2002 Hyundai Elantra: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Elantra is the larger of Hyundai's two subcompact cars. It comes as the GLS 4-dr sedan and GT 4-dr hatchback. Both have a 2.0-liter 4-cyl engine and manual or optional automatic transmission. Front side airbags are standard. ABS with traction control is optional; 4-wheel disc brakes are standard on the GT and included with ABS on the GLS. Standard equipment includes air conditioning and power windows/locks/mirrors. GTs add a sport suspension, alloy wheels, and leather upholstery. Hyundai's warranty is one of the industry's longest: 5-years/60,000-mi. basic, 10/100,000 powertrain.

COMPETITION

A perennial favorite, the Honda Civic, is as good as ever. We love the wide range of bodystyles, engines, and equipment. Civic is a solid car that has good performance, a nice ride, and a high degree of civility. We also love almost everything about the Ford Focus, but were reluctant to rank it a Best Buy because it was new from the ground up. After a year of living with a ZTS model, we can say that the reliability is good. Focus ranks a notch below Civic in some areas but costs less.

Topping the crowded Recommended list are the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. They easily could be Best Buys. However, they are among the most expensive cars in this segment. Other Recommended choices include the no-frills Toyota Echo, the sporty Nissan Sentra, and the roomy Mazda Protege.