Preview: Will the 2017 Hyundai Elantra be a benchmark for D-segment cars in India?

The new Elantra made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and now Hyundai is all set to bring it to India. Hyundai has not announced any particular time frame for the launch of the new Elantra, although we believe it will arrive by the end of this year. The Elantra could be priced between Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and competes with the Chevrolet Cruze and the Skoda Octavia in India.

Hyundai first launched the Elantra in 2003 in its third-generation avatar. Back then the sedan was appreciated for its space and utility. With its dull design, however, the Elantra couldn't do much for the Korean brand. In 2012, Hyundai updated the Elantra with the new Fluidic Design language which made it look way more modern and attractive than the previous model. The new Elantra will get a new generation makeover with new mechanicals.

Design

From the look of it, Hyundai has chosen a European theme for the new Elantra instead of using its popular Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 language seen on the Elite i20, Verna and the i20 Active. The large front hexagonal grille on the new Elantra looks reminiscent of the G90 sedan from Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis. The front profile has been updated with HID headlamps paired with dynamic bending lights. The front bumper design has been tweaked and features vertically stacked new LED DRLs.

The side profile of the new Elantra looks similar to the previous model except that it gets sophisticated lines instead of the arches seen on the previous model. Also, the new design has made the Elantra longer by 80mm and wider by 25mm than the previous model. However, the wheelbase has been left unchanged at 2,700mm. The new Elantra will continue to run on 16-inch alloys which will come as standard on all variants.

The rear profile of the new Elantra looks similar to the previous iteration with minimal changes such as the new LED lights which look similar to that of the Hyundai Elite i20 and the new bumper.

Interior, features and options

Hyundai has always had an edge over its rivals when it comes to premium interiors. In the new Elantra too, the cabin gets plush materials which make it look more upmarket than before. It gets a new three-spoke steering wheel, updated instrumental cluster and a revised central panel.

The top-end variants are expected to come with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which will be equipped with Android Auto and navigation as standard. The mid and base variants will get a simple LCD display screen with buttons to access the navigation system.

In terms of safety, the new Elantra will continue to be offered with six airbags, impact sensing door locks and electronic stability programme. Also, ABS with EBD will come as standard on all variants.

Engine

Presently, the Hyundai Elantra is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol motor that makes 149PS of power at 6,500rpm and generates 180Nm of torque at 4,700rpm. This engine comes with a choice of 6-speed automatic or manual transmissions. The diesel variants make use of a 1.6-litre motor that churns out 128PS at 4,000rpm and creates 260Nm of torque at 1,900-2,750rpm. This motor is also offered with a choice between 6-speed automatic or manual transmissions. We believe Hyundai will offer the new-gen Elantra with new set of engines. The 2.0-liter Nu MPI Atkinson four-cylinder engine produces a peak of 147 PS at 6,200 rpm and 180Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. This 2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder engine will be paired with either a standard six-speed manual transmission or a next generation six-speed automatic transmission.

We have sampled the diesel automatic in our review and found that at lower revs, it doesn't feel as energetic as it does in the mid-range. We also stated that Hyundai could do well with a dual clutch box or a quicker, more in-sync automatic transmission to improve the performance aspect.

Price

The new Hyundai Elantra will rival the likes of Skoda Octavia (Rs 16.27 lakh to Rs. 21.99 lakh), Chevrolet Cruze (Rs 14.65 lakh to Rs 18.31 lakh) and the Renault Fluence (Rs 14.72 lakh to Rs 16.31 lakh). We expect the upcoming Hyundai Elantra to lie in the same Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh price bracket as the existing model. Stay tuned to OVERDRIVE for all the latest updates on the upcoming Hyundai Elantra.