First Impressions: 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS PZEV Sedan

Well, folks... it was finally time for me to do it. After 15 months and 25,000 miles (added to the 58,000 already driven before I owned it,) the time had finally come for me to retire my 2002 Ford Windstar minivan. My old "mail hauler" / commuter vehicle had become the victim of $4.00 per gallon gasoline. Keeping sufficient fuel in that 27-gallon gas tank every week was getting very expensive, as were my maintenance and repair bills. So, I cleaned the ol' Windstar up and took it down to one of our local car dealers to trade it in...

Today, sitting in the spot formerly occupied by the ancient and venerable Windstar is its shiny new replacement: a 2011 Hyundai Elantra sedan. Now here's a car that took my breath away when I first saw it! It's sleek and aerodynamic, whereas the Windstar was boxy and kinda frumpy looking. The Elantra's glorious radiant silver color gleams brightly in the sun, whereas the old red van was rapidly beginning to show its decade of wear and tear. My new Elantra has a gorgeously well-appointed and luxurious interior, complete with all the latest features and refinements. Most important, my 2011 Hyundai Elantra performs beautifully at a fraction of the cost of the old Windstar. In short, my Elantra is everything I need from a vehicle that's gonna spend many years taking me back and forth to work...

So, what did I get with my 2011 Hyundai Elantra sedan? Here's a partial list of "goodies:"

* 1.8 liter, 4-cylinder "Nu" engine
* Certified as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV)
* Six-speed automatic transaxle with SHIFTRONIC
* EPA estimated gas mileage: 29 mpg city/40 mpg highway/33 mpg combined
* Electric motor-driven power steering
* Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist
* Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control
* Front, front side impact, and side curtain air bags
* Air conditioner, rear window defogger, and intermittent windshield wipers
* Tilt and telescopic steering wheel with audio system controls
* Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition and phonebook download
* AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system with and Aux/iPod port
* Heated side mirrors
* Power windows and door locks
* Cruise control
* Passive anti-theft system/remote keyless entry
* Trip computer

Since I bought my new Elantra, (MSRP $18,480, including all options) I've put it through its paces in just about every kind of driving situation imaginable for the area in which I live. It's been getting a good mix of highway cruising, and moderate stop-and-go driving, as I make my daily 60-mile commute to my work. In all situations, this car has not only lived up to my expectations - it has far exceeded them. Here are my impressions of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra thus far:

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

Engine: The all-new 1.8-liter engine is an excellent performer in every respect. Acceleration is reasonably quick and responsive. The engine runs very smoothly and quietly, emitting only a faint, throaty "thrum" at normal speeds. The engine is a true fuel miser, averaging 33 miles per gallon (mpg) combined city and highway driving.

Emissions: My particular Elantra meets California's stringent emissions standards, as a certified Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV).

Transaxle: The Elantra's six-speed automatic transaxle shifts very smoothly. Shifting points are barely perceptible during both up-shifts and downshifts. In most cases, the only way I can tell when a shift has occurred is when I see the tachometer needle drop. The transaxle's SHIFTRONIC feature allows me to shift gears manually when I wish. I prefer allowing the transaxle to make shifts automatically, as I get better fuel economy that way.

Handling: The 2011 Hyundai Elantra handles very nimbly. The car's electric motor-driven power steering takes a little getting used to, as it doesn't offer quite as much "feedback" as conventional hydraulic steering systems do. Nevertheless, steering is quick and responsive. The car pulls neither right nor left, and goes exactly where I point it with the steering wheel.

Ride: The Elantra provides a surprisingly smooth and supple ride on all but the roughest roads. It rounds curves and turns corners without any noticeable body roll. The ride is reasonably quiet as well. There's almost no engine noise, and tire rumble, while present, is never intrusive. The Elantra absorbs most bumps well, although its ride can jolt a bit on very rough roads with potholes.

Safety: My Elantra boasts several outstanding safety features, including an excellent anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist; Electronic Stability Control; Traction Control; and Front/Front Side Impact/Side Curtain air bags.

Design and Style: The 2011 Hyundai Elantra has been completely redesigned both inside and out. Hyundai's designers employed the same "fluidic sculpture" design concept that's also seen on the 2011 Sonata, and the results are simply breathtaking. The exterior is sleek, sporty, and a real "head turner." The interior is equally stunning. In fact, the 2011 Elantra was named as having one of the year's "Ten Best Interior Designs" by Ward's AutoWorld Magazine.

Roominess: The Elantra's interior is very roomy, both for passengers and cargo. In fact, interior room is large enough for the Environmental Protection Agency to classify the Elantra as a mid-size car, even though the vehicle's exterior dimensions are those of a compact car. I am over six feet tall, and there's ample legroom and headroom for me in all five-passenger positions. The cloth-covered seats are very comfortable indeed. They provide excellent support for the lower back, rear end, and thighs. Access to the interior is surprisingly easy. As the largest member of my family, I have no difficulty getting into or out of any of the available passenger positions. The Elantra also features a very spacious trunk and 60/40 fold-down rear seats.

Ergonomics: My 2011 Hyundai Elantra is an ergonomically pleasing car. The instrument panel is simple in design and easy to see and read. Included are an oversized tachometer and speedometer in two large and stylish "binnacles." Sandwiched between these two dials is a digital "information center" that electronically displays fuel level, engine temperature, odometer, trip computer data (two trip odometers; average miles per gallon; average miles per hour; range; a trip timer); and the standard array of "idiot lights" found in nearly all modern automobiles.

All entertainment and environmental controls reside on an attractive center console. Included in the console are the AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system and air conditioning and heater/defroster controls, an Aux/iPod input port; two 12-volt power points, and a storage box. The air conditioner, heater, and defroster are all controlled by large, easy to read and reach knobs and buttons; they all work very efficiently. One pleasing fact: the air conditioner seems not to place any strain on the engine, and does not seem to have much of an effect on gas mileage.

Entertainment system: My Elantra is equipped with the standard 172-watt, six-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system. (a premium 360-watt, 7-speaker system is also available.) It delivers clean, crisp sound in the treble, mid-range, and bass frequencies. One feature of note: I can set the audio system to boost volume when the vehicle's speed increases. All audio system components can be controlled either from the controls on the center console, or from buttons built in to the steering wheel.

Bluetooth hands-free phone system: My Elantra comes with a Bluetooth phone system that includes voice recognition and phonebook download: This system is integrated into the car's audio system. All I have to do is turn my cell phone's Bluetooth feature on, pair it with the Elantra's system, and I'm ready to go. Touch a button on the steering wheel, and the car's Bluetooth system will ask for voice commands. It will also download my cell phone's phonebook if I choose, or I can build a separate in-car phonebook using voice commands. So far, the system has worked flawlessly.

MY VERDICT ON THE 2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS PZEV: The Hyundai Elantra line of cars has been around since 1990, and traditionally been known as a reasonably good but rather ordinary-looking compact sedan. Clearly, the 2011 edition of this car isn't your daddy's Elantra! It combines an appealing cutting-edge design, excellent overall quality and performance, and an unexpectedly rich set of standard features to become a car that's both affordable and fun to drive. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is definitely worth serious consideration for prospective new car buyers.

SOURCES:

2011 Hyundai Elantra - hyundaiusa.com

2011 Hyundai Elantra - edmunds.com

Top Ten Best Car Interiors 2011 - ezinemark.com

Monroney label from my Hyundai Elantra

Driving experience