Elantra: Orphan seeks home in top sales spot

Hyundai Elantra. Photo / Supplied

Taken at face value, the all-new Elantra is something of an orphan in Hyundai New Zealand's line-up. It's the newest in the brand's passenger-car range, yet it has not adopted the corporate i-something naming policy. It's essentially a sedan sibling to the i30 hatchback/wagon, yet its interior architecture is completely different.

Under the bonnet is a new 1.8-litre engine that's not shared with any other model in Hyundai's local line-up.

A curiosity, then? Hardly. Thanks to stellar sales in the United States, Asia, the Middle East and, of course, Korea, the Elantra is Hyundai's single best-selling model.

The previous model clocked up 750,000 sales last year and this one is expected to be the first model from the Korean maker to exceed the 1 million mark (next year, if all goes according to plan).

We won't be contributing a lot towards that in our modest little market, but Hyundai NZ has some ambitious plans of its own for the vehicle. Like being No1 in the segment, with sights firmly set on the Holden Cruze (current best-seller) and the Toyota Corolla.

Elantra won't be doing its thing with bargain prices - at least not on the basis of sticker prices, with a range that starts at $35,990 and runs to $39,990 for the Elite model (or $41,990 with a glass roof). But it's class-competitive and well equipped.

And a lively performer, if not exactly a ball of fire. The 1.8-litre is the sole engine choice, making 110kW/176Nm. But it's driveable and economical, thanks to the standard six-speed automatic gearbox, which is two cogs more than you get in an automatic i30. It's a smooth gearbox, with manual-hold mode, and helps the Elantra to an impressive combined economy figure of just 7.1 litres per 100km.

Despite Hyundai's emerging expertise in diesel technology and the CRDi variants offered in the i30 range, don't expect a diesel- engine option anytime soon in this car: Elantra is not sold in Europe and the markets where it's most popular are still not sold on compression-ignition powerplants.

The entry Elantra still gets factory Bluetooth cellphone connectivity (not yet available on the i30 or larger i45), iPod integration, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted buttons and electronic stability control.

The Elite model adds upgraded audio with an 8-inch subwoofer, leather upholstery, 10-way power seat adjustment, heated chairs front and rear, automatic lights/wipers, luggage net in the boot and rear parking radar.

As with the i45, the flagship Elite Limited is simply an Elite with a giant sunroof.

The entry car rides on 16-inch alloys, while the Elite versions have 17-inch rims.

First impressions are of a competitive and dynamically sound car - perhaps a taste of things to come from Hyundai's small cars, with a new i30 range due next year.

With striking (some might say outrageous) styling and the brand credibility of Hyundai behind it - not to mention a whole lot of marketing muscle - that No1 small-sedan spot looks entirely within reach.