New Hyundai Elantra competes with the best

Given its reputation for quality and reliability, since the Toyota Corolla a favorite of compact car buyers in the United States a long time

Toyota customer loyalty has indeed become so reviews and even a shocking number of callbacks, and continue to buy narrow-minded recently that the purchaser intentionally ignore poor Corollas based on their experience with Toyota vehicles that were built in the past.

But today, there are others vying for her affections, including the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra suitors. At first, like with a Hyundai in the family like a bad idea, the automaker which given recent reputation for spotty quality and imitators in previous models. But all this is in the past and the Elantra, which asks that you now be improved on a date, suave and dependent. It is an invitation that should seriously consider car shopper.

Finally, the Elantra is a handsome devil. Take a look at its dynamically flowing lines, out behind the front wheel with a slashing character line and includes the front and rear door handles on its flight motor length behind on the rear wheel before immersion in the taillight lens.

The result is a car which strongly echoes the design of the mid-size Sonata, earned the well-deserved recognition of your own. The contoured headlights give thoroughly contemporary style that visually minimize openings Elanta front end, and the emphatic wheel arches, beveled corners and channeled fog light the front overhang, which visually the car before the horse so many front-drive vehicles sets.

But the real news is under this handsome hood. For years Honda is known for his engine design skills, an ability, which led the company, which remind someone you listen to, Honda Motor Co., with the emphasis on "Motor" is the full name of the company.

In the vehicle was United States to say it as "Hon-Day," in a less than subtle attempt, the relatively easy prestigious Korean newcomer confused with your established under the different at the same time with the name "Hun Day" for many owners suffer during Hyundai's two decades, and estimated, Japanese rivals. (Even the logo is Hyundai logo on the hood as an italic version of Honda's "H".)

This was understandable. Honda has set the standards for technology, design and performance for decades. Until now. The new Hyundai Elantra offers more power, more torque and better fuel economy than the 2012 Honda Civic.

Their transmissions - both automatic and manual - how are both six speeds have more gear. The bottom line is the Elantra cost less and perform better than the best selling model in the compact segment, the Honda Civic.

Of course my friends at Honda will quickly point out, that now have an app for it, so to speak it. Honda offers a high efficiency version of the civic, the mpg city from the Elantra 29, 40 mpg highway EPA fuel economy rating, edges, although it will probably take 2-3 percent of the civic based on the history of such models. And Honda offers a sporty, expensive Civic Si hot-rod version replete with the larger, thirsty engine from the accord, which is definitely faster than the Elantra.

But Hyundai engineers have surpassed Honda's by each Elantra exemplary fuel economy and performance, at no extra charge. Sure, the difference in fuel economy is low, such as the difference in the power and torque, the number of gears and the performance. But overall I, the Elantra, the civic exceeds think.

Plunge for Hyundai to Honda in one of these categories is unexpected. For Hyundai, Honda in all of them bother is shocking, because there is the Elanta and the determination of the engineers, the job right do. No automaker of Lucks in a victory over Honda.

It is not, declined that Honda is quality, but rather that the automaker has a long time scale for most manufacturers of fuel efficiency, performance, and clever engineering. These competitors have long taken Honda in the line of fire, but they are rarely landed a shot so far.

As a successful model in the segment, the civic is a natural point of comparison for many buyers. Other models - such as the Toyota Corolla and the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta - are running, because these companies obviously have contempt for customers by offering cars that were cheaper to the to the point insult buyer intelligence.

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The new Chevrolet Cruze fits well, on which a handsome cabin, and only the 2012 Ford focus presents an impressive alternative to the Elantra. But while the focus of the top car in the segment is almost undisputed, that leadership is not cheap. Consumers, unable, or unwilling, a fabulously dressed focus an additional few grand will spend may conclude that the Elantra is the more intelligent value close seconds.

Unlike many competitors, the Elantra is only in a single body style - 4-door sedan. A compact wagon, the Elantra 5, based on the previous generation car, is also available, but this is an outdated vehicle, currently that this excellent new Elantra model is comparable.

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Three and five-door hatchback in the compact class segment sell found other great success, but so far, Hyundai is satisfied to the mainstream 4-door sedan part of the market. The Elantra lively Dynamics suggest that the fun sports version of the car would very well recorded, especially if it were in the hatchback style that defines the segment "hot hatch".

As more and more customers the Elantra (and the Ford focus) that go to, can escape Word driver, the faithful have been other brands (to her own detriment of late). They are excited to discover that they have ugly hard cabin surfaces, deaf, not separate steering to put up, soggy suspension and grumble, thirsty engines only, because they want to buy a small economical car.

The Elantra, which is out there on the welcome mat with the flowers. Go ahead and leave it.

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