2009 Hyundai Elantra GLS 1.6 petrol from Chile

Summary:

Good and reliable so far

Faults:

Nothing. Everything works OK.

Fuel consumption is excellent, providing an impressive 13 km/L in city commuting, but being the 1.6 engine, 123 HP, it could use more power.

General Comments:

This is a very roomy and comfortable car.

I had the chance to test drive one and fell in love with it. Noise isolation is quite good, and even though the interior panels are almost all plastic, it does not look cheap.

Anyway, over 120 km/h it gets a little noisier, but nothing that would avoid having a conversation without shouting.

Got the chance to take it to the highway, and it's quite strange that it goes fast, but one does not notice.

Interior lighting is in a cool nice blue tone that goes easy with the eyes.

Car comes with a button to open the trunk at driver's door, gas cap remote opening, 6 speakers CD / MP3 / USB stereo, AC, electronic assisted steering, tilting/telescope steering wheel, instrument light dimmer, central lock, alarm, fog lights, all from the factory.

Only thing I miss is that windows do not close themselves when activating the alarm, but that can be installed as aftermarket product.

Ride is soft but firm.

I do miss a temperature gauge, as this model has a light that will turn on at "some" temperature. Would like to know if the car's is overheating in advance.

Use of space is quite intelligent and car is roomy even at the back for tall people. Trunk is huge and can hold a decent amount of luggage and bags.

Brakes are a little "touchy", but I have to get used to them. The car is only a month old.

If anyone has a comment, please share your experiences.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 17th August, 2009

8th Mar 2010, 13:30

All right.

I had the car for some time now, and after 10K kilometers I still love it.

Got the chance to drive 840 km south for vacations, and the car is very very comfortable. Fuel consumption is good, and is very stable at high speeds.

Trunk space is huge, and was able to fit in 2 large suitcases, plus a lot of bags and packpacks with no issues.

Also, performance was not affected by the load of people and cargo.

Would most definitively buy another one if Hyundai's quality is improving this way. (previous car was an 1999 Accent LS)

1st Mar 2017, 17:38

Fast forward to 2017 and I sold the car.

Yup.

Mainly because of age and selling value.

I still love the car. I miss it. I almost regret selling it. Nothing ever failed. Nothing. It left me with the original battery... it lasted 8 years... and was still working when sold.

I kept changing oil every 5000 km, changing sparks once a year and brake pads every 2 years, regardless of mileage. No smoke, no noises, always started with no fuss.

The car was fast. It was a delight to use in the highway. Engine having a timing chain instead of a belt, I was confident to rev it up when needed.

I would have bought the same model but new if it wasn't for the insane prices that Hyundai Chile put to the entry model... which didn't even get A/C.

If money was not an issue, I would have bought it with my eyes closed.

2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring Sport 2.0 from North America

Faults:

Nothing major so far. The biggest issue was that the car required a wheel alignment from the very first day.

One of the tires went flat few days ago. I have to go to the dealership to see what the issue is.

General Comments:

I purchased this car for the following reasons:

Very spacious and comfortable.

Perfect engine size (2 liters).

Very good fuel consumption (7.5/100km) mixed driving.

Good warranty.

Very competitive price.

Decent performance (manual), especially for North America (100-120 max on the hwy).

It is designed for the European market, which is much tougher to compete in.

I am very pleased with this vehicle. The manual shifting is very convenient to operate. I usually spend about 20 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic on the hwy and cannot complain at all. The only issue is that I cannot, eat, drink, talk over the phone and drive at the same time.

The engine is very silent up to speed of 90-100 km/h. I tried it few times at 150-160 km/h and then it gets a bit nosier. The road noise however is pretty high. I guess it's because of the tires 215/45 (low profile).

Speaking of tires, I have to say that the car is extremely stable on the road especially when turning. On the other hand the ride is a bit firm and I can feel almost every bump on the road.

There are few minor things that are bugging me - there is no lever to open the trunk from the driver's seat, the front seat does not completely fall down, and the sunroof and the windows do not close when I lock the car remotely.

I have mixed feeling about the dealership. As I mentioned, since day one the car was pulling very slightly to the right. I went for wheel alignment, and in 30 minutes I was told that it was "fixed". On my way home I did not notice any difference. I gave it few more weeks and went again. The guys were very "embarrassed" and tried the car to confirm that it was still pulling aside. This time they suggested that it is from the tire pressure and "fixed" again. On the way home it was the same thing. I called for a third appointment. And finally some "manager" called me on my cell to tell me that the since it is a brand new model, they are still waiting for a software so that they can upgrade the aligning machine, which performs the alignment electronically. Why didn't they tell me at the very beginning that there is an issue with the machine?! It is not a big deal. I can wait few more weeks. As I said the pulling is really really slight and I don't think it will damage the tires that quickly.

I will be glad if someone else with the same car shares his/hers experience.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th May, 2009

29th Jun 2009, 16:28

I had the exact same issue with 'drifting' to the right with my 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring. On my 3rd visit they had an "aha" moment. The problem seems to be with the electric power steering. There is an adjustment that can be done to bring the steering back to zero. Check with the folks at Guelph Hyundai (Guelph, Ontario, Canada), they now know what needs to be done for future occurrences.

Other than the above... I am really enjoying my Touring!!

2009 Hyundai Elantra GL ? from North America

Summary:

Would definitely buy another

Faults:

Alignment since 194kms when purchased!

General Comments:

I believe this car to be very comfortable and elegant!

What I like:

VERY roomy.

Can drop a gear (in an automatic) and has lots of power.

Nice features IE: I bought the middle model with PW, CC, AC etc.

Handles nice and tight.

Floor mats don't slide due to locking system.

Trunk opens up completely, not just an inch or so.

What I don't like:

Car has 1700kms and it has already had an alignment, and as we speak it is getting a check engine light fixed.

Brakes are touchy -- but I am now used to them.

Heated seats get real hot, then cold, then hot again -- not constant heat.

Always blowing air even when heater is off.

All in all, I like the car, I just hope it's not a lemon because of the two problems I have already had with such little kms.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st October, 2008

26th Apr 2010, 21:39

Are you saying the fan is always running, even when switched off? Or that you can feel air coming in when your fan is off. If it is the second, this is supposed to happen to bring in a constant supply of fresh air.