2005 Hyundai Elantra Review

The Hyundai Elantra is handsome, comfortable, versatile, and fun to drive, comparable to competitors costing thousands more. With the 2005 addition of a five-door hatchback at the base trim level, Elantra now comes in twelve different permutations of body style, trim level, transmission, and emissions rating.

The Elantra is one of the quickest cars in its class. It handles as well as many of its competitors and has a sporty feel. Elantra comes with a newly engineered 2.0-liter engine with variable-valve timing and is a leader in fuel economy. Elantra is rated 27/34 mpg City/Highway by the EPA when equipped with the manual transmission.

The four-door sedan is popular, while the five-door hatchback merges the practical advantages of a wagon with the sleek look of a sedan. Each body style is available in GLS and GT trim.

The Elantra's interior is nicely finished and more comfortable than many subcompacts, including the big name brands. Standard equipment surpasses that offered on cars costing thousands more, and includes side airbags, designed to provide torso protection in a side impact.

Hyundai's warranty is one of the best available. The basic warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles for the original owner, with free roadside assistance throughout. The engine and transmission are warranted for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and Hyundai protects Elantra from rust-through for five years or 100,000 miles.

Hyundai Elantra features smooth and unembellished styling with aerodynamics that help boost fuel economy and reduce wind noise. Recent styling revisions refined its looks.

From the front doors forward the sedan and hatchback are identical, featuring prominent twin trapezoid headlamps angled back in a black background. The headlamps were designed to cast a broad pattern of light, and they're complemented by a revised V-shaped grille with thick, horizontal bars. The grille is integrated with the bumper cover and does not lift with the hood. The front bumper has wider slats to improve airflow to the engine bay, and the foglamps are fitted more precisely.

Hyundai says it added the sedan in response to customer requests, but we prefer the more daring styling and increased carrying capacity of the hatchback. With its big hatch opening and split folding rear seat, the five-door is remarkably versatile for a car its size.

The five-door hatchback is distinct from the sedan starting at the rear-door B-pillar and moving rearward. The hatchback boasts a more expansive glass area, and its roof trails back into the rear hatch, fastback style, rather than dropping suddenly toward the trunk. The hatch ends with a small, body-colored spoiler lip above the taillights. The only unfortunate aspect of the rear styling is in the taillights, broken abruptly by the edges of the hatch lid, the lights look as if they've got duct tape over the middle. On the functional side, the taillights on all Elantras are sized for visibility, and the opening for the key is on the right (curb) side of the lid.

The Elantra stretches 102.7 inches in wheelbase, providing good leg room inside in both the front and back seats of both body styles. Headroom is also good both front and rear. Just as significantly, the engine is mounted with hydraulic attachments in a new front subframe, greatly reducing the amount of drivetrain vibration that reaches the cabin.