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2010 Hyundai Elantra Review

November 3, 2009

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

unpretentious
Washington Post

plush cloth upholstery, attractive plastics, and many soft-touch surfaces belie Elantra's pricing
ConsumerGuide

the overall design is attractive and pleasing, looking as if it belongs in a much more expensive car
Edmunds

the cabin is attractive, well laid out
Motor Trend

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra sedan isn’t much of a looker from the outside, though the Elantra Touring wagon seems to impress reviewers a bit more.

"The impressive exterior styling, with its clean lines and sculpted body sides, borrows design characteristics from the larger and more expensive Hyundai Azera," says Kelley Blue Book of the exterior. The Washington Post is also a fan of the Elantra's styling, calling it "unpretentious" and stating that the Elantra "does not pretend to be hot, hip, sexy or wicked. Instead, it proudly presents its credentials as an economy-mobile." Cars.com points out "the new Elantra adopts a taller, curvier look," remarking that "it follows the look of the full-size Azera sedan—which is not the most distinctive design." Reviewers don’t have a lot to say in general about the Touring, but Motor Trend asserts that the “chrome accents, tinted glass, fog lamps, and optional 17-inch wheels give the Elantra Touring a little edge.”

Matching Hyundai's other vehicles, the interior follows a soft—not edgy—design, with rounded borders and flowing curves. ConsumerGuide likes the "large, clear gauges" and explains that "climate and audio controls are simple and handy." Edmunds notes that the Hyundai's "interior quality is quite literally hit or miss," although "the overall design is attractive and pleasing, looking as if it belongs in a much more expensive car." ConsumerGuide concurs, reporting that "plush cloth upholstery, attractive plastics, and many soft-touch surfaces belie Elantra's pricing. So does its classy blue dashboard lighting." Kelley Blue Book says the Elantra is "not necessarily an example of modern style," criticizing "the SE's somewhat dated-looking velvety seat fabric, the instrument panel with its expanses of plastic and the over-designed door panels [which] appear a little old-fashioned." Motor Trend offers a comparison to airline travel and proposes that the Touring model “symbolizes the economy-plus ticket,” especially inside.

Conclusion

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra sedan comes across as inoffensive, but the Touring is a little more distinctive.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:unpretentiousWashington Postplush cloth upholstery, attractive plastics, and many soft-touch surfaces belie Elantra's pricingConsumerGuidethe overall design is attractive and pleasing, looking as if it belongs in a much more expensive carEdmundsthe cabin is attractive, well laid outMotor Trend The 2010 Hyundai Elantra sedan isn’t much of a looker from the outside, though the Elantra Touring wagon seems to impress reviewers a bit more. "The impressive exterior styling, with its clean lines and sculpted body sides, borrows design characteristics from the larger and more expensive Hyundai Azera," says Kelley Blue Book of the exterior. The Washington Post is also a fan of the Elantra's styling, calling it "unpretentious" and stating that the Elantra "does not pretend to be hot, hip, sexy or wicked. Instead, it proudly presents its credentials as an economy-mobile." Cars.com points out "the new Elantra adopts a taller, curvier look," remarking that "it follows the look of the full-size Azera sedan—which is not the most distinctive design." Reviewers don’t have a lot to say in general about the Touring, but Motor Trend asserts that the “chrome accents, tinted glass, fog lamps, and optional 17-inch wheels give the Elantra Touring a little edge.” Matching Hyundai's other vehicles, the interior follows a soft—not edgy—design, with rounded borders and flowing curves. ConsumerGuide likes the "large, clear gauges" and explains that "climate and audio controls are simple and handy." Edmunds notes that the Hyundai's "interior quality is quite literally hit or miss," although "the overall design is attractive and pleasing, looking as if it belongs in a much more expensive car." ConsumerGuide concurs, reporting that "plush cloth upholstery, attractive plastics, and many soft-touch surfaces belie Elantra's pricing. So does its classy blue dashboard lighting." Kelley Blue Book says the Elantra is "not necessarily an example of modern style," criticizing "the SE's somewhat dated-looking velvety seat fabric, the instrument panel with its expanses of plastic and the over-designed door panels [which] appear a little old-fashioned." Motor Trend offers a comparison to airline travel and proposes that the Touring model “symbolizes the economy-plus ticket,” especially inside. ConclusionThe 2010 Hyundai Elantra sedan comes across as inoffensive, but the Touring is a little more distinctive. 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA STYLING | [7 out of 10] Washington Post: "unpretentious" ConsumerGuide: "plush cloth upholstery, attractive plastics, and many soft-touch surfaces belie Elantra's pricing" Edmunds: "the overall design is attractive and pleasing, looking as if it belongs in a much ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

For decades, the Toyota Corolla has been the benchmark in this class, and after their respective redesigns, the Hyundai Elantra matches up well with the Corolla. Both are quite soft and not tremendously exciting. However, the Touring model of the Elantra stands as an intriguing option for those who would rather have a more distinctive, fun-to-drive vehicle. Versus the Touring, the Mazda3 five-door is the most natural rival. The Mazda3 has a little more refinement and more of an enthusiast-oriented driving feel, but the Touring has more interior space. The Elantra's long warranty is only matched by the Kia—and Kia’s new Forte sedan resembles the Elantra in many respects, with a slightly sportier feel, although the Forte offers a two-door Koup model instead of a wagon. The revised Ford Focus sedan is a close competitor, with a softer, smoother ride and a quieter interior than in years past, along with a refined powertrain, but the Focus's interior just isn't as spacious and the exterior styling is odd. The Honda Civic feels sportier and tremendously refined—nicely finished inside, too—but its curvaceous exterior pays a price in a cramped backseat that’s difficult to get in and out of.

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See the Hyundai Elantra in Other Years:

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