I have a Hyundai Elantra Touring for a week, does anyone have questions?

[bradyholt]

Drove out to Shenandoah National Park for a bit of hiking today. Updates on highway comfort, refinement, and gas mileage, and details on how the car handles mountain roads.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1017-DC-Ca...-Skyline-Drive

[YEH]

Originally Posted by eurohazard

It's interesting that they copied Toyota's dumbest styling trend......the melted emblem through the top of the grill look. Can you take pictures of the cargo area, with some grocery bags inside to give a nice perspective? Thanks Brady.

Originally Posted by 'Vette Dude

Why does the grille look like the 2007 Accords or the 2007-present Saturn's?

The whole chrome bar across the top w/ the manufacturer's emblem is pretty common on European models (Opel does it as well as Saturn).

Mitsu was probably the first to do so.

Originally Posted by GrandPrix08

I wouldn't buy one but....

We all know you wouldn't ever buy a Hyundai, so is it really necessary to say so on every thread about Hyundai?

[GrandPrix08]

Originally Posted by YEH

We all know you wouldn't ever buy a Hyundai, so is it really necessary to say so on every thread about Hyundai?

Then is it really necessary for you to follow EVERY topic I write about Korean brand and criticize about what I have to write there? Huh? I guess it's the same thing then, bud. I don't have a problem with that, but that's something I noticed on every topic that has to deal with Hyundai or Kia. Didn't think I notice the pattern huh? He He.

Not all of my replies on Korean products are negative you know, I just wouldn't buy one, and hey, this is a message board, I am free to write what I think and share opinions, can't I?

[Olds88]

Seeing as how its a rental car, can you get its MPGs into the single digits?

[YEH]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

I don't know anything about it being German-designed, but it's the European-market "i30 estate."

The i30, along w/ the Kia Cee'd, were designed at their European design centers in Rüsselsheim and Frankfurt.

Originally Posted by GrandPrix08

Then is it really necessary for you to follow EVERY topic I write about Korean brand and criticize about what I have to write there? Huh? I guess it's the same thing then, bud. I don't have a problem with that, but that's something I noticed on every topic that has to deal with Hyundai or Kia. Didn't think I notice the pattern huh?

It wouldn't be necessary if I didn't have to refute your ridiculous claims or ignorant comments - it's as simple as that.

[AndrewGS]

Does it have Automatic Lighting? Entry/Exit Lighting? Retained Accessory Power? Remote Start? Outside Temperature Display? Integrated Compass? Automatic Climate Control?

I see it has a Trip Computer. How comprehensive is the info? Does it include an Oil Monitor and Tire Pressure Monitor?

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by Olds88

Seeing as how its a rental car, can you get its MPGs into the single digits?

Nope, I kept it above 30 mpg.

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Does it have Automatic Lighting? Entry/Exit Lighting? Retained Accessory Power? Remote Start? Outside Temperature Display? Integrated Compass? Automatic Climate Control?

I see it has a Trip Computer. How comprehensive is the info? Does it include an Oil Monitor and Tire Pressure Monitor?

I took the car back yesterday, but I'll try to answer these from memory:

Automatic lighting: if you mean automatic headlights, I don't think so. If not, not sure what you mean.
Entry/exit lighting: do you mean a dome lamp? If so, yes. If not, not sure what you mean.
Retained accessory power: no. The gas gauge stays in place while the car is off and the odometer appears when you open the door, but otherwise you need the key in at least accessory model.
Remote start: no
Outside temperature display: yes, it appears next to the clock on the stereo screen
Compass: no
Automatic climate control: my car did not, but the owners' manual showed the setup for one.
Trip computer: it has average speed, average mpg, and miles to empty, but I don't think anything more than that. I think the tire-pressure monitor is an idiot light rather than a readout, and I never saw anything about the oil. I also don't recall seeing an option for instantaneous fuel mileage.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

I took the car back yesterday, but I'll try to answer these from memory:

Automatic lighting: if you mean automatic headlights, I don't think so. If not, not sure what you mean.

Yeah, auto headlamp control.

Entry/exit lighting: do you mean a dome lamp? If so, yes. If not, not sure what you mean.

Perimeter Lighting, it keeps the headlamps/reverse lamps on for a certain amount of time after you park and leave the car and turns on the headlamps/reverse lamps when you unlock the car in the dark.

Retained accessory power: no. The gas gauge stays in place while the car is off and the odometer appears when you open the door, but otherwise you need the key in at least accessory model.
Remote start: no
Outside temperature display: yes, it appears next to the clock on the stereo screen
Compass: no
Automatic climate control: my car did not, but the owners' manual showed the setup for one.
Trip computer: it has average speed, average mpg, and miles to empty, but I don't think anything more than that. I think the tire-pressure monitor is an idiot light rather than a readout, and I never saw anything about the oil. I also don't recall seeing an option for instantaneous fuel mileage.

Thanks! I've come to expect these things on new cars with GM, but I know very few other non-luxury cars have these features. The Asians especially seem to be behind on this stuff.

I like the look of the car though and the mileage doesn't sound bad for a car with that much space.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

Automatic lighting: if you mean automatic headlights, I don't think so. If not, not sure what you mean.

Just to elaborate, I believe a number of Hyundais and Kias have headlamps that automatically shut off when the car is shut off, like Toyota has done. Not really the same thing, but at the least it allows you to run the headlamps all the time, which is nice since most Hyundais/Kias don't feature daytime running lamps in the U.S. IIRC.

Automatic climate control
Trip computer

I don't think the Touring offers it in the U.S., but the image likely showed it auto A/C as in Europe as the i30 it offers more features (like the Mazda 3 and VW Jetta), such as auto A/C. The Ford Focus is similar - when we got the same Focus as Europe, they got a host of options we didn't, including auto A/C.

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Thanks! I've come to expect these things on new cars with GM, but I know very few other non-luxury cars have these features. The Asians especially seem to be behind on this stuff.

I like the look of the car though and the mileage doesn't sound bad for a car with that much space.

I don't know, I'm noticing a lot of the stuff you mentioned is available on midsize cars, but selectively (trim level). It's just smaller cars we don't see them available on very often, at least here.

I think it's more some Asian manufacturers tend to limit the options to certain trim levels (and it seems to be more Toyota and Honda). For examples, a $15,000 Cobalt LS has a trip computer, but only the $25k Camry XLE or a $35k Odyssey Touring have them in Camry and Odyssey lines. Hyundai seems to be more open with some of these options like the trip computer. (Few cars from any non-luxury make seem to offer as comprehensive of a trip computer/information center as GM does, except Chrysler products with the upgraded Vehicle Information Center.) Some features have always been this way with trim levels, like automatic A/C. We've never had a GM car with it, but we've never had an upper trim level GM either...well, the only GMs we've had that even offered it at all were a Blazer and the Aura. My Maxima doesn't have it, but it's not fully loaded; loaded Maximas offered it at least as early as 1989.

Curiously, a compass isn't included with a lot of GM trip computers. The Aura features it as an option included with the auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Some seem to be offering remote start as "factory-dealer accessories" (probably the best way to describe it), which Ford does as well IIRC. GM definitely had a lead with this one.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by cdp326

I don't think the Touring offers it in the U.S., but the image likely showed it auto A/C as in Europe as the i30 it offers more features (like the Mazda 3 and VW Jetta), such as auto A/C. The Ford Focus is similar - when we got the same Focus as Europe, they got a host of options we didn't, including auto A/C.

This is something I don't understand. VW is especially bad about not offering higher-end features to American customers. The Eos is dumbed way down for our market, and you can't even get a turbo Beetle any more. I build cars on German websites quite often and notice lots of cool stuff we can't even get here on many cars. Even the Merc C-Class lacks features offered elsewhere in the world, Keyless-Go and power-folding mirrors are glaring omissions.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

This is something I don't understand. VW is especially bad about not offering higher-end features to American customers. The Eos is dumbed way down for our market, and you can't even get a turbo Beetle any more. I build cars on German websites quite often and notice lots of cool stuff we can't even get here on many cars. Even the Merc C-Class lacks features offered elsewhere in the world, Keyless-Go and power-folding mirrors are glaring omissions.

I know what you mean. I haven't built any cars for a while (think the last one was the Astra before they brought it was a few features over for Saturn), but I used to read some issues of British car magazines like CAR every so often. I remember a comparison of small sport hatches, including the Focus, which included parking sensors and the aforementioned automatic climate control. I can understand not getting all the powertrain options other markets get, but some of the features sure would be nice.

I'd say that VW is better at it on the Jetta, where IIRC you can get a power memory driver's seat. The only other compact outside of the luxury market with that is the new Mazda 3. Outside of that, it does seem to be how you said. We're not getting the Scirocco, and I hope we won't lose a great deal of available features when we get a U.S.-specific midsize sedan in a few years.

Even basic features that aren't really luxury features get cut for our market. Before 2009, the last time the Ford Focus offered rear seat headrests was the 2002-04 SVT models, and I think some earlier ZTS models with leather, I've noticed a couple wagons with them too. Of all the things to cost-cut...

The C-Class doesn't offer Keyless-Go here? That's surprising.

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by bradyholt

It's surprisingly close, if still tuned a bit more for ride comfort and quietness than the 3. It doesn't have the steering feel or effort of the 3, but the suspension control and grip is all there.

Uh, yeah, I can tell the last three you reviewed was the old one. Steering feels the same as the one in a Rabbit now.

[bradyholt]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Yeah, auto headlamp control.

Perimeter Lighting, it keeps the headlamps/reverse lamps on for a certain amount of time after you park and leave the car and turns on the headlamps/reverse lamps when you unlock the car in the dark.

Headlights stay on for maybe 15 seconds after you've shut the car off. Unlocking the car turns on the dome light but nothing else.

Originally Posted by Aprime

Uh, yeah, I can tell the last three you reviewed was the old one. Steering feels the same as the one in a Rabbit now.

Do you mean the old Mazda3? If so, I've only driven the 2010, actually.

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

This is something I don't understand. VW is especially bad about not offering higher-end features to American customers. The Eos is dumbed way down for our market, and you can't even get a turbo Beetle any more. I build cars on German websites quite often and notice lots of cool stuff we can't even get here on many cars. Even the Merc C-Class lacks features offered elsewhere in the world, Keyless-Go and power-folding mirrors are glaring omissions.

I think it has to do with model complexity

For Germans in a German made car the cars are all shipped by rail or truck if they are closer. Same thing with say US / Canada / Mex made cars.

But for Americans they have to send it by boat, and that takes months... so when you buy one they want to give you one that is already landed on the continent at the least, otherwise you could be stuck waiting like 8 months to get your special ordered car

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Smaart Aas Saabr

I think it has to do with model complexity

For Germans in a German made car the cars are all shipped by rail or truck if they are closer. Same thing with say US / Canada / Mex made cars.

But for Americans they have to send it by boat, and that takes months... so when you buy one they want to give you one that is already landed on the continent at the least, otherwise you could be stuck waiting like 8 months to get your special ordered car

Why not just group these features into option packs? Europeans are more used to ordering their cars and going through long option lists, like Americans used to, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to get some of the cool features they get if we're willing to pay for them.

The Beetle, Jetta, Golf Variant and Fox are all imported to Europe from Latin America, but they still offer lots of drivetrains and features.