PREVIEW: 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT / ELANTRA

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This article was published 27/01/2012 (5021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most stories about Hyundai these days are rife with distance-related observations — as in how far the company has come in the pursuit of performance.

Frankly, it’s probably time to drop those “long road” analogies, because Hyundai’s progress can now be judged by the expected quality of each individual model. This is an automaker that has arrived, and it’s lame to act surprised that it has somehow built a good car.

So much for clichés. Numbers, however, definitely have more impact.

In Canada, Hyundai sales rose 9.1 per cent to 129,240 units last year, making 2011 the best year in the company’s history. And in the largest car segment, compacts, the Elantra is breathing hard on the back of the Honda Civic.

The other Hyundai model deserving a numeric nod is the Accent. This vehicle has now sold more than 300,000 units since it was first introduced in Canada back in 1994. For 2012, it’s all-new.

The new Accent (which shares its platform with the stylish new Veloster) is powered by a 1.6-litre GDI Gamma engine. Newly designed, this is the first pairing of the four-cylinder with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual — the combination delivering a frugal 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres highway fuel consumption.

But efficient doesn’t mean it’s slow. Carving through the side roads of the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Accent showed a spunky side to its character, offering quick shifts and torquey acceleration.

The Gamma engine uses GDI (gasoline direct injection) to make a hefty 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque, which, on average, is at least 15 more horsepower than other cars in its class.

This feeling of speed is also enhanced by a car that is tight, steering and handling-wise. Off-camber bumps didn’t throw it and tight turns didn’t cause it to it lift. In fact, this tightness as well as the responsive steering made the car feel bigger than it really was. And feeling really is the key word here because this subcompact four-door weighs just 1,087 kilograms.

Available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, either way the interior is spacious. And that’s coming from a large guy who feels most at home in a full-sized pickup. Seating can be adjusted six ways and the placement of pedals, shifter, steering wheel and stalks is simply excellent.

The standard safety features on board include six air bags, stability and traction control systems and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.

The 2012 Accent five-door starts at $13,599 while the four-door slides in at a base price of $13,199.

Hyundai’s hot-selling mid-sized Elantra is the epitome of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design trend — found in all its vehicles but best seen in the flowing lines of the Elantra, which had its big remake in 2010.

The 2012 Elantra has been upgraded with some equipment that has only now arrived, such as an ActiveECO function added to the automatic transmission that improves real-world fuel economy by as much as seven per cent. If you sense a real fuel-economy push by the company here, you’re not alone.

Powered by the 1.8L Nu four-cylinder (which is 30-per-cent lighter than the old one) and coupled to a six-speed automatic, the Elantra now makes 148 hp and 131 lb-ft of torque — more than enough to carry this lighter sedan over highways and byways.

What is surprising, though, is just how much of a fuel savings this diet has netted — a 4.9 L/100 km highway rating, which is a 16-per-cent improvement over the outgoing model and an achievement Hyundai claims is “best-in-class” compared with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cruze.

The basis for this claim (in part) comes directly from the Fluidic Design that is so pleasing to the eye but also turns out to be very aerodynamic. The flowing lines that crease the Elantra’s sides are described as creating a sense of constant motion, which must be a very slippery one given its drag coefficient is just 0.28, while the much pricier Chevy Volt is comparable at 0.29.

Other fuel-saving features include an adaptive alternator, low-rolling-resistance silica tires and a 28-kg overall weight reduction over the previous Elantra.

I enjoyed the firm new Elantra ride, the result of a 37-per-cent increase in body stiffness and an increased use of high-strength steel in the unibody. The steering was quick, needing only short turns of the wheel.

But it’s the space and relaxed attitude of the cabin configuration I like best. Across the dashboard, efficient design is found in all the controls and surfaces. Plus, the Elantra has comfort and convenience packaged into the seats (which are heated front and rear), steering wheel (tilt and telescopic), heating and air conditioning unit, power windows, sunroof, keyless entry and 172-watt audio system.

Safety-wise, the Elantra also benefits from Hyundai’s continued increase in standard equipment. Like the Accent, this includes stability and traction control systems, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution.

Noteworthy is that those heated rear seats are segment-exclusive, and Bluetooth, navigation system, rear-view camera and iPod/USB inputs are also available.

The 2012 Elantra starts at $15,849.

— Postmedia News