5.0 Exterior | 5.0 Comfort | 5.0 Performance |
4.0 Fuel Economy | 5.0 Value for Money |
Hi Friends, I purchased a 2005 2nd Owner Elantra GLS in December 2012. It had only Done 32000 kms as the Owner was a NRI and the car was sparingly used. Originally on Company Name as the First Owner, Later the Owner got it Transferred on his Personal name. Hence almost a Single owner Car.
5 Minutes test drive was all that i needed to finalize this car, after searching for a replacement of my Skoda Octavia L&K. PETROL ROCKET....is the First word that comes to my Mind every time I start the Refined 1800cc engine.
Loaded with 2 Airbags, ABS, TCS, All 4 Power Windows that can be shut with Remote, Immobilizer et all...this car was a Steal at 2,25,000 that I paid for it.
Interiors are Surprisingly Slick with Wooden Panels on Door Trims, Dashboard, Door Ajar Lights, and a Pocket for every need, be it Visiting Cards, be it 2 Huge bottles, Glove box is huge, Arm rest handle has a Dual Compartment, and the best Part is Compartments on Door Panels are also Big enough to hold Bottles. The Music System is Definitely a no no..which I got replaced with a New Pioneer BLUETOOTH/ USB compatible one. Surprisingly, This is the only Car in which I have seen A dedicated mobile charging point in the Front along with a seperate Point for the Gas Lighter. Good thinking by Hyundai considering the Car was Designed way back in 2002. Seating is Heavenly with Lavish Huge Seats Cusioned Appropriately for Longer Drives. Absolutely No Fatigue even on Doing a Mumbai Goa in One Stretch. Ample Arm Spcae, Headroom, Foot Space, with Footrest Pedal next to Clutch. Octavia was too Cramped in the Interiors compared to this Darling.
Next Comes the 1800cc Beast Powered by Petrol/ LPG. I got the LPG installed and Duly Registered on the RC BOOK by RTO. I had no Idea that this would be the Best Trick that I pulled out of No where. Guys, On Petrol the Car has given me a Top Speed of 180 kmph and on LPG it has given me a top speed of 150kmph! Mileage is 13 on Petrol on Highways if Driven Conservatively around 80, but If you Love Cruising above 100kmph then be prepared to get a Mileage of around 11. In City the Mileage is a constant 10 with AC and if Doing Jack Rabbit Starts and Stops then around 9kmpl. With LPG the Story Changes Drastically. LPG Gives a Mileage of around 14 Per Liter on Highways at a Speed of around 100 but when it comes to City Driving, the Mileage Drops down to 8kmpl with AC. With LPG available around Rs:40 these days, It is not a worrying Factor. 2 Years Plus of Owning this Car and Driving it around for almost 50k kms, I only had to change the Brake Pads once and Got the New tires. Rest the Car needed no maintenance apart from the Servicing done Every 15k Kms. The Gearbox is One of the Most Refined ones Experienced in this Segment. Trust me Guys it is Super Smooth. Truly a Drivers Delight. Can Drive on the 5th Gear Comfortably around 40kmph with no Engine Knocking whatsoever and can drive at 120kmph on the 3rd Gear with no Complains from the Engine.
Now comes the Best Part...The Ride Quality. Guys it Beats a BMW 5 series Also owned by my Brother, on the Softness of the Ride. Bumps are Non existent if You are in this car. Speed Breakers dont trouble you at all if You are in this Car. Ground Clearance is Perhaps the Best in this Segment. No Question of the Belly hitting any Speed Brakers even if 4 Px are in the Car. Excellent Suspensions, Excellent Brakes, Excellent Handling. TCS Performs top Class. ABS workd amazingly. I assure You guys you have to Drive this Beauty to believe my words. It is a Car which I Rate above Entry Level BENZ, AUDI or BMWs. Guys, for me Driving is the Best way to De Stress and I go on Long Drives at every Available Opportunity, and for me This is the Car which I will never sell or even if i do, I will buy another ELANTRA GLS 2004 - 2008. With Handling, I can assure you that you can take the desired tire on the desired road strip with precision up to a few inches. R-15 85 are the tires that come with the Car and are Capable of anything.
My Conclusion about the Car is. It is a True Diamond which no one Noticed due to Poor Marketing and Majorly due to the Advent of Ultimately Styligh Honda Civic that Arrived in the Markets. This Diamond got Unnoticed only because of the Sheen of the Honda Civic. Its European Styling was much before time and the Civic's Japanese Styling and Peppiness was the Final Nail in the Coffin of this Beauty.
PS I have Dreiven Both Civic and Elantra to almost Equal number of KMS, but I would Rate Elantra much much above the Civic. Mainly due to Ground Clearance, Suspension Quality, Maintenance Fcctors and Charges and Above all Reliability.
Have No Idea about the Diesel Version hence cant say about it, but Guys, If you have a Passion for Driving, For Long Cruises, and a little bit of KEEDA in You, then this is the Car to have. I challenge All Mighty SUV's and Entry Level Sedans on the Highway on Petrol of Course... and Lo....they cant even be seen on the rear view Mirror. It gives a Immediate High knowing that Just a 2 Lakh car Screwed the 35 Lakh one.
Superb Ground Clearance, Road Grip and ReliabilityNone as Such..some People may not like the Nose though.