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Before people realized that the Elantra is a very good car, the third generation arrived and took the spotlight. And when I say the third generation, I mean the Hyundai Elantra AD. 

The Hyundai Elantra AD is the 6th generation globally, but in Europe, it’s only the third generation to be sold. The idea was quite simple – they took a Hyundai i30, added a boot and bam – a compact saloon. But it shouldn’t be too luxurious, or it would directly compete with the Hyundai i40. That’s why the Hyundai Elantra sold so well, and the i40 didn’t.

The Elantra AD was quite popular and a commercial success because it was simple, reliable, and – perhaps most importantly – cheap. The Hyundai Elantra AD follows the same formula, playing it safe. The basic idea is simple: a Hyundai Elantra AD started somewhere at 18,000 pounds, only a grand more than the cheapest Polo. Sure, I’m a btch ass for daring to compare a Hyundai to a VW, but the Polo fits in the cup holder of the Elantra, if the Elantra had cup holders.

What we have instead is the classic, undiluted recipe from the previous generation. We have a single engine, an aspirated petrol that doesn’t cause issues, doesn’t need much petrol to potter about, and certainly doesn’t run fast enough to challenge a Series 7. An automatic CVT transmission was added (probably the only Hyundai with a CVT at the moment) to discourage such antics. You get almost all the features you need, even from the Comfort trim, which is the base level. 

James May declared about the Dacia Sandero that it’s the kind of car you buy from the supermarket, like “hey, go to the store and get some bread, eggs, beer, oh, and don’t forget to grab a car.” Nope, the Dacia Sandero isn’t that car. The Hyundai Elantra AD is. Because with the Sandero, you need some options and can customize it, whereas with the Elantra, the only customizable thing is the color. Basically, you go to the Hyundai dealership and say you want a car, they ask “which one?”, you reply “green,” and they give you an Elantra and send you home. That’s the Hyundai Elantra.

Hyundai Elantra AD Engines

Petrol

• 1.4 Turbo Kappa II of 128 horsepower – Unfortunately the Elantra was a massive success in Europe but it didn’t do well in North America, and this engine was no exception. Arriving in 2017 to replace the old bag of bolts of the 2 litre Nu engine, this engine is fine in itself but it came only with the 7 speed automatic DCT gearbox, which was a plagued with constant clutch and flywheel failures. If only they would’ve sold an manual version.


• 1.6 MPI Gamma II and SmartStream of 123 horsepower – The engine…the only engine on the european Hyundai Elantra. It used to have 132 horsepower, but due to pollution norms, it now has only 123 horsepower to work with. But at least it’s Euro 6D. It has no specific issues, so you can ignore the haters who say it’s slow. One of the last naturally aspirated engines on the market, I’m surprised it’s still being made. I should mention the oil consumption because it’s a direct injection engine, but it’s nothing too alarming.


• 1.6 Turbo Gamma II of 201 horsepower – Now we’re talking. Reserved exclusively for the Elantra Sport and exclusively for North America (Canada didn’t get this turbocharged bodybuilder), this engine came with either the 7 speed dual clutch automatic which you should avoid, or the 6 speed manual. Sadly however it’s down on power for a sports model and it’s down on power when the turbo fails.


• 2.0 Nu MPI of 147 horsepower – Available only from 2015 to 2017 and good riddance it got ousted by the 1.4 Turbo, otherwise the class lawsuits would’ve kept coming.


• Diesel

1.6 CRDi U II of 136 horsepower – The only diesel available on the Elantra and this engine is the essence of “there”. Won’t impress you performance wise, fuel economy is decent, reliability is decent. The most average engine for an average car. For the 40 year old who doesn’t rush anywhere because “the destination won’t move, it’s still there”. Caution with the particle filter and EGR which clog if they’re constantly driven in the start/stop urban driving. 

Hyundai Elantra AD Reliability Issues

• You have everything you need but nothing more. You can’t complain about the features, but you won’t cry with joy when you see the interior or the cheap plastics either.


• As mentioned above, the CVT transmission is not the best automatic transmission possible, and I don’t understand why they put it on the Elantra. And the dual clutch 7DCT which came along doesn’t impress me either and neither should you. 


• The air conditioning is like an asthmatic occasionally coughing through the vents. Alternatively, you can roll down the window in summer.


• The suspension aims to give a sporty feel, which isn’t bad. If the Hyundai Elantra AD were a sports car and not a cheap sedan meant to get you from A to B.

Hyundai Elantra AD Verdict

I don’t know how much longer classic, old-fashioned cars with old technology will still be around. The Hyundai Elantra strongly reminds me of the Seat Exeo, another car built with tech from the past. Sure, you can’t add much extras to it, and maybe the engines doesn’t incite hooliganism, but if you want a reliable, new, and cheap car, the Hyundai Elantra might be the best solution for you. Soon available on the shelves of major electronics chains.

Which engines do I recommend? The 1.6 MPI with 123 HP is all you have, so you’ll have to make do. Not because it’s a bad engine, but because you have no other option.