Recently I had the occasion to drive the 2008 Hyundaiiii! Elantra (aka Elan'[tra], aka Electra) and the new Suzuki SX4 Sport (sedan).
The occasion was I went into the Hyundaiiii! dealership. Ran into a new young salesman. Less experienced salesmen tend to be less pushy than experienced ones who think they can "sell" you a car. When all was said and done, and with IIRC a 1500 rebate on the hood, my salesman quoted me $15,000 for the base car, plus tax, license, and crack cocaine fee for the sales manager. Haha, just checking to see if you're paying attention.
This is a tall car, compared to my LHS it's about a head higher. It has a 14 CF trunk with fold down seats. It's good space and convenient.
The cabin is nicely laid out with modern, zippy (like VW?) blue lighting everywhere including on the window controls. The seats are comfortable but unremarkable in their support. The back bench has a fold-down center armrest. I liked the tan upholstery, I prefer a lighter interior color as that makes it easier to find the numerous gel ballpoints I seem to misplace in my cars.
All Elantras get 4-wheel discs with ABS, AC, two power outlets, active front headrests, front side bags and curtains for all, power windows, door locks, remote, TPMS, heated mirrors, cabin air filter, gas shocks, and a tilt wheel. Uplevel gets tilt/telescope, ESP, brake assist, traction control, trip computer, and XM.
Both models get the ever-popular chrome-accented front grille.
Holy crap, that's a lot of toys for 15 grand.
The 120 ci/2 liter iron block aluminum head DOHC CVVT motorvator up front is linked to a 4-speed automatic which shifts smoothly and kicks down appropriately. IIRC it runs about 28 MPH/1000 RPM in top gear. HP is rated at 138 @ 6000, TQ 136 @ 4600. MPG rating is 24/33 and the fuel tank claims 14 gallons of Saudi's finest 87 proof.
BTW, if you'll peek at the Hyundaiii! powerplant, you'll see a pretty nifty CAI (cold air intake for the non-Neanderthals) built in. Clever.
The base GLS model has 195.65.15 tires on steelies, the upgrade SE (ESP-equipped) gets alloys wrapped with 205.55.16 dancing shoes. I could not discern significant handling differences in the two models, though the 55 series tires should be a mite stiffer.
Cruise at 70 MPH and 2500 RPM is easy and effortless, and agility around town is what you'd expect of a 2800 LB car with a WB of 104".
Acceleration is adequate but it will not harm your eyeballs, 0-60 has been quoted at about 10 seconds and that feels about right.
Looks are subjective, but IMO this is a good looking car. It stands out in a crowd and is not mundane looking.
The Suzuki test was occasioned by an ad in the paper showing fire sale prices, and my subsequent travel across the border to a western state that will remain unnamed except its flag shows a likeness of
First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.
When I arrived at the Superman (well, that's what the Suzuki
S logo looks like) Dealership, I was met by a saleslady who, small world (isn't that the title of a book about VW?), is the mother of my Hyundaiiii! salesman. Should I buy a lottery ticket, or vamoose?
She said I could walk out with a $14,750 Suzuki SX4 Sport with the convenience package.
There is a base model and two option packages: the convenience package (500 bucks) which adds automatic climate control, heated outside mirrors, and cruise; and the touring package (another grand) which adds ESP and trac, and a 9-speaker radio equipped with some mumbo-jumbo consisting of lots of letters and numbers.
The SX4 is based on the new-last-year SX4 Crossover which gets AWD and is shorter and rounder.
The first thing I notice about a Suzuki is the 8" Superman medallion front and center. The styling grows on you a bit, and the crystal taillights are a classy touch.
Here you can expect similar equipment to the Elantra. The SX4 gets stock AC with cabin filter, nice-looking 17" alloys shod with Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S 205.50.17 bump-soakers ($130 each @ Tire Rack, ouch!) on all three models, KYB struts, anti-roll bars front and rear, 4-wheel discs with ABS, electronic brake force distribution, TPMS, and an aluminum 2 liter/120 ci DOHC mill claiming 143 horsies @ 5,800 and 136 torkies @ 3,500. Weight is just shy of 2800 LBS. A 13 gallon petrol tank and ratings of 23/31 with the 4-speed automatic complete the engine room report.
I didn't feel a great deal of motivational difference between the Suzuki and the Hyundaiii!, though one impression I got was a bit more torque from the Elantra. MPH per 1000 RPM is about the same as the Korean, 28 MPH/1000 RPM in top gear.
This car is tighter-suspended and has a much spiffier snap to it, yanking the wheel to and fro around town. The struts have a more quality damping feel to them than the Hyundaiii!.
The view out is what got my attention, though. There are front quarter windows which some of us over 40 may recall from the vaunted and hallowed Good Old Days. The outside mirrors are huge and may have been stolen from a GMC pickup. The combination gives a new look to visual input, and I like what I see from this cabin.
Instruments and controls come in
Pontiac red as opposed to the calming blue of the Elantra. Red, blue, this isn't an election map. If it lights up and works, it's OK with me.
The upholstery is a choice of black or black. Not my first choice, and after six months I would probably have enough pens rattling around in here to sell and make a payment. The rear seat does not have a flip-down center armrest, nor do the rear seats do the 60/40 fold-down split as they so conveniently do in the Hyundaiiii!. Braces, they say.
The front buckets are firm and supportive, and since I'm in the midst of some back pains recently I appreciate the superior seating dynamics. I remember a few years back, when I sold a Buick and bought an Accord, my back pain went away within 30 minutes of driving off the lot.
Controls fall easily to hand, as they say in the car magazines, and there are no mysteries in making stuff work.
The motor makes similar power to the H-car. Suzuki uses a timing chain which according to sales, does not need replacing as does the Elantra's 90,000 mile timing belt. Gee, just like a "primitive" OHV mill.
I found the Hyundaiii! Elantras to be fine cars and at 15 grand for the base model with loads of safety toys, a transportation bargain. Hyundaiii!'s warranty is 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain, 5/60 bumper to bumper, and 5 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance. Suzuki provides a 7/100,000 fully transferrable, 3/36 B-B, and 24 hour roadside assistance and convenience vehicle provision (whatever that means).
I'd pick the Suzuki, given its quicker driving dynamics, more supportive bucket, and enhanced-vision cockpit. Even with the downside of expensive 17" tires and no fold-down seats.
And that's all I've got to say about thayitt.
