The 2017 Elantra is Hyundai’s flagship competitor in the compact segment – challenging cars such as the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic.
The Elantra won the Car of the Year award in South Africa, during 2017. This model, guided by the previous winning model’s design credentials, competes favourably in the compact segment.
There are four spin-offs of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The Executive Elantra 1.6, available in automatic or manual, has a 1.6 litre petrol engine that is naturally aspirated. The third derivative is the 2.0 Elite – powered by a 2 litre petrol engine. Lastly, but certainly not least, the prime Elantra 1.6 TGDI Elite DCT Sport, which has the driving force of a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine.
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Hyundai boasts that the Elantra’s new look not only gives it a more robust road presence, but the exterior design has a practical motive as well.
Hyundai noted that: “Elantra’s architecture was a perfect platform for collaboration between Hyundai designers and engineers to blend advanced styling with functional aerodynamics.”
The new Elantra’s exterior strikes a few slight resemblances with other high-class vehicles such as the Audi and Honda Ballade. The interior has an exclusive feel to it – flaunting top-of-the-range finishings and welcomed spaciousness and excellent driver-oriented design. The Elantra Sport’s interior has discernibly changed. It now has red stitching and sporty seats, as well as a steering wheel with a flat bottom.
The various Elantra models all have leather seats with SoyFoam™, made from environmentally friendly materials. Other standard features in the new Elantra models include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system – that easily connects your phone in a couple expedient steps, rear Park Assist, electronic windows and mirrors, as well as cruise control. The Elite models are furnished with a PushStart Smart key button, automatic air-conditioning and front windscreen rain sensors.
POWER AND PERFORMANCE
The Elantra 1.6 Executive automatic or manual is offered with a four-cylinder 1 591cc engine, which puts forward 154 Nm torque at 4 850 rpm and 94 kW at 6 300 rpm. Whereas the Elantra 1.6 TGDI Elite DCT Sport comes has a 1 591cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which offers 265 N.m between 1 500 and 4 500 rpm and 150 kW at 6 000rpm.
The 1.6 Elantra TGDI Elite Sport brags a Dual Clutch 7-speed transmission, with paddle shifters. The Sports Driving Mode makes tackling rougher terrains easy and seriously fun!
SAFETY IS FOCAL
The safety measures and features of the new Elantra were extensively discussed and planned and the engineers at Hyundai spent much time and effort into ensuring an Elantra with advanced safety features. These include such features as various strength grades of steel for a stronger chassis, which also offers more safety to the vehicle’s occupants. The video of the new Hyundai Elantra crash test shows that if offers more piece of mind when on the road.
The 2017 Elantra also boasts an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in the Sports model and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and ABS brakes in all the standard models.
