The bold and daring Hyundai Elantra

MANILA, Philippines - When I first saw the all-new Hyundai Elantra I broke into a smile. After all, the Hyundai Elantra is not just a looker; it always seems to throw in more features than I would expect. Named Avante in South Korea, the sixth-generation Elantra is on its way to growing even bigger its already established place in the Philippine compact sedan segment. The new-generation Elantra presents a dynamic and sleek appearance and is equipped with performance features that evoke an air of extreme boldness on the road.

For starters, there is the large hexagonal grille that gives this compact sedan a modern premium look. Add to that the slim and sporty projection headlamps that lend it a sort of sports car appearance and feel.

The wheel arch design shows just how dynamic its road presence can be — as it sets itself apart from other sedans — and besides, who wants be behind the wheel of an ordinary sedan, right? The roof flows back to the trunk almost seamlessly, with the sides left simple. Also worth noticing are the taillights, equipped with rear combination lamps that are arranged in a horizontal line, while the rear bumper completes the balanced design.

Before I even set foot inside the Elantra I take a loving 10 minutes outside just to get a good look at it — much as I would do when admiring a fave pair of sneakers before finally opting to purchase them.

In life we learn that looks are not everything, so I enter the Elantra and see what the inside has to offer. The dashboard buttons are grouped according to functions. The cockpit display is angled 6.9 degrees toward the driver, while soft-touch and high-quality materials are used across the surfaces for convenience. As an added touch, rear air-conditioner vents are included in the newest model.

The all-new Elantra is 20 millimeters longer and 25 millimeters wider than the previous-generation Elantra. The 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheel definitions make the Elantra a smooth drive on the road.

Drive-in comfort: All is within easy reach in the cockpit of the Hyundai Elantra.

DESIGNED TO PERFORM

It being a Sunday, I opted to take a quick drive around Metro Manila since traffic is generally lighter. I started off from the village where I live in Pasig, then drove down EDSA towards Quezon City. I next headed for the Quiapo area to see how well the sedan handles when pitted against the “kings of the road” — our infamous jeepneys — then drove to Roxas Boulevard, down EDSA, and finally back home.

 I was a happy driver, to be sure. On the road I found the Elantra 1.6 AT to be quite a pleasure to drive. Its engine provided me with lots of power under normal driving conditions to get ahead of the slower-moving jeepneys in the Quiapo area, as I headed to my all-time fave hopia store in Quiapo.

Parking was a breeze that Sunday, with plenty of available street parking slots. I love to test my ability to park by picking the tightest spaces to fit in and backing into my parking space. Thank goodness for the rear-view camera, which gave me a clear view of what was behind me, complete with Dynamic Guidelines to get the job done quickly.

I took a leisurely stroll to Master Hopia on Villalobos St. Although, the streets were teeming with people — either rushing to Mass or buying fruits or checking out the handicrafts stores — I enjoyed the 10-minute walk as I watched all sorts of lives pass me by.

Armed with yummy cheese and monggo hopia I was set to drive back home via Roxas Boulevard.

Back inside the Elantra, I adjusted my advanced ergonomically-designed driver’s seat to fit my driving style. I also was grateful for the Smart Key, which allows for fuss-free opening and closing of car doors. 

The drive back home was more peaceful than the drive to Quiapo — perhaps because Roxas Boulevard was traffic-free on that Sundaynoon. I must add that the noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels have been adjusted by Hyundai so the only sounds I had to focus on behind the wheel were the thoughts running through my mind. 

Sundays, hopia, and manning the wheel of the all-new Elantra: another day well spent.