylinder producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque to the 128/156, respectively, in the Eco. But thanks to the extra torque in the Eco, there’s not a whole lot of difference when it comes to off-the-line performance.

Both models come down in the category of “adequate” for most situations. If you want better mileage from the Limited, you can always drive it in “Eco” mode and if you want more in the way of response, put it in Sport instead of Normal.

The Limited is mated to a 6-speed automatic Shiftronic transmission, which means that you can select gears manually if you desire, though without paddle shifters, it becomes a bit of a chore to keep changing gears.

It’s when you start adding the extras, however, that the real advantages of the Limited come into play.

With the Limited you can get options like a Tech Package that includes navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, premium audio, a power sunroof and heated front and rear seats and an Ultimate Package that includes HID headlights, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, Smart Cruise Control, and lane-keeping assist.

Those two packages (you need the Tech Package to get the features from the Ultimate) are a huge upgrade for and extra $4,400 added to the base MSRP of $22,350.

That, plus a couple of stand-alone options like carpeted floor mats, a cargo net in the trunk, first-aid kit, and rear bumper protection plus the $835 destination and delivery charge ran the total MSRP to $27,860 for the Elantra Limited that I drove for a week.

It wasn’t all that long ago that such a number for an Elantra would have sent shock waves through the showroom, but that falls into the reasonable category now. In fact, even with the options included, that total MSRP falls in the bottom half of the compact car segment.

Also, the base Elantra SE with a 6-speed manual transmission starts at under $18,000.

What I liked about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited: The front is very room with up to 42.2 inches of legroom, and the back offers 35.7, which isn’t bad. The ride itself is quiet and smooth enough, and the cabin has a nice feel about it. Operation of the infotainment system is very intuitive, and there are plenty of functions to operate.

What I didn’t like about the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited: It’s not a requirement, but if you are going to have a shiftable automatic transmission, it’s nice to be able to accomplish that mission via paddle shifters. I don’t use them all that much on South Florida’s flat roads, but if you are one who likes to shift gears even with an automatic, you would want them. The engine overall could have a little more oomph in the performance department.

Would I buy the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited? Yes, I would. I would probably go for the Limited for the Eco, especially if I could swing the options financially. They make a huge difference when compared to the Elantra’s competitors. 

HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS MOVED UP

IN CLASS OVER THE YEARS

Hyundai has announced that this past month was its best July ever in sales with the 75,003 vehicles sold representing an increase of 5.6 percent over the numbers for July 2015.

Driving those overall numbers (pun intended) are the South Korean automaker’s two crossover SUVs, the Tucson and the Santa Fe.

In fact a closer look at the sales numbers reveals the Tucson and Santa Fe were two of only three Hyundai vehicles that showed an actual increase for the month, the other being the Accent.

The other six vehicles in the Hyundai portfolio all showed slight declines for the month of July, though the Sonata’s total for the year-to-date is up slightly from the same time period for 2015. (For a complete look at the report, go to http://bit.ly/2aLcl8S.)

All this is just a round-about way of getting down to what I actually am writing about here, which is the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate I recently had the pleasure of driving for a week. (Strangely, though it has been around for over 10 years now, I have yet to have the Tucson for a week’s test. But I digress.)

I have followed the development of the Santa Fe casually for quite some time now. In May of 2003 I attended a preview of the then two-year-old crossover that, at the time, was getting a new 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine that seriously upgraded the vehicle’s performance. The next month I went out and bought a Santa Fe Limited 3.5L for my wife (she drove it and actually picked it), and it still is in the family with my son. That’s a serious lifespan.

The Santa Fe of today, however, is a much different vehicle from the ones of the early years. There’s no question the esthetics have undergone a major overhaul. With the redesign of 2007, the Santa Fe definitely moved upscale in luxury features, cabin comforts, and overall appearance compared to the more utilitarian vehicle with its funky styling that I had.

That’s especially true with the Limited Ultimate version that comes with a plethora of standard equipment that includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, unique five-bar grille, 8-inch touchscreen navigation system with Android Auto and a multi-view camera system, hands-free liftgate with auto open, keyless operation and push-button start, heated and ventilated front seats, leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a panoramic sunroof, and more.

They’re all included in the $39,400 MSRP. Top it off with a optional Ultimate Tech Package (adaptable cruise control, emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, electronic parking brake with auto hold, HID headlamps) plus the $895 destination and delivery charge and the total for the test car came to $42,545.

I’ll be up front here. That is a lot more than what I paid for my 2003 Santa Fe Limited 3.5L, even accounting for inflation. But it’s a lot more vehicle, too.

Under the hood is a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 290 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. When it comes to fuel consumption, that combination is clocks in at 17 miles-per-gallon city, 23 highway, and 20 combined, which is typical for the segment.

The first couple of days I drove it, I was looking for more oomph, but then I had spent the previous week in the Cadillac ATS-V with its less than four-second zero-to-60 mph clocking, so my judgement was probably a little skewed. Everything is relative. The Santa Fe’s horsepower and torque numbers are easily competitive in the midsize SUV segment.

After driving it a while, I still would have liked a bit more throttle response, and I got it when I switched from normal to sport mode, which essentially keeps the engine revs a bit higher for that extra boost. There’s also an eco mode, btw, with all the modes selected by pushing a button to the left of the steering wheel. That’s one of several new features added for 2017 along with the new multi-view camera system, a third-row USB outlet, and second-row cupholders.

All in all, this is a vehicle worth considering if a mid-size SUV is in your future.

What I liked about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate: This is a good-looking vehicle with ambiance that rivals entries in the luxury segment. The ride is comfortable and quiet, and getting back to the third row seats is made easy by the standard second-row captain’s seats in the second row, and the third flips down with the pull of a cord at the rear. (FYI, the Santa Fe is offered with six- or seven-passenger seating depending on the trim. If you just want five-passenger seating, there’s the Santa Fe Sport.)

What I didn’t like about the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited Ultimate: I couldn’t find much of anything to not like about this vehicle.  Storage space behind the third row is listed as 13.5 cubic feet, but most of it is vertical. For serious hauling, you’ll have to lower the third-row seats to get 40.9 cubic feet.

Would I buy this vehicle? If it was in my budget, yes. And you don’t have to spend over $40,000 to get one. While the top-of-the-line Limited Ultimate with all-wheel drive carries an MSRP of 41,150, the base SE trim with front-wheel drive starts at $30,800.