Hyundai Elantra Series II adds more style and substance

Hyundai has released the Series II Elantra with an injection of more style and substance into the ‘big small car’.

Available in three variants – Active, Elite and Premium – the exterior makeover brings a chrome grille, beltline moulding, front and rear bumpers and foglights on all three variants, new-design 16-inch 10-spoke alloys on the mid-spec Elite and 17-inch 10-spoke on Premium. Also new to both Elite and Premium are electric folding side mirrors. The range-topper also gets HID projection-beam headlights with surrounding LED driving lights.

Importantly, the Series II Elantra gets Australian-specific suspension tune and the adoption of Hyundai’s Flex Steer system with a faster computer processor, as found on the Hyundai i30 and Santa Fe. Like its locally tuned suspension, the Flex Steer system – standard across the Series II Elantra range – was calibrated in Australia.

Under the bonnet, the Series II retains Hyundai’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder ‘Nu’ engine with 16-valve DCVVT (Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing) and Multi-Point Fuel Injection. It delivers 110kW @ 6,500rpm and 178Nm of torque driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic. Combined fuel economy is 6.6L/100km (manual) and 7.1L/100km (automatic).

Inside, the entry-level Elantra Series II Active boasts an impressive list of standard equipment including:

• Stainless steel front door scuff plates (new feature)
• Rear parking sensors (new feature)
• Cloth door trim inserts (new feature)
• Glovebox cooling (new feature)
• Flex Steer with steering wheel-mounted controls (new feature)
• Cruise control
• 5-inch touchscreen audio system incorporating AM/FM tuner, single CD player, 4 speakers, tweeters, USB/AUX input, and Bluetooth connectivity
• Power windows – driver’s window auto down
• Steering wheel audio controls
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment

The mid-spec Elite variant adds the following (in addition to the Active’s long standard equipment list):

• Alloy look interior doorhandles (new feature)
• Electric folding side mirrors (new feature)
• Rear-view camera (new feature)
• 7-inch satellite navigation with SUNA live traffic subscription and three-year MapCare (new feature)
• Supervision instrument panel cluster with OLED centre display (new feature)
• Automatic dusk-sensing headlights
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Driver’s window one-touch auto up/down function

The top-spec Premium variant adds the following (in addition to the Elite’s impressive equipment list):

• Projection-beam HID Xenon headlights with LED positioning lights (new feature)
• Rear console air vents (new feature)
• Sunroof – electric opening
• Electrically adjustable driver’s seat
• Leather/Leatherette upholstery
• Heated front seats.

Standard safety features include: six airbags, Four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM).

Like all local market Hyundai vehicles, the Elantra Series II comes with Hyundai’s iCare that offers a Capped Price Service schedule for 3 years, 5-year Unlimited Km Warranty, a 3 year NAVTEQ™ MapCare Plan, complimentary Roadside Assist for 12 months on new vehicles and 1,500km complimentary first service.

Price (Excl. on-roads):