2008 Hyundai Elantra: What's New

Vehicle Overview
The Elantra compact sedan should appeal to the safety-conscious even more for 2008, as an electronic stability system becomes available on the uplevel Elantra SE. Competitors include the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevy Cobalt.

Redesigned last year, the Elantra is the fourth generation of Hyundai’s compact model — or is it? The sedan has grown and is technically a midsize car, according to EPA standards. Introduced in 1992, the Elantra survived a period of poor quality while some competing brands, like the Chevy Cavalier, got the do-not-resuscitate order and were allowed to slip away.

Following its usual approach, Hyundai gives the Elantra more standard features than its competitors get, prices it lower and throws in the market’s most generous warranty to boot. Trim levels include the GLS and better-equipped SE.

Exterior
The Elantra’s amorphous styling will not stand out beside a Civic or Mazda3, but it shouldn’t offend anyone, either. Upscale features include body-colored side mirrors and door handles. At 177.4 inches long and 69.9 inches wide, the Elantra casts a slightly bigger shadow than a four-door Civic. Height measures 58.3 inches, about 2 inches over the Civic.

The GLS has 15-inch steel wheels. The SE steps up to 16-inch alloy wheels and adds front fog lights, which are optional on the GLS. Heated side mirrors are standard on both cars.

Interior
The Elantra’s interior is noticeably larger than the previous generation’s, with enough backseat legroom for a 6-foot-tall adult. Cabin volume totals 97.9 cubic feet, about 8 percent more than most Civics. All Elantras have two-tone interiors with mature styling and quality materials. The GLS is relatively well-equipped, with power windows, intermittent windshield wipers, a 60/40-split folding backseat and remote keyless entry. It lacks air conditioning, a CD player and cruise control, though, all of which are optional. The SE adds those features along with a telescoping, leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls. Leather upholstery and heated front seats, which were included on last year’s Limited trim level, are now optional on the SE. The Limited trim has been discontinued.

Under the Hood
The Elantra is powered by a 138-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder teamed with a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic is optional on all trim levels. The engine is a modern power plant with continuously variable valve timing.

Hyundai says the Elantra’s body stiffness is almost 50 percent above the outgoing model’s, which improves handling and reduces noise in the cabin. The steering uses electric power assist, and the brakes use discs for all four wheels; some competitors use rear drums.

Safety
One of Hyundai’s big selling points in its newest generation of models has been its inclusion of many high-value safety features as standard equipment. Included are dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags to protect the head of any occupant seated next to a side window, front or rear. All five seats have adjustable head restraints, and the front pair are active, which means they automatically position themselves for maximum effect in a rear-end collision.

Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard, and an electronic stability system is included on the Elantra SE.