Ever thought of a Hyundai? Now’s the time to get your mitts on a very classy and cleverly priced small car. Competing with the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Holden Cruze, the Hyundai Elantra holds its own very well, indeed. Spend some time with the crisp styling of the 2012 Hyundai Elantra, and you could swear that the car could well have cost more than the $20-30k price tag, suggests.

Features onboard the bold new Hyundai Elantra differ between models. Three specifications are available in the form of the Hyundai Elantra Active, the Hyundai Elantra Elite and the Hyundai Elantra Premium. All the Elantra models have the best features in high-tech safety. Four channel ABS, BAS, EBD, ESC with TCS, Vehicle Stability Management, a day/night rear view mirror a warning chime to remind you to put your seatbelt and warning lights for seat belt, door ajar and check engine. To look at this list alone, you might start getting the picture that for the base model Hyundai Elantra Active (approx $20,590), this has got to be a great bargain.

But cast your eye over the stylish Elantra exterior, and the elegance which with the roofline swoops over the Elantra’s rear window, the flared wheel arches and the crimped waistline all provide a very special visual symphony. Active and Elite models have a chrome surround for the radiator grille, while the Hyundai Elantra Premium boasts a nice subtle dark black chrome radiator grille. All versions boast body coloured side mirrors with an integrated indicator. All you tall people standing next to the Hyundai Elantra Premium may notice that this version comes with a powered sunroof.

I’m putting across a good argument for owning a Hyundai Elantra, am I not? It’s well priced for what you get – that’s why. Inside the smart, high-tech interior, all Elantras come with an MP3 compatible CD player, an AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth Handsfree fun, media streaming, six premium speakers that include two front tweeters, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB audio input with iPod compatibility, and a steering wheel with audio remote and Bluetooth controls mounted. The Hyundai Elantra Active gets the woven cloth seats, the Elite model boasts smart knit cloth seats, while the Premium model has very nice leather/leatherette seats.

On a more practical front, I found the Hyundai Elantra to have plenty of storage solutions. Even a glovebox compartment with damper is available. A large central floor console storage compartment, the compartment in the lower centre fascia, seat back pockets, centre console side storage recess, and the front and rear door map/storage pockets with bottle holders all seem to have the need for carrying knick-knacks well and truly covered. All of us like to stop at McDonalds now and then, so the dual cup holders become a handy feature. Split folding rear seats enlarge the already useful 420 litres of cargo space. Nice exterior lines on the Hyundai Elantra sedan shape cleverly camouflage the excellent volume of cabin space.

On the road, the Elantra feels well in control of the task of getting from A-to-B. Ride quality is class leading, while the 110 kW 1.8-litre engine is very happy to spin feely through the revs. A six-speed manual or six-speed auto gearbox are available as options. Expect around 6.5 to 7.5 litres/100 km – depending on your right foot and what transmission you use.

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra models include the:

• Elantra Active
• Elantra Elite
• Elantra Premium

For any more information on the Hyundai Elantra or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Hyundai dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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