With Elan

The Hyundai Elantra blends opulence with sophistication to create an unmatched motoring experience

At 120 kph, the warm, leather-wrapped interior of the Hyundai Elantra was silent as the night. The swept-back headlamps illuminated the flowing road ahead brilliantly, and the car was composed, making rapid progress. The intermittent rain was complemented perfectly by the soothing acoustics from the speakers, fine-tuned to make for a rewarding listening experience. I'd been in the spacious rear seat for 200 km now, and there was no sign of road fatigue whatsoever. As the rain got heavier and, thus, louder, a gentle flick of the volume switch on the centre armrest evened out the ambience. There was another 100 km to go before I'd take over driving duties and, to be honest, it was a bit hard to pick between driving and being driven around.

The aforementioned 100 km went by in a comfortable blur, and it was time to switch. As I emerged, somewhat grudgingly, from the Elantra's lounge-like rear seat, I couldn't help but admire the design highlights of the bodywork, accentuated by the diffused moonlight. The Fluidic Sculpture design elements really do stand out at night, with the lines beautifully accentuated. The rich layer of chrome on the door handles was invitation enough to get behind the wheel and complete what would be a very long journey, but also, without a doubt, a very comfortable one.

I slipped into the driver's seat (slipped being the operational word, given my generous frame, which does not easily fit into a lot of cars). In the Elantra, however, all I had to do was reach for the easily accessible electric seat-adjustment buttons, and that was it. This was followed by a quick adjustment of the well-articulated steering wheel and resetting the electrically adjustable mirrors (an ergonomic delight, being positioned on the control pad on the driver-side door) and we were good to go. Except, I was feeling a bit indulgent, which meant turning on the seat ventilation unit, slotting in a USB filled with music no one else is interested in, and dimming the instrument and panel lights (one of my favourite features in the Elantra, because it gives an airliner-esque feel to the interior, and also boosts safety by reducing peripheral vision fatigue). When Hyundai says 'Live Brilliant', it really does hold significant definition.

Snugly belted in, I slotted the Elantra into gear, and with a muffled purr from the engine, we were off. The Elantra can be had in two engine variants, a 1.8-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel, both of which can be had with a six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. The petrol engine is quite remarkable for its blend of performance and economy — how does 12 kpl in a mixed driving cycle sound for a car that produces 147.4 bhp at 6500 rpm? It was the diesel variant I was driving, however, and that's even more of a gem. The 1.6-litre in-line four-cylinder mill revs free of stress, gathering momentum quickly, and it is perfectly at home whether you settle at an Expressway-friendly 80 kph or indulge in some spirited driving. Either way, the 126.2 bhp that the engine produces is readily accessible, and in a mixed driving cycle, the diesel Elantra returns an admirable 17 kpl. The 56-litre fuel tank, which gives both the petrol and the diesel variants an excellent range, eliminates the need for frequent fuel stops on long journeys.

This is one of the strengths of the Elantra — its visual appeal matched by honest-to-goodness performance. It's easy to be swayed by the Elantra's lines, but its competence isn't just limited to form. It excels on every count, and there is sincerity to the car that makes it instantly deserving of the Hyundai badge. The features on the Elantra, for example, aren't just incorporated to give it an edge on paper; they're there to add value to the experience of driving a well engineered automobile. Hyundai has incorporated cutting-edge design along with impeccable quality, and this means that the Elantra's value will far outlast its novelty factor.

Speaking of features, the Elantra does have a long list of those, in the process outdoing cars from higher segments. To begin with, there is a contemporary dashboard, laid out aesthetically, with aluminum-finish inserts. Not only is it extremely well-styled, it is also designed with adherence to global safety standards. Coupled with the flush fitting media player and the chunky climate control fascia, it exudes the kind of luxury that gives you reason enough to not let go of the driver's seat for hours. This explains why I refused to give up the captain's seat until the end of our journey, 300 km later.

Life is similarly extravagant in the rear seat, thanks to the rear A/C vents, the generous armrest with cup holders, media player controls and the seats themselves, which are plush and offer excellent cushioning and under-thigh support. Visibility, too, is great and the cabin, thanks to the ample use of beige leather, feels light yet rich at the same time. Other features include a cooled glove box, a gearshift indicator and thoughtfully positioned cubbyholes and cup holders in the centre console as well as on the door panels, all of which make the Elantra the car to be in.

On the move, the Elantra is as plush as its interiors suggest. The supple suspension takes in the worst of Indian roads without so much as batting an eyelid, and it adapts to aggressive cornering and high-speed highway mile-munching just as gracefully. It handles just as well, too, and the well-weighted power-assisted steering is as much of a breeze in urban chaos as it is when taking on the twisties.  Thankfully, it has the stopping power to match the go, in the form of optimally set-up disc brakes. Credit is also due to the 205/60 R16 tyres, which offer good ride quality as well as handling capability, and also don't generate the usual amounts of tyre/road noise. The NVH levels are exceptionally good, too, and unless being driven by a performance-inclined driver, the engine note barely seeps into the cabin.

It is these thoughtful elements that add up to make the Elantra the segment leader that it is today. On every count, be it performance, comfort, features or economy, the Elantra delivers much more than just the segment prerequisites. And that's something worth talking about, given how well priced it is. The petrol Elantra, with a manual gearbox, is priced at 12.7 lakh while the automatic variant is priced at 14.9 lakh, and it undercuts its contemporaries by quite a margin. The diesel Elantra, with a manual gearbox, is priced at 15.05 lakh and for 16.03 lakh, you can have the same motor but with a likeable six-speed automatic gearbox. That kind of pricing not only makes the Elantra a very attractively positioned car, but also spells incredible value-for-money that is simply hard to beat.

For me, the buck stops at the looks itself. The Elantra is Hyundai's finest expression of the Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy and it shows. Never before has a car in this segment been designed so meticulously, and that makes it an absolute winner — one that will look great on your porch as well as in the basement parking at your swanky workplace. Overall, the Elantra is a fantastic car at an even more fantastic price — a car you just can't go wrong with, whatever your expectations may be. This should explain why I'm about to embark on yet another road trip with it.