Hyundai Elantra review, test drive

The lightness of the Elantra’s controls is immediately apparent and, clearly, like most Hyundais, this car too has been designed with ease of operation as a priority. The clutch pedal’s lack of resistance takes some getting used to, but the generously assisted electric power steering and the light gearshift make the Elantra an easy companion in the urban environment.

The Hyundai’s soft suspension deals well with speedbreakers and potholes, advantageous on Indian roads. But, as you pick up pace, the inconsistency in the damping becomes obvious. Over patchy roads, the Elantra’s rear tends to bob, especially when loaded. There is some body roll too. The light steering, which is a boon in the city, has an inconsistent feel around the straight-ahead position, and there’s an unevenness in the assistance that can be disconcerting. The diesel has noticeably stiffer damping in the front and gives a more secure feeling. Turn-in is sharper and the car doesn’t get as unsettled over bumps. It must be said that the Elantra in general handles and rides much better than the Hyundais we are used to. The Elantra doesn’t have the ultimate stability or sheer body controls of the Europeans and there’s always an unsettled edge to it when you’re going fast. The brakes could be better too; despite having discs at all four corners, they don’t have the bite or feel we have come to expect from cars like these.