Welcome to Autodrivel

Will the Hyundai Elantra MD change your perception of Hyundai and be more than just a washing machine on wheels? Is it worth your money? And why does cold air come out when we “hooo” and warm air when we say “haaa”?

I know, I’m a useful component of the vacuum cleaner and a functional illiterate for skipping the Elantra IV and jumping straight to the Hyundai Elantra MD like an average brit hops from pint to pint. But maybe I’m not that unbelievable, and maybe the Elantra IV wasn’t available in Europe. 

As a summary then, the Koreans emerged from the woodwork and realized they needed to make European cars if they wanted to sell anything in Europe. They started with the Kia Cee’d / Hyundai i30, their first 100% European-designed cars. Then came the Sportage / Hyundai ix35, and finally, they aimed to take on the compact saloon segment.

This created an issue for the Hyundai Elantra V because, in Europe’s used market an Elantra costs as much as a Jetta or an Octavia if you compare the manufacturing years. Hyundai’s catapult from the low-cost zone directly into the premium zone was as smart a move as thinking it’s a good idea to show your drunk friends you can fight two bouncers at once after drinking five shots of vodquilla.

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Hyundai Elantra MD Engines

Petrol

• 1.6 Gamma GDI of 132 horsepower – An antiquated engine but one that performs its duties honorably. It handles the body and your wallet well, being quite reliable with no known issues apart from it’s oil consumption because it’s an GDI engine but nothing too horror really to make you pass on it. It’s not the sportiest engine possible, but you can’t have everything in life. And it was the only engine available in Europe.


• 1.8 Nu MPI of 148 horsepower – The Nu engine on the other hand is the american crutch that broke Hyundai’s financial legs. Let’s just say that the words “quality control” haven’t reached the Alabama plant and the Nu engine will break it’s pistons and it’s not a matter of “if” but “when”.


• 2.0 Nu MPI of 176 horsepower – Available only on the Hyundai Elantra JK aka the Coupe version which was a brief love stint of 2013-2014. And for the regular saloon version, also with the 2013 facelift. But it’s still the piston breaking Nu engine so hard pass on it. Harder than passing on working on weekends.

Diesel

1.6 CRDi D4FB of 90 horsepower – The only diesel sold for the Elantra MD and it’s the sort of diesel engine which is “there”. An “there” kind of an engine for an “there” kind of car. No real issues with it, just that it’s a modern diesel which is choked by emission standards so don’t move it around town too much.

Hyundai Elantra MD Reliability Issues

• You only have one engine available, regardless of the country. Not two, not three. One. Still, if you don’t plan on driving all over the country and are more the type who needs a car for the school run and work commute, this might be all the engine you need. No matter which engine you pick. Except for the Nu engines.


• Like the Kia Cee’, the Elantra MD is as dependent on quality tires as I am on SwearNet in the evening when my pajamas flare up after five beers. Research thoroughly before buying tires.


• It’s a very low car, so you have to accept some things. The issue is more relevant in countries like Germany or Spain, not in the UK where roads are butter smooth.


• The past haunts us all. Similarly, the Elantra is haunted by its poor interior quality and the short list of features, even optional ones.


• The tire pressure monitoring sensors tend to go on strike every second tire rotation.


• Rust tends to form at the door wings and sills.


• The audio system won’t be impressing you any time soon and neither will the headlights, but if you don’t care about these things all that much then you will enjoy the simplicity of the car.

Hyundai Elantra MD Verdict

An excellent, reliable, and spacious car. But in this price range, it competes with premium cars, even though it’s not quite there yet. Sure, with an Elantra MD, you’re guaranteed reliability, and if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s near the top of the list. The question remains whether you’ll go with the Elantra or a Mitsubishi Lancer, another simple and reliable car.

Which engines do I recommend? Out of the plethora of engines, after long debates including myself, I chose the 1.6 MPI petrol engine. A simple, issues-free engine. It’s up to you to decide if it has enough power. As the saying goes, everyone believes in something; I believe I’ll have another round of beer.