- sedan 181,233
- 650 below average
- 2,000 great
- Lexington, KY
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- autoshopper.com
- 650 below average sedan 181,233 silver
2003 hyundai elantra review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. One of the best cars in its class. introductionthe hyundai elantra is handsome, comfortable, versatile, and fun to drive. It would be a decent car if it cost thousands more. For under $15,000, it's a genuine bargain. Elantra comes with one of the most powerful standard engines in the subcompact class, and is among the quickest. It handles as well or better than the other cars in its class and has the sporty feel we like in a compact. the interior is nicely finished and more comfortable than most of the cars in its class, including the big name brands. The list of standard equipment is as long or longer than that of cars that cost thousands more, and includes side airbags. Measured by build quality, it meets or beats most of its competitors. So for 2003, the elantra gt is available with either the sedan or hatchback body style. concerned about reliability? Hyundai's warranty is one of the best available. The basic warranty lasts five years or 60,000 miles for the original owner, with free roadside assistance throughout. The engine and transmission are warranted for 10 years or 100,0000 miles; and hyundai protects elantra from rust-through for five years or 100,000 miles. . lineuphyundai elantra is offered in two trim levels and two body styles. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. An automatic transmission is optional 800) for either model. gls sedan 12,499) comes with an impressive array of standard features, including air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and locks; and a center console with armrest. Safety features are anything but economy grade: front-passenger side-impact airbags come standard and there are rear headrests and three-point harnesses at all five seating positions. elantra gt 14,149) expands on the gls sedan's standard-equipment list. Fashioned in the spirit of a european sports sedan, the gt comes with a firmer, sport-tuned suspension, five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, and fog lamps. Leather seating surfaces are standard, too (try finding those on any other car in this price range), as are a 100-watt, six-speaker stereo with cd player; cruise control; remote keyless entry; and a rear-glass wiper and washer. Even the shift knob and steering wheel are leather-wrapped, and the instrument lights glow purple (dude!). The gt sedan adds a rear wing-type spoiler. both gt body styles list for the same price. Hyundai says it added the sedan in response to customer requests, but we prefer the more daring styling and increased carrying capacity of the hatchback. With its big hatch opening and split folding rear seat, the five-door is remarkably versatile for a car its size. other options are limited, and must be purchased in packages, which hyundai calls accessory groups. Accessory group 2 for gls 400) adds cruise control, remote keyless entry, and an alarm. Group 3 925) includes the contents of group 2, plus traction control and abs. Group 4 1400) starts with group 2 but adds an upgraded stereo with cd player and a power moonroof. On the gt, the power moonroof costs $650. Port-installed accessories for both models include woodgrain trim 225), carpeted floor mats 78), mud guards 60), a sunroof wind deflector 62), a cargo net 38), a spoiler for the sedan 100) and a cargo tray for the hatchback 70). . walkaroundhyundai last re-styled the elantra for 2001, and it hasn't changed it much since then. It's an aerodynamically efficient design, boosting fuel economy and reducing wind noise. from the front doors forward the sedan and hatchback are identical, featuring a distinctive chrome-lipped grille and prominent twin trapezoid headlamps angled back in a black background. The lamps were designed to cast a broad pattern of light. from the door pillar on back, the hatchback is distinct from the sedan. The hatchback boasts a more expansive glass area, and its roof trails back into the rear hatch, fastback style, rather than dropping suddenly toward the trunk. The hatch ends with the small spoiler lip above the taillights and rear bumper. It reminds us of the previous-generation saab 9-3 hatchback. compared to the previous-generation (pre-2001) elantra, the current model stretches 2. 3 inches longer in wheelbase, providing more leg room inside. Headroom is also better both front and rear. Just as significantly, the engine is mounted with hydraulic attachments in a new front subframe, greatly reducing the amount of drivetrain vibration that reaches the cabin. . interioroften, inexpensive cars try to make up for their economy ambience with strange and/or garish interior design. But the hyundai elantra interior is subdued, clean and efficient. There's very little hard plastic in the elantra, and the soft stuff has a richer feel than we've been conditioned to expect in cars of this ilk. Even the center armrest is padded and covered with cloth; most cars in this class use a hard plastic center armrest. the front seats are terrific, offering precise adjustments. They are large and neither too soft nor too hard, providing adequate support without inflicting pain. The driver's seat adjusts for height both front and rear, and both front seats have adjustable lumbar support. The front shoulder belts are also height adjustable (a feature shorter people will appreciate). the rear seats in the elantra sedans are roomier and more comfortable than those in the honda civic, nissan sentra, mazda protege, and ford focus sedans. Hyundai provides a combination lap/shoulder belt in the center position, whereas the class standard remains a lap belt only. The gauges themselves are backlit with a purplish light on gt models. The purple glow adds interest, and the speedometer and standard tach are quite legible at night or in full mid-afternoon sunshine. heating, ventilation and air conditioning are adjusted with rotary controls, rather than the cheaper, more difficult sliding type; and the dials are set in the preferred location, that is, below, rather than above, the stereo. The stereo buttons are on the small side (we've rarely found buttons that are too big), but they are as large and easy to operate as those in some more expensive cars (the volkswagen jetta, for example). Switches for the headlights, wipers, and cruise control are mounted on stalks. After a week of running errands in hatchback elantra, we can't understand why americans have saddled this body style with such a negative connotation. With the rear seat up, there's room enough in the cargo compartment for beach gear or all the sundry stuff that kids on a day trip seem to require. Then we did it again with plywood sheets cut to 40 x 70 inches, including the remnants. With the hatch tied partway open, the possibilities include full sheets of plywood or a 27-inch tv in its carton. . driving impressionthe hyundai elantra is among the quickest cars in its class. With 135 horsepower and 132 pounds-feet of torque, the elantra gls and gt deliver more than enough oomph to hustle through traffic, pass with confidence or rush through mountain passes at faster than posted speeds. It's capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph times in the mid 8-second range. That's quicker than a honda civic lx, mazda protege, nissan sentra gxe, and ford focus se. for years hyundai borrowed its engine designs from other manufacturers. The company now develops and manufactures its own engines. A cast aluminum oil sump, a stiff engine block and eight crankshaft counterweights reduce mechanical noise and control vibration. but there isn't much grunt at lower engine speeds. Most of elantra's power comes in the last 2000 revs before the 6400-rpm redline. Enthusiast drivers prefer to do exactly that. Cruise Control✔ Power Windows✔ CD Player✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
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