'08 Elantra #1 in New Consumer Reports

Discussion in 'Hyundai Elantra / Lantra' started by Rev. Tom Wenndt, Jun 8, 2008.

  1. For whatever you think of this magazine, they have just this week released
    their July issue. In it, they test several small cars, including the
    Elantra SE.

    Not only was it tops amongst the tested cars, including the Toyota Corolla,
    which got 32 mpg average (the Hyundai got 27), but was once again
    established as THE top compact car.

    Considering the 'blind spot' they have always had (up until now anyway)
    towards Toyota, it is good to see Hyundai getting their due.

    If it isn't already, it should be on the news-stands this week.
     
    Rev. Tom Wenndt, Jun 8, 2008
    #1
  2. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Yes, I just read that issue. Now if Hyundai could just get their
    engines refined to the level of Toyota (or GM for that matter) and get
    their mileage competitive, they would be a real force in the auto world.

    Regarding the GM comment, I flew to Atlanta recently to drive back my
    mother-in-law's Buick Century (I think it is a 2000). It has a V-6 (I
    think 3.1L, but I'm not 100% sure on that). I cruised at a steady 70
    MPH nearly the entire 840 miles and achieved 33 MPG on both tanks of
    gas! I went over 500 miles on the first tank and I think it is a 17
    gallon tank. This is better mileage than my 4 cylinder Sonata can
    achieve in similar circumstances. It gets maybe 31-32 at 70, but will
    get 33 if I run at 60 or so.

    Other than the design issues (hyper sensitive throttle, "no feel"
    clutch, weak AC, etc.) that we've hashed over many times here in the
    past, the dismal MPG is the main ongoing niggle with my Sonata. I was
    hoping to average 30+ MPG given that my driving is mostly highway, and
    the EPA ratings were 24/34. I'm running at 29.25 for the nearly 40,000
    miles now on the car. This isn't terrible, but running right at the EPA
    mid-point isn't very good for my driving regime.

    Now, before you launch into the "EPA numbers aren't realistic" speech,
    I'm well aware of that, but for MY driving I've acheived the highway MPG
    or within 1 MPG of it on every vehicle I've owned for the last 15 years
    .... except the Sonata. My pickup was a 14/18 rating as I recall, I I
    get 17-18 pretty consistently driving back and forth to work. Same with
    my minivans and the Plymouth Acclaim and Jeep Comanche before them. The
    Sonata is the first vehicle I've had that runs only midway up the EPA
    range in driving that is mostly highway.

    So, Hyundai, hire a few former GM or Toyota engineers and get your
    engines up to snuff before I need another car! :)

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Jun 8, 2008
    #2
  3. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Rob Guest

    I rented the "Big" Cadillac a few years back for a 2200 mile trip. I don't
    remember exactly but it was almost unbelievable the MPG the car achieved. I
    averaged around 80 mph and something like 28 mpg.
     
    Rob, Jun 8, 2008
    #3
  4. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Wayne Moses Guest

    I think that you will find that they are already there, certainly at
    the level of GM.

    The present Santa Fe and Vera Cruz (also the same engines as in the
    Sonata and Azera, resp. I believe) are very refined according to CR
    reviews and personal experience. AAMOF, CR went so far as to say that
    despite the better fuel efficiency of the Corolla, Elantra was more
    refined.

    I will concede that the Hyundai 4 bangers are not paradigms of fuel
    efficiency compared to Toyota (IMO the class leader) and even Honda.

    On the other hand, the Santa Fe's fuel economy
    (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/24984.shtml) is on par with
    Toyota (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/24629.shtml) and Chevy
    (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/24573.shtml) and better than
    the Honda (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/noframes/24609.shtml) in
    SUVs with similar size engine.

    The V6s are just fine. Now on to the genesis and the V8's.
     
    Wayne Moses, Jun 9, 2008
    #4
  5. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Yes, I agree. I rented a Buick Park Avenue a few years ago for a trip
    to Boston. I was in a hurry and ran 70-80 MPH that trip and got 30 MPG
    with that fairly large car. I was amazed.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Jun 9, 2008
    #5
  6. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Matt Whiting Guest

    CR bases "refinement" apparently only on levels of vibration and sound.
    I'm using the term in a much broader sense and also specifically
    qualified with respect to fuel efficiency. I don't think Hyundai yet
    makes an engine that is truly at the world class level of GM and Toyota,
    but maybe some of those you list above are there or close. My Sonata
    2.4L isn't quite there. It is competitive in power, smoothness and
    noise levels, but falls short in fuel efficiency.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Jun 9, 2008
    #6
  7. I have the V-6. Mileage is about the same as my LeSabre. OK, but not great.
    Performance is better though.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Jun 9, 2008
    #7
  8. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Don Allen Guest

    I recently rented a Hertz 2009 Sonata GLS for a week, and put
    approximately 1,500 miles on the car. In my business travels, it
    seems that Hertz rents quite a few Hyundais - four Sonata's and one
    Azera in the last seven rentals! The new Sonata was a significant
    improvement over the 2007 and 2008 Sonata GLS's I've rented. Other
    than the obvious improvement in the center stack and in other areas,
    there are two substantial mechanical improvements I noticed with the
    2009: 1). The rear suspension - in every Sonata GLS I've previously
    rented, the rear suspension seemed to be a bit soft and tended to
    bottom out with either a full load of people or a fair amount of
    weight in the trunk. This is no longer the case with the 2009. Not
    only did I find the rear suspension much, much better in this regard,
    the car simply drove and tracked more accurately, and 2). The 2.4L
    DOHC engine and new 5-speed automatic combination - a much better
    combination for highway driving. The transmission is almost seamless
    in it's gear changes, and most importantly, the fuel mileage has
    improved. When checking highway fuel mileage (the old-fashioned way,
    along with the use of the trip computer), the mileage was 34.5MPG, and
    this was at a typical average of 70+MPH. The overall mileage after
    the 1,500 mile trip with a combination of 75% highway and 25% city was
    30.1MPG. This is very close to the exact numbers I received with my
    last Toyota Camry rental about 8 months ago. The new 5-speed
    automatic has improved the drivetrain on the 4-cylinder immensely.
    And, this car only had 1,100 miles on the odometer when I rented it,
    so if it's similar to other Hyundai's I've owned, the fuel economy may
    actually improve over time.
     
    Don Allen, Jun 9, 2008
    #8
  9. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Mike Marlow Guest

    <................ snip ................>

    Good write up Don. Thanks.
     
    Mike Marlow, Jun 9, 2008
    #9
  10. Thanks for the good info. What do you think of the Azera?
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Jun 10, 2008
    #10
  11. Rev. Tom Wenndt

    Don Guest

    We had an Hertz Azera Limited in March for a business trip to
    Charlotte, NC (from central IL). My wife and I made it a bit of a
    vacation, and stopped overnight near Sevierville, TN. We were both
    very impressed by the Azera. Very comfortable, yet good suspension
    control, and an excellent engine. The overall fuel economy for the
    trip was in the 24 to 25MPG range with highway at 28.5MPG. It was a
    very nice car, and we actually hated returning it back to Hertz! In
    my opinion, this is one excellent automotive value.
     
    Don, Jun 10, 2008
    #11
  12. While checking on a trade-in for the wife's Jeep, my local smalltown dealer
    told me that since this was published, they are selling 1-2 Elantras a day.
    Only 3 left on the lot yesterday!

    --

    2008 Sonata SE- His
    2005 Grand Cherokee-Hers

    AZ home for sale near Laughlin, Las Vegas, BHC:

    http://www.realtor.com/realestate/golden+valley-az-86413-1089865380
     
    Steve Richards, Jun 10, 2008
    #12
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