The only manufacturer which seems to be intoxicating us with all new launches this year is none other than Hyundai. Same way Hyundai launched its first Elantra in October 1990 and it was a car meant only for the European market. Soon it trickled down to the other markets and Hyundai finally started the production of the Elantra in India in 2004. Since then the car has been through many iterations and variations. Now the Elantra is back in its new avatar wearing a new look. It seems to have arrived for 2020 wearing a tuxedo and a bow and looks the sharpest yet.
The new Elantra gets Hyundai's Blue Link telematics which makes it a ‘connected car’ now. The Elantra's price in India starts from Rs.15.90 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs. 20.40 lakh. Its main rivals are the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Skoda Octavia. It is the cheapest offering any car manufacturer has in this segment and it also manages to undercut the segment leader, Toyota Corolla. In a segment where customers don’t have a lot of choices, Elantra has emerged as a fresh new offering.
As the demand for SUVs is on the rise, the sedans have not been doing well in India. This is especially true for the D1 sedan segment which faces fierce competition from the mid-size sedan segment as well. This segment continues to face falling sales due to which even Volkswagen has decided not to bring the new Jetta to the Indian market. Hyundai has not backed off though and continues to support the Elantra in its new avatar. Now it’s time to see what Hyundai has brought to the table to lure out SUV loving population.
The Hyundai Elantra, petrol variant, is available in 4 variants namely, S, SX, SX(AT), SX(O)(AT). The base variant is “S” which is priced at Rs. 15.89 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi), while the mid variant comes with either an automatic or a manual gearbox. The SX (MT) is priced at Rs. 18.49 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi) and SX (AT) is priced at Rs. 19.49 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi). The top of line SX(O) variant only comes with an automatic gearbox and is priced at Rs. 20.39 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi).
Variant | S | SX | SX(O) |
Price (Ex-showroom Delhi) | Rs. 15,89,000(MT) | Rs. 18,49,000(MT)/ Rs. 19,49,000(AT) | Rs. 20,39,000(AT) |
Features | Driver, Co- Passenger Side & Curtain Airbags | All features of the “S” Variant and: | All features of the “SX” variant and: |
Reverse Parking Sensors | Rear Camera with Display on AVN | Front Parking Sensors | |
17.77cm Touchscreen Display Audio | Electric sunroof | LED Quad Projector Headlamps | |
Electrically Adjustable Outside Mirrors | 20.32cm HD Touch Audio Video Navigation & Telematics System | Wireless Charger | |
Rear AC Vents | Infinity Premium Sound 8 Speaker System | 10-way Adjustable Power Driver Seat with Electric Lumbar Support | |
Tilt Steering | Hands-Free Smart Trunk | Front Seat Ventilation System | |
Power Windows with Driver Side Auto Up/Down & Safety | Auto Cruise control | Aluminum Pedals |
We would recommend the SX variant which is priced a Rs. 18,49 lakhs for the manual gearbox option. This variant gives you an option to choose from an automatic or a manual gearbox which is not the case with any other variant. It also provides you with all the essential features in this price like the Sunroof, Electric Folding Outside Mirrors, Hands-Free Smart Trunk, Auto cruise control and many more features. It strikes the right balance when it comes to pricing and features.
Hyundai Elantra is available with an impressive array of offers in May 2020. The split-up has been detailed below.
Variant | Cash Discounts | Exchange Discounts | Corporate Discounts |
All variants | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 20,000 |
Also Read,
How does the legendary Honda fare against the Elantra?
Has Skoda done its homework this time around with the Octavia?
Does the Toyota Corolla Altis stand strong against Hyundai Elantra?
Powering the 6th generation Elantra is the same old 2.0-Liter 4 cylinder petrol engine. It makes 152bhp and 192 Nm of peak torque which is the same as the outgoing model. Tap on the pedal and you become aware of the engine refinement level, almost immediately. The power delivery is even more liner this time and there is no surge of power anywhere in the rev band like some turbocharged engines.
Due to the tuning done, to meet the BS6 norms, this engine feels different in many ways from the previous one. Where the earlier Elantra felt eager with a very responsive low end, the new car feels blunted but with more linear power delivery.
The performance from the engine is far from bad. It is more refined now and is very much rev-happy. You can even redline the engine and it will happily do so till around 6,500rpm. The overall refinement and smoothness of the engine come handy in city conditions. The Elantra starts off the line smoothly and builds up pace in a very linear fashion. The gearbox is buttery smooth and the gears slot in like a rifle-bolt. The clutch action is very light which makes it even easier to operate the gearbox in stop and go traffic.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Price | Rs. 19.49 lakh | Rs. 17.94 lakh | Rs. 18.06 lakh | Rs. 20 lakh |
Engine | 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol | 1.8L 4-cylinder petrol | 1.8L 4-cylinder petrol | 1.8L 4-cylinder petrol |
Power | 152 bhp @ 6200 RPM | 141 bhp @ 6500 RPM | 138 bhp @ 6400 RPM | 177 bhp @ 5100 RPM |
Torque | 192 Nm @ 4000 RPM | 174 Nm @ 4300 RPM | 173 Nm @ 4000 RPM | 250 Nm @ 1250 RPM |
There are 3 drive modes available namely, Normal, Eco and Sport. There is an additional Smart mode that adapts to the driving style of the driver. On the highways, the Elantra is pretty quick and performance is more than adequate. This 2.0-Liter is focused more on everyday city usage rather than outright performance.
Elantra has the most powerful petrol on the spec sheet, beaten only by the 1.8-Liter Octavia’s turbo-petrol engine. Being the least powerful car but also the segment leader, the Toyota Corolla goes on to show that the customers are more focused on reliability and comfort rather than performance here.
The 6th generation Elantra is slower than the outgoing model by about half a second. This is due to the changes done to the engine for the BS6 norms. The 0-100 sprint is completed by the Elantra in 9.5 Seconds.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Acceleration (0-100 KMPH) (seconds) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 7.9 |
In the 0-100k kph sprint, Elantra lands in second place, only beaten by Skoda’s Octavia. This goes on to show that Elantra is no slow car for its segment. The other two rivals are slower than the Elantra.
Hyundai has set the Elantra’s ride on a firmer side than most Hyundais. It does not get any multi-link suspension at the rear like the Octavia but the suspension performance is satisfactory. It soaks in most of the bumps and potholes well but the sharp bumps can make their way to the cabin. The suspension is also not the quietest in the segment and you can hear it working over big potholes.
As you increase the speed things get better inside the cabin. At high speeds, there is no vertical movement at the rear like other Hyundais which is due to the firmer suspension setup. Overall, it's a suspension most owners will be satisfied with.
The steering is super light at parking speeds and feels quite direct. This makes the Elantra quite easy to park and manoeuvre around the City. The steering weighs up adequately at higher speeds. In the variants equipped with driving modes you can choose between normal (lighter steering) & sport (stiffer steering) modes at any speed.
The 205/60 section tires provide exceptional grip around corners and there is minimal body roll on offer. However, the car loses its composure if pushed very hard through corners. The handling is not better than that of the Octavis’as but It is still one of the best handling Hyundai cars we have driven. Elantra has a ground clearance of 165 mm. That's lesser than the Corolla Altis but higher than the Octavia. It feels enough for the most part.
Elantra comes equipped with disc brakes on all 4 wheels, ABS with EBD as standard. The ABS is not very sensitive or intrusive. It only engages under very hard braking. The brakes manage to stop the car from triple-digit speeds without much drama. However, the brake pedal has a spongy feel.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
Rear Brakes | Disc | Disc | Disc | Disc |
All the cars in this segment come with discs at the front and rear as well. Octavia’s pedal feel is the best and Elantra’s pedal travels almost an inch before the brakes bite on the discs.
Hyundai has tuned this engine to make it BS6 compliant. This has had more impact on the engine than you might have expected. The BS6 engines are a bit less fuel-efficient due to the fuel being burnt for exhaust after-treatment and the increase in exhaust backpressure. But Hyundai has managed to maintain the fuel efficiency which was provided with the BS4 engine.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Mileage (ARAI)(KMPL) | 14 | 16.5 | 14.28 | 15.1 |
Range(km) | 700 | 776 | 786 | 755 |
Tank capacity(litres) | 50 | 47 | 55 | 50 |
Honda’s Civic gives the best mileage in this comparison but Toyota’s Corolla would travel the farthest due to a larger fuel tank. With 14 kmpl, the Elantra gives the least mileage in comparison.
The new Elantra’s exterior design is an evolution over the old one rather than a revolution. At the front, you get a sharper hexagonal cut grille with sharply shaped headlamps which extend into the grill a bit. It gets angular treatment all around the exterior body. The bonnet now looks bigger due to a slight bulge in the centre. From the front Elantra manages to look sharper and more aggressive than the outgoing model.
Once you come to the side there are not many changes done and it looks almost like the outgoing model. At the rear, the number plate has been placed onto the reprofiled bumper. The taillamps extend into the boot lid and rear looks sportier now due to the black treatment. The new Elantra looks very attractive and sporty, it is one of the best looking cars in its segment.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Length(mm) | 4620 | 4656 | 4620 | 4670 |
Width(mm) | 1800 | 1799 | 1775 | 1814 |
Height(mm) | 1465 | 1433 | 1475 | 1476 |
Wheelbase(mm) | 2700 | 2700 | 2700 | 2688 |
Ground Clearance(mm) | 170 | 171 | 175 | 155 |
The Elantra’s design is nothing radically different from the previous one like the new Honda Civic. It manages to blend into the crowd rather than stand out. It is one of the widest cars of its segment but is the shortest in alongside the Corolla, in terms of length.
The new Elantra has not only received an update in terms of the exteriors but also the interiors have been revamped. The dashboard is tilted towards the driver and the change you will appreciate the most after stepping in, is the steering wheel. It looks sleeker and has a great feel to it. To lift the ambience inside the cabin, there has been an addition of some carbon finish inserts. It also gets a new HVAC console with three dial controls – the previous Elantra had two. You won’t find a lot of soft-touch materials used but would not have any complaints with the quality of the plastics used inside.
The ergonomics are pretty much spot on and you won’t find any area hard to reach. All the buttons and switches feel very tactile and built to last. Hyundai does a great job when it comes to quality control hence it is hard to find any inconsistent panel gaps. That said, the interiors are still not the best and there are other cars in the segment that provide a more premium feel. The all-around visibility is acceptable but not great. You also get a 10 way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, hence find the right position is easy.
Instead of an all-black treatment in the previous model, the current model gets a black and beige treatment. This gives the cabin a more premium and an airy feel. But the beige-coloured parts include the seats as well which can easily get dirty. The front seats provide adequate under-thigh support and cushioning is neither too soft nor too hard. They also provide superb bolstering and you don’t move around much in corners. Long journeys will be no big deal in these seats. The rear bench provides excellent under-thigh support but lacks a shoulder room. Seating 3 people would not be very comfortable on long journeys due to the constricted shoulder room. The back seat is smaller than some of its competitors but the leg space is enough even for a 6 footer.
Interior Features
The new Elantra comes with an excellent infotainment system which is very intuitive and fluid to use. It has the best interface which makes it a delight to use the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen which comes with 8 speakers. The “S” variant comes with a smaller screen and the 8-inch screen is only available in the SX and SX(O) variant. The touchscreen has no lag and the visibility is very good, even under direct sunlight. The sound output from the system is laudable as the sound remains crisp even at high volumes.
The Blue sense telematics technology which made a debut in India on the Venue makes a comeback in the new Elantra. With that, the Elantra is a connected car now and many features like Climate control, door lock unlock, geo-fencing can be controlled from the phone.
Infotainment features
The boot space offered in the Elantra is of 458 litres which are easily worth the luggage for your weekend trips. It also comes with a very intelligent feature called the Hands Free Smart Trunk. It helps if you have a hand full of bags as you just have to swipe your leg under the boot area with the key in your pocket and voila!
The boot would open up automatically. While the mouth of the boot is sufficiently big, the lip is high, which means you have to lift your luggage that much higher to place it inside.
Model | Hyundai Elantra 2.0 SX AT | Honda Civic V CVT | Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G | Skoda Octavia ONYX 1.8 TSI |
Cargo space(Litres) | 458 | 430 | 470 | 590 |
Seating capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
There is no denying that the Octavia is the clear winner when it comes to boot space. In comparison, the Elantra’s boot is smaller. Yet most users would not complain as the boot can still haul in a lot of luggage.
The new Elantra comes with a top-notch safety package and has an expansive safety list. It comes with features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) which helps when you apply hard brakes in emergencies. It comes with 6 airbags which ensure the safety of not only the front passengers but rear passengers as well.
Additionally, it gets Vehicle stability management (VSM), Front parking sensors and Tyre pressure monitoring system as well. Even though India is yet to begin crash tests for its cars, Elantra has received a 4-star rating in the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in the United States.
Safety features
Honda has finally launched the brand new Civic after 7 years of a long wait in India. Honda Civic is made to stand apart in terms of design and Honda has made sure you don’t mistake it for any other car. It is the best handling car in its segment and not even Octavia can match that. It is not only a handsome looking car but also very practical.
It has the most fuel-efficient of the lot and more fun to drive too. But its cabin quality is no match to that of the Elantra’s. Elantra is a car then you should consider if you want for more features and more premium cabin experience.
Toyota’s Corolla has been the segment leader in terms of sales for quite some time now. It is more expensive than the Honda Civic as well. It is doing great because of Toyota’s image and after-sales services. The Corolla Altis offers best-in-segment ground clearance, making it perfect for getting through rough roads as well.
It gives you complete peace of mind which most of the Indian customers are looking for. It is a car that gets all the basics right but it fails to be a value for money products. Elantra certainly provides more bang for the bucks and more features here.
The new Elantra has been launched at a time when most manufacturers are either pulling out of the market or have no plans to introduce a new product. This seems to be a good time for it to take over the market then! Hyundai has increased the prices of the new Variants but it is still the most affordable car in the segment. Elantra then comes out as a value for money product. The Facelift has added some features but the diesel engine option is no longer available. But if you are no SUV lover and out there to buy a petrol car, Elantra is worth considering.