The Detroit News's view

Korean manufacturer Hyundai doesn’t sell a minivan or a sport-ute. But for 1996, it did a pretty smart thing. Hyundai decided to sell a wagon version of its all-new Elantra, which fits between the Accent, the company’s basic small car, and the Sonata, its mid-sized sedan.

We drove the top-of-the-line GLS for $15,388. For lots of young families on a budget, it may be a nice alternative to those $25,000 minivans and sport-utes.

She: If you had stripped the badges off and led me out to the driveway the week we were testing the Elantra wagon and its competitor, the 1996 Saturn wagon and asked me which was the Korean car, you’d be surprised at my answer. Heck, I’d be surprised at my answer, because I’m usually ready to slam Hyundai for producing junky stuff. But the new Elantra seemed, well, positively Japanese in terms of quality. If I were Terry McMillan, I might say Hyundai’s got its groove back.

He: If I were Hyundai and you were Terry McMillan, I’d be waiting to exhale after all your past Korea-bashing. In all fairness, I think Hyundai’s renaissance really started more than a year ago with the Accent, which is one of the best entry-level cars you can buy. The new Elantra looks like more of the same. It’s a cut above the Accent in size and price, but it’s still quite affordable. Look at all the equipment on the Elantra GLS wagon for 15 grand.

She: This would be a super choice for single moms on a budget or young families just starting out. I would also tell buyers to jump right into that top-of-the-line model if they can afford it. It’s worth the extra money because you’ll get a rear wiper/washer, larger tires, a split-folding rear seat, power remote mirrors and locks and a tilt steering column.

He: You order the same kind of equipment on a Saturn, and the sticker price is over $17,000.

She: And you’ll be surprised at the difference in quality, especially in the cabin. The Hyundai’s instrument panel has a very solid, non-plasticky look to it, with well-laid out switches and dials. Not only that, the Hyundai has lots more space for passengers and cargo than virtually all of its competitors in the class. And isn’t that one of the key reasons why people buy these vehicles?

He: It’s value for money. Here’s what you get when you buy the Elantra wagon – lots of standard features, a really roomy cabin, plus a pretty peppy engine that gets decent gas mileage. The twin-cam 1.8-liter four-cylinder in the Elantra makes 130 horsepower, which is tops in the class, although some of the other cars like Saturn and Escort get better mileage. I don’t much care for Hyundai’s four-speed automatic transmission, which is geared to maximize fuel economy. But you can flip a switch on the console to stretch out the shift points, so you can take better advantage of the engine’s extra power.

She: But the switch is located in a really dumb spot – right where you put your purse. I kept switching it off accidentally an d wondering why the acceleration was mediocre.

He: Why do you women always consider your purse to be one of your essential driving tools?

She: It’s like the body part that car designers forgot about.

He: Speaking of beef, I have another one. You have to pay extra for antilock brakes, and you can only get them on the top-of-the-line GLS model.

She: Not a good plan, especially if you’re trying to win safety-conscious female buyers. Although I was generally impressed with the Elantra, I have a few reservations about it, too. It seemed really sluggish merging onto the freeway or passing. After you hounded me about it, I realized I had to mash down hard on the accelerator to get it going – and I don’t like that sensation. I’d rather see a nice smooth climb to 60 mph.

He: I’m glad to see Hyundai has paid more attention to vehicle dynamics in the new Elantra. The speed-sensitive power steering is quick and precise, and keeps you in touch with the road even igher speeds. I really admired the car’s suspension system – fully independent, with struts in front and a multi-link setup in the rear. Gas-pressurized shocks at all four corners help smooth the ride and give you the impression of driving a much larger, heavier vehicle. And front and rear stabilizer bars help the Elantra maintain its equilibrium in tight, fast corners.

She: More importantly, you won’t be apologizing to your friends for owning a Hyundai. The Elantra wagon has a certain funky non-boxy styling. There’s lots of glass and narrow pillars, which makes for good visibility. I liked the front end because the designers kept it very simple. There are teardrop-shaped headlights and no grille and a sporty-looking air intake under the bumper.

He: It’s clean and fresh – the same way I like my fish.

She: Where do I go from there?

He: Actually, the Elantra has kind of a trout-like shape – which should also make for good visibility. Or at least a higher profile than Hyundai’s had in the past.

She: Women will like the fact that Hyundai is trying to improve on its somewhat spotty reputation for dependability by offering roadside assistance at no extra cost on the Elantra. You get emergency towing, lockout service and limited trip interruption expenses. But we’ll have to wait a year or so to see if its record improves with the new line.

He: Can I exhale now?

1996 Hyundai Elantra GLS Wagon

Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger station wagon.

Price: Base, $13,799; as tested, $15,388 (inc. $415 destination charge).

What’s new for ’96: All-new.

Standard equipment: Power steering, tilt steering column, Michelin radial tires, AM-FM stereo cassette, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, roof rack, tinted glass, rear washer/wiper, intermittent wipers, digital clock, center console, split fold-down rear seat.

Safety features: Dual air bags, child-proof rear door locks.

Options on test vehicle: Package 10, inc. air conditioning and cruise control ($1,115); mud guards ($59).

EPA fuel economy: 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway.

Engine: 1.8-liter I-4; 130-horsepower at 6000 rpm; 122 lb-ft torque at 5000 rpm.

Transmission: Four-speed automatic.

Competitors: Ford Escort, Mercury Tracer, Saturn SW, Toyota Corolla, Subaru Impreza.

Specifications: Wheelbase, 100.4 inches; overall length, 175.2 inches; curb weight, 2685 pounds; legroom, 43.2 inches front/34.8 inches rear; headroom, 38.6 inches front/38.9 inches rear; shoulder room, 54.7 inches front/53.5 inches rear.

12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan*: $1,131 Rates based on an average family of four from the Livonia area whose primary driver is aged 40 with no tickets who drives 3-10 miles each way to work. Rates reflect multicar discount and, where appropriate, discounts for air bags and seat belts.

Where built: Ulsan, Korea.