There are plenty of comparisons to draw between the recent emergence of the Korean automakers and the rise of the Japanese manufacturers in the 1980s. By creating a reputation for reliability, then slowly introducing sportier versions of their cars to the market, Japanese carmakers captured the hearts, and wallets, of thousands of South Africans. We take a look at one such comparison between the Toyota Corolla 1.6 Twincam GLi, and its spiritual successor, the new Hyundai Elantra 1.6 Turbo.
Back in the 1980s, there were vastly fewer motoring options than there are today, and if you wanted something zippy and powerful, yet economical, there was only one car to have – the Toyota Corolla 1.6 Twincam GLi. Today, there are plenty more options, but just one has, in our view, got the goods to be called the spiritual successor to the Twincam Corolla, and that is the new Hyundai Elantra Turbo.
When the Corolla Twincam debuted, there was nothing like it available anywhere, and an instant classic was born. Up to that time, if performance was what you wanted you had to settle for a much larger car than the Corolla. Think Ford’s 3.0-litre Cortina or one of the big German saloons.
The upstart compact sedan broke all the rules, and help set Toyota to maintain its course as the most significant motoring brand in the country.
It was quite a brash little thing, that Twincam. Eager to go, yes, but also besieged by annoying torque-steer and lousy brakes. It was the most fun you could have for the equivalent of under R400,000 today.
A CLASSIC REBORN
It’s no secret that Hyundai has been working to emulate the success of its Japanese rivals across the globe, and in South Africa that strategy translates to giving people reliable cars at affordable prices first, then slowly introducing pizzazz to the mix.
And so the Korean brand surprised everyone in mid-2017 by introducing its sleeper sporty sedan for a mere R399,900.
Sporting crisper styling than its more mundane stablemates – purposely targeting other premium compact and business sedan buyers in the process – the blown Elantra doesn’t only look good, it also goes like the clappers thanks to Hyundai lifting the engine from the Veloster Turbo and bolting on a quick-shifting seven-speed dual clutch transmission with optimised mapping.
Pushing out 150 kW at 6,000 r/min and 265 Nm from 1,500 r/min – the Corolla managed 103 kW at 7,200 r/min and 147 Nm at 6,000 – the Elantra has an urgency about it, but not quite the guts to challenge some of the seriously hot hatches around.
Unfortunately, it suffers from a similar torque steer problem that saw the old Twincam jostle and jump from standstill in the good old days, but it is refreshing that the car has some personality built into it, given how stale so many other cars in this segment have become.
SPORTY YET SENSIBLE
The Elantra might not be a straight-line barnstormer, but it surprisingly quick and handles corners without much effort. The suspension is stiffer than one would expect, but presumably, Hyundai wants you to feel like you’re driving a performance sedan, in this they have succeeded quite well.
At its core, though, the sporty Hyundai has another job to do besides surprise a few unsuspecting boy racers at the traffic light. It also needs to be a daily runner, and being a Hyundai it has to be very good at doing that.
In this respect it retains all the good qualities of the rest of the Elantra range. A spacious cabin evolves into a remarkably cavernous boot. Occupant comfort levels are quite high, and the cabin feels solidly made. If you’re not into red leather seats, then the Elantra Turbo will not work for you, though, as red leather with contrast stitching, and red detailing on the steering, carpets and dash is the only available upholstery choice for this model.
Onboard entertainment courtesy of Hyundai’s proprietary sound system with touchscreen and built-in satellite navigation. There is also Bluetooth connectivity, USB, and auxiliary input.
The flagship in the Elantra range is sold with Hyundai’s five-year/150,000 km manufacturer’s warranty, a two-year/50,000 km powertrain warranty, and a five-year/90,000 km service plan. Five years worth of roadside assistance is also included by Hyundai South Africa
LAST WORD
For a brand that is more accustomed to creating family SUVs, Hyundai has done a great job of giving their middle-of-the-road sedan some personality. Much like the twin cam Corollas and Conquests of yesteryear, I predict that the Elantra Turbo will earn Hyundai some newfound respect from buyers who would previously not have turned to the Korean brand. In essence, that is exactly what Toyota did in its heyday, and if only some of the success of the Toyota can rub off onto the solid and composed Korean, then Hyundai’s performance future looks remarkably bright. Suddenly, we can hardly wait for the arrival of Hyundai’s 202 kW i30 N hatchback (hopefully) later in the year.
