Author Topic: 2013 Elantra (Read 1266 times)

Juke1 · « **on:** February 08, 2012, 08:05:27 am »

2 new Elantras

http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/elantra/2013/2013-hyundai-elantra-gt-hatchback-2012-chicago-auto-show.html
http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/elantra/2013/2013-hyundai-elantra-coupe-debuts-at-2012-chicago-auto-show.html

Pretty complete line if you ask me

footlong58 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:18:50 am »

The GT looks great, definitely would be on my list in a couple years.

Jaeger · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:34:12 am »

I can't immediately think of a segment competitor that offers Sedan, Coupe and Hatch versions of the same car. Interesting move. Here's hoping we see the 200hp turbo 4 brought to the Elantra lineup.

Jaeger

CanuckG35 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:35:53 am »

Quote from: Jaeger on February 08, 2012, 09:34:12 am

I can't immediately think of a segment competitor that offers Sedan, Coupe and Hatch versions of the same car. Interesting move. Here's hoping we see the 200hp turbo 4 brought to the Elantra lineup.

Jaeger

Me neither. The Civic is the last one that I can think of off the top of my head.

Juke1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:42:22 am »

Ford had the Focus in 3 & 5 door, sedan and wagon in the early 2000s

Jaeger · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:08:33 am »

Some have done it in the past - I meant I can't think of a current segment competitor that does it now. Most don't even offer a coupe.

Jaeger

SaskSpecV · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:32:48 am »

Quote from: Jaeger on February 08, 2012, 09:34:12 am

I can't immediately think of a segment competitor that offers Sedan, Coupe and Hatch versions of the same car. Interesting move. Here's hoping we see the 200hp turbo 4 brought to the Elantra lineup.

Jaeger

How about Hyundai's fraternal twin, Kia? The Forte has all 3 styles as well. For some reason everyone forgets about that car - but it's pretty sharp and well equipped. Though the interior isn't the nicest around, and the ride is pretty jiggly.

Does the Elantra GT have specs (dimensions) yet? I'm afraid to see how much space has been lost from the ET, but the updated powertrain and "sport suspension" sound promising.

AP · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:39:30 am »

Nice looking lineup. It shamefully took a while but my brand prejudice appears to be lifting.

quadzilla · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:44:42 am »

Wow, the hatch looks great and a fold flat floor

SaskSpecV · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:00:18 am »

Just looked at the link on insideline. Styling does look nice to me, and I like the (relatively) low curb weight.

But that sloping rear roof really does kill the cargo space. It looks OK when the rear seats are folded, but not so much when the seats are up. Always have to give a hatchback the "dog" test - they always have enough room for their legs, but what about their head? That's what crossed the Juke off my list, though this new Elantra GT looks a little better than that. The Focus and Mazda3 hatches were OK for the dogs, but not as good as the ET (or better yet, Golf Wagon).

Of course, as Jaeger said, if they put the turbo engine in there (a la the Veloster turbo), the dog can suffer a bit...

DKaz · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:03:31 am »

At first I was like "FFS another hatchback?", but the cargo area is not as anaemic as I would've expected from looking at the outside, but the Accent hatch with its straight back has a more usable cargo area imo.

It's really too bad wagons aren't more popular among parents...

Jaeger · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:16:03 am »

Quote from: SaskSpecV on February 08, 2012, 10:32:48 am

Quote from: Jaeger on February 08, 2012, 09:34:12 am
I can't immediately think of a segment competitor that offers Sedan, Coupe and Hatch versions of the same car. Interesting move. Here's hoping we see the 200hp turbo 4 brought to the Elantra lineup.

Jaeger

How about Hyundai's fraternal twin, Kia? The Forte has all 3 styles as well. For some reason everyone forgets about that car - but it's pretty sharp and well equipped.

I didn't forget - I just didn't know the Forte offered all three styles.

And while I know that Optima / Sonata and Rio / Accent are fraternal twins, I'm not sure that Forte / Elantra are - in the sense of currently using the same platform and powertrains.

Jaeger

Jaeger · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:24:01 am »

The Elantra Touring has just a ridiculous amount of space on the inside for a car that takes up such little space on the outside. Like others have said, it's too bad that wagons don't have more commercial appeal in North America.

Jaeger

SaskSpecV · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:38:45 am »

Quote from: Jaeger on February 08, 2012, 11:16:03 am

I didn't forget - I just didn't know the Forte offered all three styles. And while I know that Optima / Sonata and Rio / Accent are fraternal twins, I'm not sure that Forte / Elantra are - in the sense of currently using the same platform and powertrains.

Jaeger

That is a serious indictment of Kia's marketing strategy, if car enthusiasts are not aware! I think they put so much into the Soul, Optima, and (to a lesser extent) Sportage and Rio marketing that the Forte has fallen off their budget/attention .

The Forte and Elantra are definitely not "twins" in the GM sense - obviously different powertrains (1.8L vs 2.0 and 2.4L), and I'm not sure about the platforms. But after cross shopping the ET and Forte5, there were a lot of common Hyundai/Kia components - visibile parts such as the stereo and some trim, and I'm sure there's common components you can't see as well. Not sure how much is shared between the new Elantra and Forte though.

C&D reports a max cargo space of ~ 50 cubic feet for the Elantra GT, which if true is a little higher than the Focus and Mazda 3 hatches (about 45) but a little lower than the new Impreza hatch (about 52). The ET has 65 cubic feet by comparison, and the Golf Wagon is 67. So a loss of about 25% in the new version, but still very competitive. No independent rear suspension either (like the ET has), but I can't imagine that will be a deal breaker for many folks.

Juke1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2012, 12:08:16 pm »

No independent rear suspension either (like the ET has), but I can't imagine that will be a deal breaker for many folks.

The vast majority of prospective buyers are clueless to what you're talking about

so you're right no deal breaker.

kevlar · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2012, 07:56:41 pm »

the pace at which hyundai is coming out with such a dynamic range of models is truly amazing. the hyundai execs are just rubber stamping anything that sounds interesting. i won't be surprised when i see a turbo version of both the gt and the coupe arrive in 6 months. and maybe while hyundai is busy creating a new up market division they'll drop a wagon on our heads.

conversely i watch honda, (my beloved honda), slowly creep to a painful grind. i loved my crx si, my civic hatch si and my prelude and tsx but honda is dead to me now. (am i getting dramatic enough?) i'll say it again, hyundai is the new honda.

Juke1 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:02:33 pm »

Wondering, are they coming back with a minivan? how about a pick-up truck? I would not pass it by them.

Ice · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:32:09 pm »

Quote from: SaskSpecV on February 08, 2012, 11:38:45 am

Quote from: Jaeger on February 08, 2012, 11:16:03 am
I didn't forget - I just didn't know the Forte offered all three styles. And while I know that Optima / Sonata and Rio / Accent are fraternal twins, I'm not sure that Forte / Elantra are - in the sense of currently using the same platform and powertrains.

Jaeger

That is a serious indictment of Kia's marketing strategy, if car enthusiasts are not aware! I think they put so much into the Soul, Optima, and (to a lesser extent) Sportage and Rio marketing that the Forte has fallen off their budget/attention .

Spy photos have already been seen of the new Kia Forte which I think is set to be revealed later this year (if memory serves). So Kia may be staying fairly quiet on the Forte for now, letting it sell, and saving the ad dollars for the new car. I suspect that while the Forte was a competent effort... the next gen model may be more along the lines of the Optima where they really try and push.

Gamefreak · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:42:45 pm »

Even if it has a sport suspension, it will still have the same sluggish engine as the sedan.

Seafoam · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2012, 06:42:51 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on February 08, 2012, 10:44:42 am

Wow, the hatch looks great and a fold flat floor

Yes, and the Honda Fit has had a fold flat floor since 2001,when it was first introduced.
It is a great feature.