The five-speed manual is kind of fun in a joystick sort of manner. The throws are long but true, and the clutch is smooth and easy. The manual allows the driver to wring the most out of this car, which, at 138 hp, isn't much. Still, it was enough to get the Elantra Touring moving at a respectable pace.
The cabin is OK. The engine noise is loud and intrusive, and the atmosphere feels plain. There's nothing wrong with the layout, but it doesn't blow the occupant away. This thing is practical, however, and the back stowage area is a good size. The tall taillights remind me of those on the Cadillac CTS wagon.
This is a nice vehicle at an excellent price with solid fuel economy. But to me, this is not a standout.
It's interesting to find the spiritual successor to the Mazda Protégé 5 in a Hyundai showroom, yet here we are. As Greg mentioned, this wagon sports dowdy styling and a noisy interior befitting its price--serviceable but nothing special. But I thought it was a hoot to drive.
The gearbox is one of the best basic five-speeds I've rowed in a long time, with short throws and ratios beautifully placed for the engine's modest power. Inspecting the window sticker, I noticed one of the standard features on our Hyundai Elantra Touring is a "B&M shifter," B&M being a longtime supplier of shifters and kits for the aftermarket in much the same vein as Hurst.
There was plenty of cornering slip with the stock Hankook tires, but the Elantra's steering and suspension lets the driver know when its coming, after which the driver gets the steady understeer that's the hallmark of FWD cars. It doesn't make one wish for an autocross course, but neither is it going to get you in trouble. Ditto the brakes. Discs at all four wheels do what they're asked to do with no muss and no fuss. The controls feel good in the hand and under the foot, and everything is well placed.
Given that my wife and I have been shopping for a wagon/crossover recently, I was curious as to whether the Elantra Touring would pass our Chester test. See, we can fit our family and baggage in just about any midsize sedan on the market, but our 90-pound Chesapeake Bay retriever is the X factor. I politely requested his presence in the Elantra's cargo bay and we went for a spin around the block. Verdict? He fit, with room to lie down, and we would still be able to squeeze a couple of small bags in the back. Fortunately, Hyundai supplies roof rails for a cargo carrier to tote the rest of the stuff.
So we have a subcompact station wagon with a factory short-throw shifter, leather, moonroof and XM satellite radio, all for $20,000 and change? Golf clap, Hyundai. Add five pounds of sound-deadening and let the designers loose on the exterior, and I'll take one.
The front end has a Euro feel to it; it might be the blue halos around the headlights and the bits of chrome up front. It's definitely not as wild as Hyundai's other winners, but it's good to have something more restrained in the lineup. Ha! Hyundai needs to be more restrained--never thought I'd say that.
The powertrain is serviceable for a ride of this size and I was never really begging for more power. Give it a good kick off the line and shift it high, and there's a decent amount of fun to be had. I thought the gearbox was solid, not super sporty, but good with easy-to-hit gates. It has a thick stalk, too; some of the foreign cars have some flex in the shift linkage, but not this one.
The interior was plain but clean-looking for a car at this price. The iPod works with the radio and menu screen easily, so no problems there. I like that the dash is all one color. There are a few different materials but it all matches well. All of the buttons and switches seem to be where they should be.
I only drove to work and back, and maybe to the store, but the gas gauge didn't budge from full. I'd bet you could go a pretty long way without it moving. It was good to be in something regular-sized after the giant cargo van I drove for the weekend.
2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring SE
Base Price: $20,245
As-Tested Price: $20,375
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, five-speed manual
Output: 138 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 136 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,080 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 26/24.4 mpg
Options: Carpeted floor mats ($95); iPod cable ($35)
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