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2007 Hyundai Elantra Preview

Re-Thought Elantra Yields Class-Leading Interior Space

Over the past 24 months, Hyundai has developed a total of seven new models. No, this does not include different trim levels, or mild adjustments such as facelifts; theyre doing the real deal: completely new cars. This means by the time autumn of this year rolls around, every single Hyundai model, except the Tiburon, will be no older than two years of age. Line em up and count them down, theres the new Accent with three or four doors, the Sonata (our Editors favorite), the sumptuous Azera, and the dynamic SUV duo, the Tucson (oldest of the bunch) and soon-to-arrive Santa Fe (our editors next favorite).

The new Elantra is bigger and better than ever. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

Theres also the new Entourage minivan, a North American first for Koreas biggest brand. Color me impressed (and the competition wary).

For 2007, Hyundai has officially adopted the new corporate identity for the Elantra, mind you, its surprisingly Corolla-like in terms of appearances, mostly due to its tall shape, large headlamps, and high-mounted tail lamps. Aside from this, the Elantra

Tall body creates an unusual amount of interior volume for a vehicle of its size. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

has a very unique looking nose thats certainly striking to look at, while its side flanks have a high metal to glass ratio that appear free of rub strips or contortions. The upside-down trapezoidal grille, combined with canted headlamps and a narrow lower intake give the car an unusually aggressive look, while around back the styling of the tail mimics the nose with a reverse trapezoid recess for the license plate, and swept bezels. All models feature sixteen

The Elantra is a midsize in all but its exterior dimensions. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

inch wheels as standard.

All of that extra height pays dividends in terms of the interior volume; like the Volkswagen Jetta, the Elantra is classified by the EPA as a mid-size vehicle. In terms of physical interior volume, it has a total of 112.1 cu-ft, topping key rivals, the Honda Civic (102.9 cu-ft) and the new Nissan Sentra (110.8 cu-ft), and even though the Elantra still occupies compact car ground, it manages to provide more interior room than the Acura TL (110.4 cu-ft), which has a much larger exterior footprint. Another volume-related area

Frame isnt much bigger than the vehicle that it replaces. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

where the Elantra leads is in trunk space, providing 14.2 cu-ft, an 18-percent improvement over the Civic and a 5-percent gain over the Corolla.

Over the past three years, Hyundai has learned a great deal about packaging and use of space with its domestic- and European-bound subcompact cars, and has applied this knowledge to the Elantra. Despite being 0.2 inches longer than the outgoing car, the wheelbase has been stretched by some 1.6 inches, width 2.2 inches, and height by 2.0 inches, which means the new Elantra is roughly the same size on the outside as the current model, but the big surprise is the gain made in interior and cargo space, despite

Bright blue instruments make their way into the new Elantras cabin. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

having a fairly space-inefficient, although handling-enhancing multi-link rear suspension.
As with all of its other cars, from the entry-level Accent to the top of the line Azera, Hyundai has been working to lift the appearance and quality of its interiors. The Elantras cabin is completely redesigned; its styling closely aligned to the new look of the Sonata. Touches such as two-toned interior trim, optional leather seating surfaces, aluminum dashboard and console patina, multi-function steering wheel controls and blue-backlit instruments and controls provide a more upscale driving environment, and one that previously would not have been associated with a compact Hyundai. Meanwhile, the seating position inside the Elantra has

With two-toned plastics and classy accent , trim, the Elantra is eons ahead of the current car in interior atmosphere. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

been raised by 46 mm (1.8 inches) providing an improved vantage point for better visibility.

Not to say that the current Elantra isnt equipped with a safety kit, but the new car comes loaded to the gills with the latest gear to keep you safe in the event of a crash. Standard on all models are six airbags, consisting of two front, two seat-mounted torso, and two full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard are three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all occupants, plus four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution. Combined with a frame thats some 48 percent more rigid than the current model, Hyundai is gunning for best in class scores in IIHS and a solid five-star safety rating in the NHTSA crash tests.

As with the current North American-bound Elantra, the new car

Engine passes through unaltered. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

will be offered with a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four with continuously variable valve timing that produces 138 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission, or 132 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque with the four-speed automatic - the same setup as currently featured in the Kia Spectra. Both gearboxes are geared towards efficiency, which makes sense for the Elantras entry-level buyer. Though there wont be a hybrid or alternative fuel version immediately available, automatic transmission-equipped Elantras sold in California and other smog-conscious states are classified as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV), which makes it as clean in terms of tailpipe emissions as a hybrid powered vehicle!

One thing that we cant help but wonder is what happened to the so-called "World Engine" that Hyundai developed in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi. The engine series is currently

Expect to be seeing a whole lot of Elantras on the road soon. Its class-leading space and safety equipment is sure to appeal. (Photo: Hyundai Motor America)

in production in 1.8-, 2.0- and 2.4-liter forms in the Dodge Caliber, and will be adapted shortly to the next-generation Mitsubishi Lancer. However clean and advanced the current 2.0-liter Alpha-series Hyundai engine is, the new World Engine is more advanced; with 200 cc less displacement, the engine cranks out 148 horsepower, a 10-horsepower gain over Hyundais own unit. This, as well as the more powerful 158 hp 2.0-liter and 172 hp 2.4-liter could give the Elantra the performance boost that many buyers crave.

When the Elantra goes on sale in dealerships this autumn, it will only be offered as a sedan; it is unknown whether or not Hyundai will follow up with a replacement for the five-door hatchback. Nevertheless, even without it, the greater space, improved interior appointments, ample standard equipment, aggressive pricing and inclusion of one of the worlds best warranties, ensures that the Elantra will play a critical role in the ever-important, ever-growing compact marketplace.

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