Hyundai Elantra: The sedan you never knew you wanted

We’re more than a month into our tax-holiday here in Malaysia and things have changed quite a bit.

Some already-popular brands can no longer take more orders and those who hesitated in the first couple of weeks probably missed out on the car they wanted.

It’s unfortunate though as many Malaysians are in genuine need of a practical family sedan, but will now have no choice but to wait until the SST returns.

Despair not! While you may have had something Malaysian or Japanese in mind, there are many great alternatives out there and a car tested earlier this year – the 2-litre Elantra may be just the car you need.

Before you write off this Korean 4-door, take a moment to consider the many boxes it ticks.

Premium design cues

Well, to be honest, the Elantra isn’t a breakthrough design as it does look as if Hyundai only sharpened the design of the previous generation. But it’s still a good design despite being more of an “evolution” than a “revolution”. The design shows real maturity, constraint and tastefulness.

The front is sharp and aggressive-looking with a wide chrome grille up front. The silhouette is shaped by the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language with rims just the right size.

While the interior is covered in faux-suede, you get LED DRLs and taillights with really cool LED graphics – all boxes ticked.

All the right amenities

It’s difficult to make a purchase unless you’re offered all the right equipment and Hyundai has fulfilled this requirement well. Rear air-con vents, power sockets, four cup holders, keyless entry and push-to-start, and a seven inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all come with this 2-litre car.

A proven, modern powertrain

There is a turbocharged option for those looking for some thrills, but the 2-litre is the safer option. Why? Well, both the engine and gearbox are proven, reliable and sufficiently modern.

They’re simpler pieces of engineering that are under less stress and will therefore go through less wear and tear than the turbocharged, dual-clutch powertrain found in the Elantra Sport.

Sure, it’s not quite as punchy but 150 hp and 192 Nm of torque is more than sufficient for highway driving, especially for a vehicle under 1300kg.

A Coupled Torsion Beam Suspension (CBTA) rear suspension lends exceptional compliance characteristics to the Elantra, giving it the feel of independent suspension. The NVH dampening in the car is also rather exceptional – it’s as quiet and smooth as a typical D-segment car.

Quality build

The Sight & Sounds video series on DS&F’s Instagram and Facebook focus on the raw sensory experience of driving these cars. And which car inspired the series? The 2-litre Hyundai Elantra.

It was the first time a car costing so little, felt better put together than something twice its price. So do watch the two Sight & Sounds videos on the Elantra and save yourself a trip to the showroom.

Industry-leading warranty and service package

Recent J D Power surveys indicate that Hyundai is at the top of their game in terms of quality and reliability. As incredible as that sounds, the peace of mind brought on by a good warranty package is invaluable to all buyers.

Hyundai’s current package includes a five-year/300,000km manufacturer warranty and they’ll even throw in three-years/50,000km of free service.

What’s more, if you hurry, the Elantra is currently offered with an RM10,000 discount. With 0% GST, the on-the-road price without insurance is just RM99,800 – definitely worth taking a look at.