The updated D-segment sedan from Hyundai, the Elantra, has finally been launched in India after a long wait. The sixth generation of the car has been priced at Rs 12.99 lakh for the base variant, whereas the top-of-the-line variant costs Rs 19.19 lakh. The sedan takes on competition from the Toyota Corolla, the Skoda Octavia, and the Chevrolet Cruze. With its good looks and an extensive list of features, we expect the car to top the segment. Let’s see what the premium sedan from Hyundai has to offer in terms of features and specifications.
The all-new Elantra is a big step up in terms of design and size. The car is based on the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, which is more mature in the way it executes the character lines. As opposed to the outgoing car, the lines are sharper.
The front is dominated by a chrome hexagonal grille, aggressive projector headlamps with daytime running headlamps (DRLs) and stylish fog lamp enclosures with projector foglamps. Then there are the sharply carved bonnet and a raked front windscreen that further accentuates the sporty appeal of the car. Move to the side, and you notice that the overall silhouette is very similar to its predecessor's. However, the new window line, shoulder line and graphite grey alloy wheels stand apart. Strangely enough, Hyundai hasn’t offered the top-spec diamond-cut alloy wheels in India, which we have seen in the global-spec car. The rear continues to impress with its brightly illuminated fully LED taillights, and the car is the second one to offer them in this category, after the Skoda Octavia.
Dimensions wise, the new Elantra is longer (by 40mm over the previous 4530mm) and wider (by 25mm over the previous 1775mm). However, the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2700mm, which is adequate since the previous car offered generous room for all the five passengers.
Other exterior features:
- Shark-fin antenna
- Wheel air curtains
- Chrome door handles
- 10-spoke alloy wheels
- Smart boot opening
Interiors
The all-new Elantra ditches the beige interiors of the previous version and gets an all-black interior set-up. However, unlike the earlier interiors, the current layout is geared towards elegance rather than sportiness. Unlike the flowing interior panels and dashboard of the previous car, the current car exhibits a tall standing dash, with a very conservative AC vent and door panel layout. The same goes for the instrument cluster which, though more advanced, looks quite plain.
On the entertainment front, the next-gen Elantra is offered with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation; and the screen is conveniently sandwiched between the central AC louvres, well within the reach of the driver. The system also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration.
Other than these, the car retains many features from the previous car, such as:
- Cluster ioniser
- Ventilated front seats
- Electrochromic rearview mirror
- Reverse system
- Electronically adjustable driver seat
- Dual-zone climate control
- Sun/moon roof
- Chilled glovebox
- 3.5-inch driver information screen (TFT)
- Rear AC vents
- Aluminium pedals
- Steering-wheel–mounted controls
- Adjustable steering (for both reach and rake).
Safety
On the safety front, the car gets a plethora of features, just like the old car. It gets;
- Six airbags
- Electronic stability control
- Hill Hold Assist
- Auto unlocking doors (in case of an accident)
- Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- Guidelines in reversing camera screen
Underpinnings
The new car is based on an all-new platform, which makes its monocoque chassis stiffer and safer.
Engine
As you might know, the car is powered by an all-new Atkinson cycle 2.0-litre petrol motor, which enhances the efficiency of the car without compromising on performance. The engine produces a healthy 152PS of power and 192Nm of peak torque. The motor is mated to a six-speed manual and is also available with a six-speed automatic unit.
On the other hand, the diesel motor is a refined version of the previously available 1.6-litre CRDi unit, which produces the same 128PS of power and 260Nm of torque as the previous engine. The diesel motor too is available with a six-speed manual and automatic transmission options. Also, both the motors are available with two different drive modes, namely ECO and SPORT, between which the driver can switch, based on his/her discretion.
The car has surely been launched at a very compelling price and is expected to do good in its category. Moreover, Hyundai has launched nine different variants of the car to make sure that buyers have maximum freedom to choose the Elantra of their choice.
Source: Zigwheels.com
