Road test: Hyundai Elantra Hybrid - Walla! vehicle

2021-12-05T06:28:00.064Z

The Hyundai Elantra comes in a new generation and a hybrid version. But offers more than fuel economy - even a particularly high level of equipment. What is her chance with the private client?

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Vehicle tests

Road test: Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

Just before the overall rise in price of hybrid cars, Hyundai presents its answer to two difficult challenges: the Toyota Corolla and the cessation of Ionic production.

We used it for the first time in Israel

Hyundai Elantra Hybrid in Israel: impressive and the price accordingly

To the full article

A dramatic design that will turn heads at least in the beginning (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Mirror, cabin

Hyundai has certainly been from Gaza in recent years when it comes to exterior design and this is also reflected in the Elantra.

It has from the nose of the Tucson and from the profile and rear of the Sonata.

Its generous exterior dimensions and low roof certainly give it an impressive arrival effect, it will last as long as it does not become the official accessory of the attached vehicle owners.

With the opening of the cabin door there is a first moment of “wow” for the spaciousness and design look.

After sitting for a few hundred miles in it it is reduced to "okay".

The space is still impressive, the human engineering is good overall, but the level of materials here does not really rise, the digital dashboard is limited in its display, the great advantage of the multimedia system is mirroring to mobile (Android and Apple), the story with the passenger handle in the center console is unclear Most storage compartments.

Initial wow effect (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

The driver's seat gets a very good directional range and it is easy to get into a good driving position.

That of the passenger does not mean height.

Side mirrors are slightly smaller than what is common in cars and there is always a compromise between the need to aim them correctly and what you will see in them, the rear view is limited due to the design of the rear window and the high trunk.

The back seat is very spacious in terms of width and also the space for the legs.

The head suffers due to the sloping design of the roof and the outward appearance is not optimal due to the same design.

There are no air conditioning ports or USB sockets - so the kids will always have something to complain about and this time it's not because we are raising a spoiled, forced good and terrible generation - this time they are absolutely right.

The trunk is deep and 474 liters is a lot of volume, but its key is limited and uncomfortable and it lacks any possibility of fixing luggage.

No hooks, no rings and no cells.

The width and legroom are good, there are no air conditioning ports (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Armature, safety

The Elantra has two Supreme trim levels which is the entry-level version and the fully equipped Premium which is also our test car.

The list of 8-inch screen with compatibility for Apple and Android, split climate control, keyless entry, remote propulsion and smart opening to the trunk (proximity ID and opens alone) joins in the premium finish level also a mobile charging pad, 10.25-inch digital dashboard, LED lighting , A sunroof and a 17-inch hoop.

What does not change and is impressive is the battery of safety systems;

Correction of lane departure includes lane center maintenance, adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, reminder to prevent forgetting children, prevent lane crossing with vehicle identification in "dead zone", cross-rear traffic warning including braking and warning of a passing vehicle before opening a door.

Deep, but without means of anchoring or hanging (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Motivation and enjoyment

The propulsion is entrusted to a familiar combination from the Ionic - a 1.6 petrol engine and an electric unit, but after a series of updates to the petrol engine.

The combined power is 139 hp and 27 kg.

Power goes through a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

In practice, there is a very smooth car in daily use, with a good response to pressing the pedal when leaving the place and at intermediate speeds.

With gentle work on the gas pedal it is possible to move in urban motion on the electric unit.

The electric combination also allows the dual-clutch gearbox to be pleasant even at slow speeds, where such gearboxes tend to be unpleasant.

When the gasoline engine comes in you will hear it, it does it in a very present sound.

So too when he gives a shoulder under load and there it is really noise, not sound.

At higher speeds and on a mountain road it is not clear where all 139 horses fled to, because the business gets a reasonable minus score, for detours we recommend giving up in these cases.

Not powerful, but incredibly economical (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

The ride comfort was found to be very good in the city as well and no less so out of town.

The use of a multi-link rear suspension produces good absorption of various disturbances, fractures and bumps.

Outbound road behavior also benefits from this.

The Elantra is not fun to drive, but allows for a lot of confidence, a lot of grip and there is no connection between what it does and what the previous generation did.

Except for the engine noises that penetrate under load, the noise insulation is pretty good.

The test surprise was the fuel consumption, with the manufacturer's statement standing at 22.7 km per liter and in practice in moderate driving you will not have a hard time achieving 21 km per liter.

Even with a driving load it stabilized at 19 km per liter, these are excellent numbers for a family car.

At night, the backlight units produce a very unique look (Photo: Keinan Cohen)

Summary

So Hyundai is already a consensus, but in one place this car has a problem that has nothing to do with its comfort, equipment or behavior - it has to do with the fact that a family sedan is simply a product that has become irrelevant to the private customer - it has long since moved to crossovers.

Its clients are leasing companies and at the end of it an employee will be selected or dictated to him by the workplace.

For him this initial price means nothing, is a fiction whose purpose is to cut proper discounts for leasing companies and keep their value as used.

So the question is not the question of 150,000 shekels (or 148,000 shekels for the entry-level version), but how much it will cost him at the end of the pay slip.

So whether a good value for money is an irrelevant question because its price to the consumer is not to the consumer.

How much and how much better is it than a Toyota Corolla or Skoda Octavia?

You will know in the comparative test.

Bottom line: Hyundai's best family car at a bad price for the private customer.

The hot name in high-tech companies?

(Photo: Keinan Cohen)