The facelifted Hyundai Elantra has been officially launched last week, this time in four flavours, one up from the pre-facelift lineup. We made our way to the showroom in Glenmarie only to find one of the four variants on display – the Elantra 1.6 Elegance, which is the lineup’s base variant.
QUICK FACTS
| Name | Hyundai Elantra 1.6L Elegance | Hyundai Elantra 1.6L Executive | Hyundai Elantra 1.6L Premium | Hyundai Elantra 1.8L Premium |
| Engine | 1,591cc; inline-4 DOHC | 1,591cc; inline-4 DOHC | 1,591cc; inline-4 DOHC | 1,797cc; inline-4 DOHC |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto |
| Max Power | 128 hp @ 6,300 rpm | 128 hp @ 6,300 rpm | 128 hp @ 6,300 rpm | 148 hp @ 6,500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 158 Nm @ 4,850 rpm | 158 Nm @ 4,850 rpm | 158 Nm @ 4,850 rpm | 178 Nm @ 4,700 rpm |
| Price (OTR without insurance) | RM86,328.00 | RM96,116.00 | RM100,986.00 | RM115,616.00 |
New to the 1.6L Elegance’s head lamps is the LED light guide, but it’s the only variant of the range to have it just as a non-functioning white plastic strip. It doesn’t illuminate like the rest, so it’s solely there for aesthetic purposes. The rear lights however, are new and standard across the range. Fog lamps are out of the equipment list, although it still sits on 16-inch wheels, this time with a new design.
We wouldn’t go as far as to say that the Elegance’s cabin is stripped bare, but it does look pretty basic to begin with. You’ve got fabric seats with manual adjustments, tilt-only (not telescopic) steering wheel, basic multimedia head unit with CD and MP3 support, and two airbags to complete the interior kit list. The steering wheel comes with audio controls switches as well.
In the 1.6L Premium, you get projector headlamps (halogen), leather seats, telescopic leather wrapped steering wheel with switches, 6.2-inch touch screen display with DVD player and Bluetooth connectivity, rear air conditioning vents push-start button, rear view camera and six airbags. The range topping 1.8L Premium is as well equipped as the 1.6L Premium, but gets additional equipment like powered Nappa leather seats, 8-inch touch screen with navigation system, rain sensor, front parking sensors, cruise control and dual zone air conditioning. Sunroof is no longer offered here, but it sits on 17-inch wheels while the rest will have to make do with 16-inchers.
Both the 1.6L and 1.8L Premium come with Hyundai’s Flex Steer System which allows drivers to choose from Comfort, Normal or Sport steering feel. It doesn’t change suspension behaviour to say the least, it simply alters how the steering wheel feels.
Mechanically, the Elantras retain the same engines and transmission choice. The 1.6-litre Gamma engine displaces 1,591cc and makes 128 hp at 6,300 rpm and 157 Nm of torque at 4,850 rpm, while the 1,797cc (1.8L) Nu engine makes 148 hp at 6,500 rpm and 178 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm. Both engines are paired to a conventional six-speed torque converting automatic gearbox driving the front wheels.
The Hyundai Elantra comes with five exterior colours – Creamy White, Sleek Silver, Tomato Red, Carbon Grey and Phantom Black. Packaged along with the Elantra is a five-year or 300,000 km warranty programme, whichever occurs first. Customers who purchase the car between 5 March to 5 April will be offered an additional three-year or 60,000 km warranty.
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