The view of Metro Manila in a Hyundai Elantra

One thing that must be said about the compact sedans: they are the practical cars on our roads. Sure, sometimes we take them for granted — but for the many hours we spend caught in traffic, being behind the wheel of an ever-reliable sedan makes perfect sense.

And so it is with the sixth-generation Hyundai Elantra, which I got to test-drive recently. Hyundai prides itself with this unit as one that is built on an established heritage in the Philippine compact sedan segment. As Hyundai likes to say, the Hyundai Elantra showcases changes that are evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

I give the Hyundai my trademark once-over to see where the changes have taken place.

For starters, there is Hyundai’s evolving design philosophy: the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0. The distinctive hexagonal grille gives the compact sedan a dynamic face similar to other Hyundai vehicles. Its definitive grille is paired with slim and sporty projection headlamps for an energetic look.

I was attracted to the new wheel arch design, which gives the Elantra an edge when stopped beside another sedan on the road. Its dynamic road sets the Elantra apart from other sedans.

The roof flows back to the trunk seamlessly, with the sides left simple and unembellished, and with understated lines on the shoulders creating a smooth and elegant look. Bold, new taillights are arranged in a shapely horizontal form, while the rear bumper finishes off the car’s balanced design.

The Inside Matters

In the interior, refined active character lines are placed ergonomically to enable intuitive operation, which is inherited from Hyundai’s luxury range like the Sonata and the Genesis. Dashboard buttons are grouped according to functions, the cockpit display is angled 6.9 degrees toward the driver, and soft-touch and high-quality materials are used across all surfaces for a luxurious feel. Rear air conditioner vents are added in the new model.

The all-new Elantra is 20-mm longer and 5mm wider than the previous-generation model. It comes with 16 -inch or 17-inc alloy wheels.

The new compact sedan from Hyundai will come in three variants in the Philippines. The top-of-the-line 2.0 L is equipped with a Nu 2.0 MPi engine, which delivers 152ps and 19.6 kg-m of torque. The entry-level 1.6 E houses a Gamma 1.6 MPi engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. The mid-tier 1.6 S carries the same Gamma 1.6 MPi engine mated to a 6-speed automatic.

 Advanced ergonomically designed seats give driver and passengers better comfort. The Smart Key allows for fuss-free opening and closing of car doors, while Electric Folding Mirrors with repeaters are welcome features that make the drive easier and safer by immediately alerting those behind you of your driving intentions.

More safety features also abound in the sixth generation model. Dual airbags protect both the driver and the front passenger from collisions. The body structure has also been boosted in terms of durability and rigidity, incorporated with an impressive 53 percent Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS), 32 percent higher compared to the previous model, enabling the Elantra to more effectively protect passengers, and achieve top-class safety ratings in internal tests.

The Rear View Camera makes parking a breeze by giving the driver a clear sight of the rear, complete with Dynamic Guidelines to direct the driver to the fast, safe, and easy way to park.

Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) were also fine-tuned by Hyundai’s engineers to truly achieve a world-class compact sedan. Reengineered windscreen wipers are carefully positions to dramatically reduce road and wind noise in the cabin, while the thickened door glass significantly reduces noise penetration.

The time has come for me to take the Elantra for a spin. There are no out of town trips planned for this test-drive — just the daily grind drive which must be the most difficult of all test-drives, right?

In the everyday drives with the Elantra, I was not disappointed. The Elantra stayed the course and kept me comfy all throughout.

If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right? Perhaps in our world of fickle trends and tastes, it seems Hyundai has opted to stay with what works — and how.