Hyundai Elantra [2004-2008] User Reviews

I bought Elantra CRDi car in 2003.and today i can say i m its proud owner.I went thru looking for many cars like COROLLA ,SKODA and OPTRA that time but found that they were either lacking in performance or there were few features compared to the price tag attached.

In the beginning i was quite apprehensive as to whether i should go for a diesel car but later i went ahead taking a risk and today i feel that was the best decision.Having a diesel engine,never feels like it is when you are sitting inside the car.The drive is really smooth.Elantra CRDi was the only car that gave me value for money.It has got a great fuel efficiency .In Delhi with Air Con--12km and on highways -15km.(I was once shocked to realise about its efficiency),It has got loads of features and the braking system is just great.I have touched 180km/hr on Delhi-Agra highway and never felt like that its moving on such a high speed.The performance is superb.

I feel this car did not fare well only bcoz of looks and styling.othrwise this was a rare car 'i feel' from HYUNDAI..but the new elantra (that will come in early 2008) has got the looks also unlike its older version.Today also i feel this is the best car in any segment.coz of its features and value for money.Can anyone tell me which car offers so many features at Rs.10lacs only...answer will be only ELANTRA.

Thats why I love my car.

Exterior Look is not good, but not best

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Audio is really very good,,,but mp3 is missing

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox This car has superb performance in its class,it gives me the fuel economy 19kmpl on highway only when the speed is constanat between 80-100kmph & try to maintain the rpm betweem 1200-2000,the gear must be shifted before crossing 2100rpm.do not acclerate harshly, try this once, u will also get 19-20 kmpl always keep the air filter clean & change disel filters regularly.

Ride Quality & Handling Handling is good. another thing i like most, is the highway stability, I think stability is more responsible for comfort.

Final Words It is really a good car, go for it if u get the excellent condition, spares are cheaper in its class,some spares like headligh assy& tailight assy are expensive,but the running spares are cheaper as compared to others,,very low maintanance car .i m the owner of car from last 2years, I am happy with it

Areas of improvement Vehicle is discontinued,i think every thing is perfect, nothing to improve.

I am a Software Professional, I love Cars. This Car is my 21st Car. So far I used cars ranging from Fiat Delight to Honda Accord SE. This car is a real beauty. My car is Black Color Diesel CRDi. This beauty looks great in its black with Chrome Grille... sure anyone will fall in love.

It has almost all we wish for... Economical Diesel, Excellent Mileage 15-16 with AC, Large wide tyres, Alloy wheels, all wheel Disc Brakes, power tiltable steering, excellent climatic controlling AC, Power Clutch, Smooth Gears, Traction Control, ABS, EBD, Patterned Fabric Interiors, Integrated Music system with CD, Radio, Cassette, well designed interiors, Spacious and comfortable seating, courtesy dimmer lights, Great pickup. Though seems to be bigger but very easy to handle even in tight city traffic... Sure a great value for money.

Driving in City or cruising in long highways... it beats all. All in all it is an excellent value for money and features. I love this car a lot and sure will recommend to anyone for this.

Exterior

 It looks very beautiful, smooth finishing, luxirious looks sleeky and stylish, with the magwheels it looks superb.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 Value for money, interiors are Cool and sleeky,

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Excellent, gives a milage of 15.5 with AC, smooth gear shifting

Ride Quality & Handling

 Very comfortable and smooth. Breaks are excellent, it has got all the features of new corolla Altis except power seat adjustments. Also it has got traction control system which we can find in any of the cars in this segment.

Final Words

 Excellent car love to drive this car but no time to go long drives. You can belive this car and drive upto any heights and Kms. Ground clearance is so good that it will not scrape in any of the humps or ditches (I have driven almost all segments of cars). If we maintain it properly it will not come for any maintenance. instead of you taking care of the car it will take care of you!!!!.

Any one intereseted to buy Elentra CRDI can go with closing their eyes, there is no question of second thought at all in buying this car. Initially when i bough this car, i thought that i have made a mistake, but one i drove it long drive i have fallen in love with this car. My wife says that the car has become my first wife.

Areas of improvement  

 They should relaunch

If one thing this car is made for, it is the highways. Super flat and planted on the ground. Suspension is very stiff, which makes slow speed ride not so great, but with speed increase you enjoy the ride. Most of the time I drive alone and I never felt too tired at any point. Car comes with ABS, EBD, 4 wheel disks, two air bags, which was pretty good for a 2006 car. Breaking of the car is amazing, par with some of the German high end cars (now age has taken its toll, still never gave me shrivels).

Car has got good space, AC is very effective, it has got climate control, I keep it at 22 all the time with blower speed 2, which is enough even for Kerala hot climate.

This engine was not designed by Hyundai but it bought from Detroit Diesel. CRDI engine is very rev happy. Tall gearing makes it very relaxed on highways. Very good build, can take any amount of abuse and yet remains rattle free.

Some things I did not like about the car was, steering feel spoils otherwise quite involving drive, though its weighs up adequately at speed. Low seating not comfortable for some people, ingress and egress could be an issue to older people.

This was our primary car till 2014, when we decided to buy the Octavia and Elantra was getting old and showing its age. After Octi started doing the duties, Elantra was taking rest and was not using much, still I made sure the car is in perfect mechanical condition.

Till last year end, things were fine with Octi and it started showing its true color. Issues started at 4th year itself. Because of extended warranty, I have been managing. Due to the issue Octi have, Elantra became primary ride again.

So far the ownership has been hassle free without any major dramas. Vehicle is at 3.6 lakh kilometer now, performance and FE is still at very acceptable range. Last year, I was planning to sell the car, but ridiculous resale value put me off. Since it sold in very less number, difficult to source parts now and it has become expensive also. But if you want, you will still get even small parts without any issue, but some parts require waiting period, some you get with in two days. But never like "Never ending" waiting period Skoda offers.

Since it has served us brilliantly over the years and if I sell it there is high chance who ever buying it won’t or won’t be able to take care of it because of the expense parts, I decided to keep the Elantra and sell the Octi before extended warranty expires and buy a new car. 
Will be restoring the Elantra this year, new suspension, maybe clutch job, need to check the condition, it feels fine now, new EGR on the way, will keep it in pristine condition.

A true underdog, one whose glory was sung after demise.

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.

Hi guys I bought this beuty in dec 10 & and since then it has been a truly great experience and since this is my first car I was initally hesitant on buying a second hand car since there is a fear of maintanence and elantra had already been discontinued by the time I had bought it but that proved to be an advatage since I got it a fairly reasonable price at 3.5 lacs for a dec 06 mdel but since have bought it barring few expenses like wheel allignment and stereo since there is no mp3 I have not had to spend any money on the car its truly a value for money for those who like a smooth ride without caring much abt the mileage since it is giving 7 to 8, before this had seen other cars like skoda, city, optra, fiesta but something or the other was missing an them since im a tall guy 6ft 3 hatchback was never an option so i had to go for a sedan and thogh this car hasnt been succesfull here for reason I frnkly dont understand but overseas it is a big hit probably because hyundai is famous only for its hatchbacks.

Exterior

It's Exterior its just a rich and elegant. All the curves, lights, front grill, Hyundai Logo are just out of mind, Truly Superbbb !!!!!

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Interior is just dashing and airy. Space is kind enough for a child to sleep along. A Very big boot space for 6" above hieghted... ABS works a quite well... Traction Control is a Bit of necessary for me as it is switched OFF then my Elantra just jumps like Bullet is fired from a Colt. Cruise Control is Awesome... Airbags are best for safety 4 my Dad as he keeps my Elantra on 120-150 kmph fraquently... Suspension are can say copied for Mercedes Benz E-Class, Fully Absorbing anything... A large Decky for luggage... Seats are made from the best quality and design... Best Driver seat adjustment...

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Engine is a Masiive. 2.0 Litre of sheer pleasure. It's just do 0-100 in 5.78 Seconds... which is a great... It's Fuel Economy is Good, but i don have to care as Dad is satisfied wid it anyway... Gearbox is a very smooth and comfort and just provides clean and fast shifts (Good 4 Racers)...

Ride Quality & Handling

Ride Quality is just as a BMW 7 Series. Truly enjoyable. A fully Businessman ride car which she offers... Handling is best but can't overtake like our VW Polo coz of Elantra is a longggg boyyy....

Final Words

One should buy a Elantra with no review... Just jump after it... It's a best car in it's class... Each Ruppee is worth giving and just go after it...

Areas of improvement  

Better Lighting...
Music System lacks of USB and AUX...

Please relaunch again...
I will be d 1st to buy a Black CRDi...