Sam, just a quick update on my 17 Elantra. 3 years old this month. 52.000 miles now and still absolutely flawless. O repairs or issues. Even tires are not needing replacement. Very pleased with this car!
@Derrick2250 no rattling at all. No squeaking either. Engine is a little loud on full throttle acceleration, but no louder than other 4 cyl..when driving normal it's pretty quiet. I do run 10/30 oil. Not a believer in thin watery oil. Sounds much quieter on the 10 30. Been running that since 3000 miles.
@Derrick2250 just noticed your question, they will probably balk at it, just show them where in the owners manual says its acceptable. I do my own , few times I didn't feel like it, I just buy the oil and take it to the local oil change shop and hand it to them. They dont care as long as it's a brand name, I only use Castrol gtx.
Update, I have 42.000 miles on my Elantra now. Has been absolutely flawless. Even tires still have decent tread left. Very happy with it. It's a keeper!
@@Daniel-tv9tb Hi, just turned 59.000 miles. Last week I bought a new set of tires for it. Just hitting the tread bars. Could have pushed them a little farther, but, I'm very pleased getting that mileage on the tires. Did have to replace the battery in July, car was 3 years old in June. , but that's pretty normal here as the summer's are long and very hot, several days hit 126 degrees, average runs around 110 in June July and August. Other than that , its been excellent. No issues or any repairs. I had the dealership change the transmission fluid, and go over the car thoroughly, they said everything is fine, good to go. Uses no oil , at 3000 miles, it's still full. I do change every 3000 miles, and run 10/30 weight Castrol. I don't believe in watery oil, and owners manual says it's ok to use. I'm very pleased with this car. consistantly get 29, city. 38, 39 Freeway, running 80 85.mph. And I still like it very much.
@@johnfranklin5277 Modern engines have extremely tight tolerances and high compression. Running that thick of an oil probably isn't doing your engine any favors in the long run. You may experience seals blowing sooner than average and oil sludge issues if the oil can't circulate properly with the thinner oil it was designed to run. The 0-20w oil recommended is fully synthetic and has 3750 or 7500 mile oil change intervals, according to owner's manual. I break the difference and change mine every 5k. Like you, I'll be changing the trans fluid in my 2018 Elantra SEL well before the recommended 150k service. I'm just not comfortable letting it go that long. I'll probably do it at half that, so 75k. Should anything go wrong with the trans before the fluid change or within 25k miles (2yrs, for me) after the fluid change, it's still covered under warranty. I'm still maintaining it well within the recommended intervals with that kind of schedule, without pouring money down the drain.
@@palebeachbum Hi, appreciate your concern, but owners manual say 5 30 or 10 30 may be used. Here in so cal where I'm at, winter lows average around 38 40 f, occasionally hits 30 but not often. Summer temps average 110 to 125. So I run 5 wt 30 winter, spring , and 10 30 summer fall. Engine is much, much quieter with the slightly heavier oil. Difference between 20, and 30 is not huge, and its had this oil since 1000 miles Just turned 64.000 miles and all is well. 0 repairs or issues. Mine has all the bells an whistles, and they are all working fine. Hope you are happy with yours. 👍
I bought myself a 2018 Elantra SEL and I'm in love! Pearl white over beige cloth. My favorite color combo. Very comfortable interior. Seat comfort is very good. Ergonomics are excellent thanks to a height adjustable driver's seat and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel. The amount of electronic customization is impressive for an economy car...or overwhelming, depending who you ask. I'm somewhere in the middle on that. The ride is a bit firmer than I was expecting, but it's very smooth. I drive on patchy, rough city roads and I have no complaints about the ride quality or the solid rear axle suspension. I love that I'm averaging around 40mpg, yet the engine has decent pep. I'm also thrilled with what little maintenance this car demands, after having read the owner's manual. 7,500 mile oil change intervals and no transmission fluid changes required. Woohoo! This car is going to let me have my cake and eat it too. Stylish, comfortable, comparably affordable, and efficient to own. As long as it proves to be reliable over time, this car is a home run!
I just bought a 2017 Elantra base with the 6 speed manual and the 15 inch steel wheels, found a new set of 17 alloys and with 225/45/17 tires yes I do expect to lose a bit in fuel economy, with only 300 miles so far I haven't gotten any true #'s but expect mid 30's on the highway. It's a great value and extremely quiet and cruises well on the highway, my 4th Hyundai.
110k on my 2018 SE. Manual transmission. Changed a wheel bearing and water outlet. That's it. This is easily the best value for the money automobile I have ever owned. I keep up with the general maintenance and it has been great.
Hey sam, great review. I have had my 2017 Elantra for a year now 0 problems. little over 14000 miles. Everything works great. I set the cruise at 80,85 mph on my trips to Vegas and the car does not feel stressed. same color as your tester ! I agree with you . my SE has pop-tech packages. that gives you a VERY well equipped car for under 22000 bucks. that's a good price. going crazy on a limited is not the way to go on a compact car. I like it just fine, am happy with my purchase . keep up the good work.
Update, my 17 Elantra just hit 72.000 miles. Still 0 repairs, o issues! Only thing I did replace this month were the wiper blades, they weren't working as well as when new. Still very happy with it.
You still have the 17?? If so, where does it stand and if not how many miles when you let it go and what type of service to that point?? my son has a 17 with 50 currently. Zero issues as you did, and he loves it!
HI, yes I still have it. Bought it new in May of 2016. It's doing absolutely fantastic. It turned 100.000 miles a few weeks ago. 0 repairs, 0 issues. Tires and 2 batteries, thats it.. Even the brake pads are original, and don't need replacement per Goodyear last month when I put a new set of tires on. Car is loaded and everything still working like new. Also, it uses no oil between changes. I did buy a new kia K5 GT LINE with premium package in 2021. Love it. My commute to work is 78 miles round trip, so using the Elantra for that duty to save miles on the new car. Hope your sons is doing well also!
Excellent review Sam! I know what answers you were going for but since you said North America (and not USA), that would include Canada which sold the second generation Hyundai Pony in the very early 80's. The Excel hit the lots in USA in 1985. I bought one. With maintenance by the book (timing/accessory belts, fluids, alignments, and tune-ups), I got over 100,000 miles out of my Excel and the only failure was a rusted muffler. I actually liked the car. It got me from A to B with all kinds of features that cost so much more on a Civic or Corolla of the day. In fact, I liked it enough that I traded up for a 1990 Excel with the new body style and a fuel injected engine that bumped up the horsepower to 81! It was also a very dependable vehicle. I currently own a 2016 Elantra Value Edition which is my 6th Hyundai. My previous one was a 2007 Accent SE that served me flawlessly for 230,000 miles. I wouldn't say I'm a Hyundai Boy, but I've been a satisfied owner of each of my Hyundais.
Memories! My sister-in-law bought a Hyundai Pony in 1984 or 85, can't quite remember which year. That thing bombed around in the Winter. It was rear-wheel drive and had a crazy feel in the snow. Adrenalin pumping. :-) Not sure what she paid for it, but I think it was around $7,000.
The first run for Hyundai in North America was the 1986 Excel for about $4,995 and the Mitsubishi with the Precis badge for about $5,195. Great review Sam!
Driven new Elantra extensively and this review is pretty accurate. Decent handling with OK power. But I would add: 1. Actual selling prices of car models have a HUGE impact on value. Dealer discounts and rebates are common on Hyundais, while rebates are unheard of with Hondas and unusual for Toyotas. In my area now the those rebates/discounts on Elantra are (US)$3-4,000+. 2. The passenger seat, although manual, is HEIGHT adjustable, a feature most cars do not offer in compact or midsize cars these days. 3. The loaded Elantra Limited trim level tested has a number of luxury car features not even offered in competitive compacts- including memory seating for the driver, dynamic headlights (turn slightly with steering), 'welcome lights' in door handles, etc.
RoadRider7 John right now you can get a fully loaded elentra for les than $18-19k that is a great value I am debating into getting a basic limited 2017 for 16k which is awesome. The value edition on the 17 or the SEL on the on the 18 are the way to go if you are looking for a great price...
As I remember, it was introduced in 1985 as a 1986 model. The starting price was $3,995. That car was called the Hyundai Excel and it was offered as a Mitsubishi but I can't remember the name.
It wasn't in the early 90s it was mid 80s,They had two cars,the Hyundai Pony and the Stellar.I had an 86 Stellar and it was a crude but cheap fully loaded car,mid size and turned out to be very dependable
the WSJ has a piece detailing a few instances, from different manufacturers, in which the auto-braking system erroneously activates - titled Car Regulator Probes Complaints on Brakes. Good review!
Sorry Sam, hate to remind you that North American includes Canada (you said the first that came to North America was in the 90s, so I assume you mean what came out in the USA). The first Hyundai was the Pony, came out in Canada in 1984. This is going off the top of my head and that's why I don't know how much it sold for but I'll bet it was cheap. In the province of Alberta, where I encountered a few of them, the motor mounts use to become brittle from the cold and snap off. It was designed by an Italian named Guigario (this too, from memory), who designed cars for Alfa Romeo. It was remarkably better looking than the Japanese vehicles in its class, and that's all it really had going for it. I drove a Honda CRX at the time so it was nothing but a curiosity. Anyways if you check the Wiki, the projected sales units in 1984 was 5,000 in Canada, but it went to something like 25,000 units. Other than the common problems they all had (motor mounts, radiator leaks), they were astoundingly reliable. Last time I saw one on the road was 2001 and someone was selling one in 2005 in a local car ad (priced at $10000, as a collector's item and piece of automotive history if you can believe it).
have one in this same year but in manual, the most base level trim you can get. Its kind of crazy how the in the same make and model year you can have a car with no AC no cruise control, no steering wheel controls and just a basic head unit with only AUX and radio, but you can also get this. Living in canada no AC isn't so bad we don't get that many brutally hot days but I do really miss cruise control on the highway
I had a coworker who had an Excel. The cooling fan ran until the battery was dead. I think they finally realized they needed to disconnect the battery until they got it fixed.
The Hyndai Excel...around 4K base price with a 68 HP carb motor (ugh)....thing was dreadful...knew a couple of people who had one. It was resold as the Spectrum I think?..not sure if it was Chevy or Mitsubishi. Great review Sam.
he is right, the limited is not worth the extra cost. either get the standard or if you want better engine, the eco and the new sport model. That model comes with the veloster turbo and independent rear suspension. in fact, that suspension should be standard as well as the eco engine.
Now it has gotten even better with the Value Edition that adds on the sunroof, power seats with lumbar, and auto dimming rearview mirror with homeLink and compass adding onto the SE Tech at the same price.
Peter Gilbert yes, it got better. but, it is still ridiculous that a car built here requires you to buy an entire option package just to get a sunroof, which could/should be available as a stand alone option.
JRS S Actually other manufacturers require it as either a package or a trim level like the Civic, Carolla, Sentra, and Impreza as some of the foreign examples that don't make it an accessory. Also look around and tell me how many other compacts give you both a sunroof and heated seats together at the price of the Value Edition because little to none do.
Dang too late! I was in my 20's when the Excel came out, several of my friends had them. I had the Dodge version of a Mitsubishi Mirage, the Colt. I heard Mitsubishi partnered with Hyundai to get around a tariff on Japanese imports to the US.
If you buy a base SE automatic with no other options, this car comes out on top of the pack. A dealer not far from me is offering such base models with automatic transmissions for an incredible 26% below MSRP. A stunning vehicle with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty selling for $14,240 is hard to beat. If Sam got 34 MPG on his premium model, he should get 35 MPG combined on the Base SE with smaller tires. That matches the Honda Civic on fuel economy and beats the Toyota Corolla thanks to the Atkinson Cycle engine.
I have a '16 Elantra SE with automatic. I regularly get over 40mpg on the highway. Sometimes as high as 46mpg. And I'm driving at speeds of 75 and 80mph. There's one thing I really don't like about it. The twist beam rear suspension sucks.
Hi Ken. I just turned 40.000 miles on my 17 Elantra, I bought in June of 16. Has been flawless. 0 problems. Very happy with it. Hope yours has been also.
@Derrick2250 I accelerate at a reasonable rate for the most part, but full throttle acceleration will of course be noticeable in any car. But in general. I can't say I hear the FUEL INJECTORS per say, just an engine under full throttle.
Are you referring to the Excel or the Scoupe (coupe) and I believe it was re-badged as an Isuzu and Chevy Spectrum I believe but not certain of the model name. I do believe they shared an engine from Mitsubishi at the time, someone can correct me.
wow you went way back the Hyundai scoupe was a pretty reliable car only if it was manual the automatics always had issues the Hyundai Excel is what started it all the company was known as having disposable cars back in its day now Hyundai is like the new Honda and they actually look better
Nathan Lopez Yea I actually like the Scoupe as a kid and thought I'll own one when old enough to drive. The Elantras were pretty decent cars for the time nothing like a Honda or Toyota or even an Escort back then but yea look at them now relative to Mitsu and Isuzu and Suzuki.
Is there any recent car in this class that has gotten 5 out of 5 stars overall or even 4.5 out of 5 stars from TestDrivenTV? Usually, he's pretty generous in his ratings, rarely giving 3 stars or less overall unless a car was remarkably bad in its class or the particular tester was bad (Ford Edge), but i'm wondering what cars would be significantly better overall. He mentioned the Focus and Corolla in less flattering ways, so i'm thinking only the Mazda 3 and the Civic could be better until the next Cruze comes along. But the 3 is underpowered and noisier, and the Civic is also noisier and not as optioned as well, although adaptive cruise and auto braking are standard on all trims and it has available LED headlights. The thing with these loaded top trim compacts is that they're almost as expensive or even more expensive (cough, Focus, cough) than well equipped (mid or upper trim) mid-sized sedans but clearly a step or two down. So he's definitely right about the price differential between base and loaded for these compacts. It doesn't make sense to buy these compacts loaded at close to $30k or over $30k with the Focus (for the Titanium; of course the ST and the RS are even more expensive), unless you really need or want the compact size or slightly better fuel economy.
Sam, just a quick update on my 17 Elantra. 3 years old this month. 52.000 miles now and still absolutely flawless. O repairs or issues. Even tires are not needing replacement. Very pleased with this car!
I got a 2017 basic se . Not loaded. But at least it's dependable
@@cashmere5616 good to hear that.
@Derrick2250 no rattling at all. No squeaking either. Engine is a little loud on full throttle acceleration, but no louder than other 4 cyl..when driving normal it's pretty quiet. I do run 10/30 oil. Not a believer in thin watery oil. Sounds much quieter on the 10 30. Been running that since 3000 miles.
@Derrick2250 just noticed your question, they will probably balk at it, just show them where in the owners manual says its acceptable. I do my own , few times I didn't feel like it, I just buy the oil and take it to the local oil change shop and hand it to them. They dont care as long as it's a brand name, I only use Castrol gtx.
Update, I have 42.000 miles on my Elantra now. Has been absolutely flawless. Even tires still have decent tread left. Very happy with it. It's a keeper!
Hows it going now ?
@@Daniel-tv9tb Hi, just turned 59.000 miles. Last week I bought a new set of tires for it. Just hitting the tread bars. Could have pushed them a little farther, but, I'm very pleased getting that mileage on the tires. Did have to replace the battery in July, car was 3 years old in June. , but that's pretty normal here as the summer's are long and very hot, several days hit 126 degrees, average runs around 110 in June July and August. Other than that , its been excellent. No issues or any repairs. I had the dealership change the transmission fluid, and go over the car thoroughly, they said everything is fine, good to go. Uses no oil , at 3000 miles, it's still full. I do change every 3000 miles, and run 10/30 weight Castrol. I don't believe in watery oil, and owners manual says it's ok to use. I'm very pleased with this car. consistantly get 29, city. 38, 39 Freeway, running 80 85.mph. And I still like it very much.
@@johnfranklin5277 that's awesome. Thanks for the feedback.
@@johnfranklin5277 Modern engines have extremely tight tolerances and high compression. Running that thick of an oil probably isn't doing your engine any favors in the long run. You may experience seals blowing sooner than average and oil sludge issues if the oil can't circulate properly with the thinner oil it was designed to run. The 0-20w oil recommended is fully synthetic and has 3750 or 7500 mile oil change intervals, according to owner's manual. I break the difference and change mine every 5k. Like you, I'll be changing the trans fluid in my 2018 Elantra SEL well before the recommended 150k service. I'm just not comfortable letting it go that long. I'll probably do it at half that, so 75k. Should anything go wrong with the trans before the fluid change or within 25k miles (2yrs, for me) after the fluid change, it's still covered under warranty. I'm still maintaining it well within the recommended intervals with that kind of schedule, without pouring money down the drain.
@@palebeachbum Hi, appreciate your concern, but owners manual say 5 30 or 10 30 may be used. Here in so cal where I'm at, winter lows average around 38 40 f, occasionally hits 30 but not often. Summer temps average 110 to 125. So I run 5 wt 30 winter, spring , and 10 30 summer fall. Engine is much, much quieter with the slightly heavier oil. Difference between 20, and 30 is not huge, and its had this oil since 1000 miles
Just turned 64.000 miles and all is well. 0 repairs or issues. Mine has all the bells an whistles, and they are all working fine. Hope you are happy with yours. 👍
I bought myself a 2018 Elantra SEL and I'm in love! Pearl white over beige cloth. My favorite color combo. Very comfortable interior. Seat comfort is very good. Ergonomics are excellent thanks to a height adjustable driver's seat and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel. The amount of electronic customization is impressive for an economy car...or overwhelming, depending who you ask. I'm somewhere in the middle on that. The ride is a bit firmer than I was expecting, but it's very smooth. I drive on patchy, rough city roads and I have no complaints about the ride quality or the solid rear axle suspension. I love that I'm averaging around 40mpg, yet the engine has decent pep. I'm also thrilled with what little maintenance this car demands, after having read the owner's manual. 7,500 mile oil change intervals and no transmission fluid changes required. Woohoo! This car is going to let me have my cake and eat it too. Stylish, comfortable, comparably affordable, and efficient to own. As long as it proves to be reliable over time, this car is a home run!
I just bought a 2017 Elantra base with the 6 speed manual and the 15 inch steel wheels, found a new set of 17 alloys and with 225/45/17 tires yes I do expect to lose a bit in fuel economy, with only 300 miles so far I haven't gotten any true #'s but expect mid 30's on the highway. It's a great value and extremely quiet and cruises well on the highway, my 4th Hyundai.
Elantra is now offered in a Value Edition.
Lots of great features for a great price.
110k on my 2018 SE. Manual transmission. Changed a wheel bearing and water outlet. That's it. This is easily the best value for the money automobile I have ever owned. I keep up with the general maintenance and it has been great.
Hey sam, great review. I have had my 2017 Elantra for a year now
0 problems. little over 14000 miles. Everything works great. I set the cruise at 80,85 mph on my trips to Vegas and the car does not feel stressed. same color as your tester ! I agree with you . my SE has pop-tech packages. that gives you a VERY well equipped car for under 22000 bucks. that's a good price. going crazy on a limited is not the way to go on a compact car. I like it just fine, am happy with my purchase . keep up the good work.
Steve, I'm thinking about purchasing this $15,000 with 62,000 miles with a lifetime warranty on motor and transmission. Do you think I should do it??
Update, my 17 Elantra just hit 72.000 miles. Still 0 repairs, o issues! Only thing I did replace this month were the wiper blades, they weren't working as well as when new. Still very happy with it.
You still have the 17?? If so, where does it stand and if not how many miles when you let it go and what type of service to that point?? my son has a 17 with 50 currently. Zero issues as you did, and he loves it!
HI, yes I still have it. Bought it new in May of 2016. It's doing absolutely fantastic. It turned 100.000 miles a few weeks ago. 0 repairs, 0 issues. Tires and 2 batteries, thats it.. Even the brake pads are original, and don't need replacement per Goodyear last month when I put a new set of tires on. Car is loaded and everything still working like new. Also, it uses no oil between changes. I did buy a new kia K5 GT LINE with premium package in 2021. Love it. My commute to work is 78 miles round trip, so using the Elantra for that duty to save miles on the new car. Hope your sons is doing well also!
I like the interior of my 2017 Elantra Limited. Everything is within reach and easy to understand and navigate
What color did you get? I love mine 😍
Excellent review Sam! I know what answers you were going for but since you said North America (and not USA), that would include Canada which sold the second generation Hyundai Pony in the very early 80's. The Excel hit the lots in USA in 1985. I bought one. With maintenance by the book (timing/accessory belts, fluids, alignments, and tune-ups), I got over 100,000 miles out of my Excel and the only failure was a rusted muffler. I actually liked the car. It got me from A to B with all kinds of features that cost so much more on a Civic or Corolla of the day. In fact, I liked it enough that I traded up for a 1990 Excel with the new body style and a fuel injected engine that bumped up the horsepower to 81! It was also a very dependable vehicle. I currently own a 2016 Elantra Value Edition which is my 6th Hyundai. My previous one was a 2007 Accent SE that served me flawlessly for 230,000 miles. I wouldn't say I'm a Hyundai Boy, but I've been a satisfied owner of each of my Hyundais.
Hyundai Excel & Misubishi Precis
Sam you remain at the top of the class of TH-cam Auto Reviewers
I thought it was the Pony :(
Pony was Canada only. The Excel was a cheap car with poor crash test results.
Excellent, unbiased review! Job well done
Memories! My sister-in-law bought a Hyundai Pony in 1984 or 85, can't quite remember which year. That thing bombed around in the Winter. It was rear-wheel drive and had a crazy feel in the snow. Adrenalin pumping. :-)
Not sure what she paid for it, but I think it was around $7,000.
The first run for Hyundai in North America was the 1986 Excel for about $4,995 and the Mitsubishi with the Precis badge for about $5,195. Great review Sam!
Yeah he had it wrong on the decade ;)
Peter Schrier has engineered some beautiful daily drivers
Driven new Elantra extensively and this review is pretty accurate. Decent handling with OK power. But I would add:
1. Actual selling prices of car models have a HUGE impact on value. Dealer discounts and rebates are common on Hyundais, while rebates are unheard of with Hondas and unusual for Toyotas. In my area now the those rebates/discounts on Elantra are (US)$3-4,000+.
2. The passenger seat, although manual, is HEIGHT adjustable, a feature most cars do not offer in compact or midsize cars these days.
3. The loaded Elantra Limited trim level tested has a number of luxury car features not even offered in competitive compacts- including memory seating for the driver, dynamic headlights (turn slightly with steering), 'welcome lights' in door handles, etc.
RoadRider7 John right now you can get a fully loaded elentra for les than $18-19k that is a great value I am debating into getting a basic limited 2017 for 16k which is awesome. The value edition on the 17 or the SEL on the on the 18 are the way to go if you are looking for a great price...
As I remember, it was introduced in 1985 as a 1986 model. The starting price was $3,995. That car was called the Hyundai Excel and it was offered as a Mitsubishi but I can't remember the name.
It wasn't in the early 90s it was mid 80s,They had two cars,the Hyundai Pony and the Stellar.I had an 86 Stellar and it was a crude but cheap fully loaded car,mid size and turned out to be very dependable
Those headlights are awesome.
The Elantra Limited without the packages that no one needs, is $23K. Right now you can buy a Limited for around $17.5K with Hyundai incentives.
the WSJ has a piece detailing a few instances, from different manufacturers, in which the auto-braking system erroneously activates - titled Car Regulator Probes Complaints on Brakes. Good review!
Sorry Sam, hate to remind you that North American includes Canada (you said the first that came to North America was in the 90s, so I assume you mean what came out in the USA). The first Hyundai was the Pony, came out in Canada in 1984. This is going off the top of my head and that's why I don't know how much it sold for but I'll bet it was cheap. In the province of Alberta, where I encountered a few of them, the motor mounts use to become brittle from the cold and snap off. It was designed by an Italian named Guigario (this too, from memory), who designed cars for Alfa Romeo. It was remarkably better looking than the Japanese vehicles in its class, and that's all it really had going for it. I drove a Honda CRX at the time so it was nothing but a curiosity. Anyways if you check the Wiki, the projected sales units in 1984 was 5,000 in Canada, but it went to something like 25,000 units. Other than the common problems they all had (motor mounts, radiator leaks), they were astoundingly reliable. Last time I saw one on the road was 2001 and someone was selling one in 2005 in a local car ad (priced at $10000, as a collector's item and piece of automotive history if you can believe it).
both my sisters had ponies...
The first Hyundai sold in the US was the XL. Great review as always.
Lin Hunnicutt excel.
have one in this same year but in manual, the most base level trim you can get. Its kind of crazy how the in the same make and model year you can have a car with no AC no cruise control, no steering wheel controls and just a basic head unit with only AUX and radio, but you can also get this. Living in canada no AC isn't so bad we don't get that many brutally hot days but I do really miss cruise control on the highway
i owe same car , very pleased with it. 50k no problems
Excel was a great little car....at least for about 2 years....
It was Hyundai Excel. I think it was like 4900 range.
Very thorough, great work!
for what its worth I showed my mom a picture of this car and she said it looks like a big car
I had a coworker who had an Excel. The cooling fan ran until the battery was dead. I think they finally realized they needed to disconnect the battery until they got it fixed.
The Pony was actually first in NORTH AMERICA. Hit Canada in 1983 as an '84 ;)
the GL version is the best bang for the buck
I just bought a used 2017 Elantra limited that had 36k I love it so nice
The Hyndai Excel...around 4K base price with a 68 HP carb motor (ugh)....thing was dreadful...knew a couple of people who had one. It was resold as the Spectrum I think?..not sure if it was Chevy or Mitsubishi. Great review Sam.
he is right, the limited is not worth the extra cost. either get the standard or if you want better engine, the eco and the new sport model. That model comes with the veloster turbo and independent rear suspension.
in fact, that suspension should be standard as well as the eco engine.
Now it has gotten even better with the Value Edition that adds on the sunroof, power seats with lumbar, and auto dimming rearview mirror with homeLink and compass adding onto the SE Tech at the same price.
Peter Gilbert yes, it got better. but, it is still ridiculous that a car built here requires you to buy an entire option package just to get a sunroof, which could/should be available as a stand alone option.
JRS S Actually other manufacturers require it as either a package or a trim level like the Civic, Carolla, Sentra, and Impreza as some of the foreign examples that don't make it an accessory. Also look around and tell me how many other compacts give you both a sunroof and heated seats together at the price of the Value Edition because little to none do.
Dang too late! I was in my 20's when the Excel came out, several of my friends had them. I had the Dodge version of a Mitsubishi Mirage, the Colt. I heard Mitsubishi partnered with Hyundai to get around a tariff on Japanese imports to the US.
I believe it was the Hyundai Excel. Brought by Daewoo? Maybe I am wrong though.
Very nice and the car isn’t bad either!!
Great honest review.
1986 Excel and Sonata. Think the price started at $3999.
Great review
Mam ten samochód. Jest super :-)
If you buy a base SE automatic with no other options, this car comes out on top of the pack. A dealer not far from me is offering such base models with automatic transmissions for an incredible 26% below MSRP. A stunning vehicle with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty selling for $14,240 is hard to beat. If Sam got 34 MPG on his premium model, he should get 35 MPG combined on the Base SE with smaller tires. That matches the Honda Civic on fuel economy and beats the Toyota Corolla thanks to the Atkinson Cycle engine.
I have a '16 Elantra SE with automatic. I regularly get over 40mpg on the highway. Sometimes as high as 46mpg. And I'm driving at speeds of 75 and 80mph.
There's one thing I really don't like about it. The twist beam rear suspension sucks.
I have an SE love it!
Hi Ken. I just turned 40.000 miles on my 17 Elantra, I bought in June of 16. Has been flawless. 0 problems. Very happy with it. Hope yours has been also.
@Derrick2250 I accelerate at a reasonable rate for the most part, but full throttle acceleration will of course be noticeable in any car. But in general. I can't say I hear the FUEL INJECTORS per say, just an engine under full throttle.
Are you referring to the Excel or the Scoupe (coupe) and I believe it was re-badged as an Isuzu and Chevy Spectrum I believe but not certain of the model name. I do believe they shared an engine from Mitsubishi at the time, someone can correct me.
wow you went way back the Hyundai scoupe was a pretty reliable car only if it was manual the automatics always had issues the Hyundai Excel is what started it all the company was known as having disposable cars back in its day now Hyundai is like the new Honda and they actually look better
Nathan Lopez
Yea I actually like the Scoupe as a kid and thought I'll own one when old enough to drive. The Elantras were pretty decent cars for the time nothing like a Honda or Toyota or even an Escort back then but yea look at them now relative to Mitsu and Isuzu and Suzuki.
Is there any recent car in this class that has gotten 5 out of 5 stars overall or even 4.5 out of 5 stars from TestDrivenTV? Usually, he's pretty generous in his ratings, rarely giving 3 stars or less overall unless a car was remarkably bad in its class or the particular tester was bad (Ford Edge), but i'm wondering what cars would be significantly better overall. He mentioned the Focus and Corolla in less flattering ways, so i'm thinking only the Mazda 3 and the Civic could be better until the next Cruze comes along. But the 3 is underpowered and noisier, and the Civic is also noisier and not as optioned as well, although adaptive cruise and auto braking are standard on all trims and it has available LED headlights. The thing with these loaded top trim compacts is that they're almost as expensive or even more expensive (cough, Focus, cough) than well equipped (mid or upper trim) mid-sized sedans but clearly a step or two down. So he's definitely right about the price differential between base and loaded for these compacts. It doesn't make sense to buy these compacts loaded at close to $30k or over $30k with the Focus (for the Titanium; of course the ST and the RS are even more expensive), unless you really need or want the compact size or slightly better fuel economy.
The VW Golf just got 5 stars last week, though it would technically compare to the Elantra Touring 5-door.
which colour is this?
If I were in the market, i wouldn't get Limited, either Eco or Sport....
What colour is this? The silver or the grey?
Out materials say Shale Grey Metallic
Hyundai Excel 1985-2000
Mitsubishi Precis
Wow, took the words right out of my mouth! The 2011-'16 Elantras were swoopy. I called them swoopy cars.
Autonomous systems are nothing but a shitty gimmick unless you are driving an S-Class or something similar.
my 17 Elantra came with RUST. After complaining to the BBB the dealer exchanged it for another. The new car had Paint Defects. Stay away.
Ulieq wow, that was bad luck. my 17 elantra was flawless and pristine. had it for a year now. no problems. very happy with it. Sorry yours wasn't.