ah

IF GOLDILOCKS were the
average Canadian car bnyer, she
might find the subcompact Hyun-
dai Excel a little too small, and

the intermediate Sonata a little too

priced between

sedans
$11,060 and $15,000. The Elantra
will compete with cars like the
Chevrolet Cavalier, Ford Tempo,
and Honda Civic, Canada’s best-

door

aaa) Pr Pe

44 Under the hood is a small, but powerful 1.6
litre four-cylinder engine that develops 113
horsepower at 6000 rpm.99

big, but the new Elantra would be
just right.

In size, performance and price,
the 1992 Hyundai Elantra falls in-
to the most popular class of cars
in Canada: compact, front-
wheel-drive. five-passenger, four-

selling cars.

The Elantra is a stylish, if not
distinctive, automobile. The front
end looks very much like the So-
nata, and there are obvious
Hyundai styling influences. What
is not so obvious from a

Friday. August 30, 1991 — Nortn Shore News -- 23

photograph is the assembly quality
of the Elantra. Though some of
the interior plastics used are
mediocre, the Elantra is  well-
finished both inside and out, @
definite improvement over
previous lower-priced Ryundais.

The interior is very spacious for
a car of this size. Front and rear
Passengers have lots of headroom
and legroom. Cloth-covered, front
teclining bucket seats are com-
fortable and offer good support.
particularly thigh support. The
tear bench seat is comfortable for
two, possibly three passengers. !n
the GLS model, the split 60/40
rear seat folds forward to allow
avcess to a large trunk.

A well thought-out driver's en-
vironment includes clearly read-
able analogue instruments, wiper
and light stalk controls visible
through the steering wheel, rotary
heater and ventilation controls in
the center console, and goad out-
ward visibility. One oversight
though: a tachometer is not avail-

Price as tested (GS) $15,130
Base price (Gil.} $10,995

Type four-door, five-passenger
sedan

Layout transverse
engine/tront-wheei drive

front

yundai Elantra

able on the base model with the
five-speed manual transmission.

Under the hood is a small, but
powerful 1.6 litre four-cylinder
engine that develops 113-
horsepower at 6,000 rpm. This
sporty engine has dual overhead
cams, electronic multi-port fuel
injection, and four valves per cyl-
inder for improved engine
breathing and efficiency. Fuel-
efficient too, it sips just 7.5 litres
of gasoline for every 100
kilometres of Sighway driving.

A standard manual five-speed
transmission, while a little rubbery
in its feel, does the job quite
competently, The optional elec-
tronically-controlled four-speed
automatic transmission with
pushbutton power/normal settings

changes smoothly when ac-
celerating evenly. but during
spirited driving, it is rather

abrupt.

The base Elantra GL is not a
“stripped-down price leader. ts
level of standard equipment is

Engine [59S co) four-cylinder,
DOHC, 16 valves

Horsepower 113 @ 6000 rpm
Vorgue 102 ft-lbs @ 3000 rpm
Transmission five-speed mian-
ual (four-speed automatic)
Vires P185/60 RS radials

Curb weight Pi45 kes 2524 [hy
Wheelbase 2500 min 98,4 in.
Lenvtt 4388 mm 171.5 in,

rere

Photos submitted

quite extensive. For $10,995, you
get a five-speed manual transmis-
sion, power-assisted steering,
remotely adjustable outside mir-
rors, front disc/rear drum brakes,

See Economic page 26

Greg
Wilson

TEST DRIVE

Width 1675 mm/65.7 in.

Height 1385 mm/54,5 in.

Trunk space 333 1710.8 cu. ft.
Fuel economy City 10.7 1/100
hin, 26 mpg: Hwy 7.5 1./100
kar, 38 mpeg

Warranty Basie 3 yoars.60,000
kms; Majer Comportents
years: 80,000 kus