Hyundai Elantra Diesel at Rs 15.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) with a diesel engine and an automatic transmission is the most expensive variant of the Elantra. However it also lives upto this high price tag with arguably some of the best features.
The new diesel engine delivers 126bhp with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel ripped off from the Hyundai Verna. The six-speed, torque-converter automatic gearbox comes off quite well in terms of the performance and torque. If you are not in a hurry, you can really see that the gearbox works well enough to keep you in the right gear at all speeds. The Elantra is quite peppy and even the half presses on the throttle gives you that adrenaline rush. However beware of the slight hesitation from either the engine or gearbox in stop-start traffic and a bit of power crisis on the highway.
However once you hit the throttle down, you come to know that all is not well with this diesel power train. The power delivery is not all that smooth and the engine starts to rattle at 2000rpm. The gearbox stutters to this sudden outburst of power and does not respond the way you want it to. Compared to the dual-clutch gearboxes of the Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Laura this comes as a bit of a cropper.
However as a huge relief, you can the shift gears manually in tiptronic mode for better control, but you have to manage without the paddle shifters. With a slow mark of 10.92 seconds to hit the 0-100kph time it is a full 1.2 seconds off the Skoda Laura automatic.
Overall, the Hyundai Elantra is good for those who want to enjoy their rides. Not to forget the overly-assisted power steering, well-finished cabin and rear seats. Good to drive in traffic, fairly fuel efficient with 11.2kpl in the city, and packed with features, this version of the Elantra meets the needs of most self-driven executive car buyers. If you are not in awe of the Elantra you can also consider the likes of Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis.
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