It's really no surprise that Consumer Reports picked the 2009 Hyundai Elantra as the "Best Small Sedan" in their "Top Car Picks For 2009" selections. It offers a smooth ride, a spacious interior, lots of features for the price, and an outstanding warranty.
How did it win the honor in the face of top-notch competition from the likes of the Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla? Well, it simply meets or beats them in their strengths, and at a nice cost savings at the same time.
The Elantra is also the roomiest model in the compact sedan segment, providing extra comfort for both tall drivers and adult backseat passengers. Trunk and storage spaces are also considerable for a car in this class.
The Elantra's four-cylinder (2.0 liter), 138 horsepower engine has also proven to be both surprisingly athletic and fuel efficient, providing a smooth, comfortable drive and impressive handling capabilities.
The 2009 version carries over from 2008 with still more features: a new USB/iPod audio jack, redesigned gauges and radio displays, and further upgrades in the suspension and steering tuning. It's available in two trim levels: GLS and SE.
Even the base GLS model can be extremely well equipped by adding the Popular Equipment package. Standard features include full power accessories, keyless entry, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, a tilt-only steering wheel, and 15 inch steel wheels. The equipment package then adds cruise control, air-conditioning, foglights, illuminated vanity mirrors, six-speaker stereo, CD/MP3 player, USB/iPod audio jack, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.
The bottom line is that the Elantra can look and feel a lot more expensive than it really is.
The SE model features all of the above as standard, plus adds 16 inch alloy wheels and a telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. There's also an SE Premium package that includes a sunroof and heated front seats. Leather upholstery can also be added.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Elantra Prices:
There's no doubt that the car industry is in an extremely challenging sales environment. On the plus side, however, is the fact that this presents a very good opportunity for consumers to do some very effective internet negotiating in terms of price.
For those interested, towards the bottom of this article is a link to information on the best bargaining technique for getting the lowest price on a new Elantra.
The Elantra is a front-wheel-drive vehicle that is available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
The five-speed manual Elantra has been timed going from 0 to 60 mph in a very respectable 8.4 seconds. And EPA gas mileage estimates are among the leaders. Gas mileage for an automatic Elantra is 25 mpg city and 33 mpg on the highway. Gas mileage for the manual transmission Elantra is 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.
The automatic Elantra is also a clean-burning vehicle, having been certified as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) in California-emissions states.
Standard safety features on all Elantras include antilock disc brakes (ABS), active front head restraints, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard on the Elantra SE are stability control, traction control, and brake assist.
In government crash tests, the 2009 Elantra was given five stars (out of five) for frontal protection and four stars for side protection.
How To Buy A New Hyundai Elantra At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2009 Elantra, here's a technique that allows you to buy one at the lowest possible price, especially given the current slow auto sales environment.
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