Rental Car: 2013 Hyundai Elantra

[ls1mike]

Just a quick review.
If I had to live with this thing I would be pretty unhappy.

8200 miles on it. I put about 160 on it. LOUD, buzzy engine that only got louder when you floored it. The car didn't actually move any faster.

Cheap interior. Reminded me of my old Dodge Daytona's.
Seats were just ok, I would not want to take it on a long trip.

Creaky and squeaky. Not much I can say about that. It was just a loud car.

It rode worse than my 3/4 ton pickup truck and handled just about as good.

Overall it was disappointing. The way people talk about them on here I expected something much, much better. First one I have had as a rental.

I tried to find something that I liked about it...
Brakes were good. Car had good visibility. Was ok size wise. Not really roomy for three adults, might be decent for a small family or just a commuter car. Bright spot was the transmission shifted nicely.

 

[SatinSilver]

I think they can be had for around $14k new. So attractive price would be another positive. Haven't driven one though. Briefly drove a Focus and a Cruze and liked the latter much better. The turbo automatic seemed to really move. Fun little car that was a surprise.

 

[ls1mike]

14K? I guess then it isn't that horrible, but man I don't know I could live long term with it.

 

[TrevorS]

I wasn't impressed with a nearly new Sonata I had as a one week rental a few years ago.

And Hyundai are very low on the latest reliability ratings.

 

[jmsjags]

There's a reason a comparable Cruze costs a little more than an Elantra. You get what you pay for quality-wise.

 

[Spector]

Depends what you want the car for. After looking at other comparable sized options and wanting an econo box for around town it was a no brainer. For less money more options, great MPG, great warranty we have no complaints. Fits what we were looking for, easy to get around town in and happy with it. Everything else in same category costs more and you would have the same complaints about them as well. You don't get that kind of MPG without having a small 4 banger unless you are looking at a hybrid or diesel. The other car is the highway car and I am sure you would complain about the engine in that one also as it is a hybrid.

Again, depends what you are looking for when buying the car!

 

[ls1mike]

You get good MPG? We averaged less than what I would have got in the Grand Prix on the same route.

 

[beast3300]

Lol.... if you don't have anything nice to say.....

I will say this: "Wouldn't you rather drive a Buick?" Or another slogan I liked was, "Going fast with class"

 

[JHZR2]

Flimsy wheels too, no?

 

[artificialist]

I have a cousing who owns a 2010. It treats her very well, and she has 45,000 miles on it. She only needed basic maintenance. She also said one of her friends had a Corolla, and said the Corolla was louder and less comfortable as her Hyundai.

 

[johnachak]

I've tried the Sonata, it's not much better in my opinion.

 

[spasm3]

The only complaints i have with mine are;

1. Rear visability is not good.
2. The oem continental contitac tires are junk.
3. The center console radio screen is way too bright, i always turn it off completely at night.
4. There is no transmission dipstick.

We have 24k on ours , very pleased, mpg is around 29 mixed with 38 hwy.
The seats are supportive , i like them but they are the leather ones. I do remember the cloth seats not feeling as firm to sit in.
Brakes are pretty good. Rides as well as any of the other similar priced cars in its class.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Flimsy wheels too, no?

LOL!!

No doubt. How is the snow treating you?

 

[waltywalt]

It seems like everyone talks like Hyundai makes a great car. Well the 2012 veloster I bought new is a joke and I wish i never bought it.

 

[Spector]

On the highway I get 38-39 and average 32-33 around town. Like everything depends on how you drive and the climate and the area you live in and also if you can get 100% gas

 

[dishdude]

I had a 2013 Sonata Hybrid as a rental over the weekend, I gotta say I liked their hybrid system better than the last Prius I rented - it had more power, there wasn't much lag when it was in EV mode, and it stayed in EV mode longer. Averaged about 39 in mixed driving.

But like other Hyundai/Kias I have driven, it just isn't a driver's car. I can't quite figure out what it going on with their chassis tuning, but you really feel totally disconnected from the road and awkward driving one of their cars. Even the Genesis I rented felt this way (although the Genesis was very comfortable).

The interior on my Sonata was VERY cheap with a lot of cheap, hard plastics too, but laid out logically and it was fairly comfortable.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: johnachak
I've tried the Sonata, it's not much better in my opinion.


On the contrary, the elantras that I have rented have been pretty poor in my view. However the sonata I had as a rental back in December was quite good and I liked it a lot. I don't remember a lot of flaws with that car.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Flimsy wheels too, no?


Haven't heard about wheel problems.

 

[ls1mike]

We hit a pot hole. Looked like it hurt the rim. I showed the guy when we turned it in, he said it was fine.

 

[JHZR2]

Haha, poor schmuck that gets it next... Hope he doesn't have to do a lot of interstate driving.