The ever-growing entry-luxury segment is too sweet a pie for Hyundai to resist. So, it’s sent over the all-new Elantra to claim its share, a sedan that combines Korean value with the best of European common-rail diesel technology.

“The Elantra CRDi keeps up with most petrols in its class — with apparently less effort.”

HYUNDAI ELANTRA CRDi
List price (Mumbai)
Rs 11.0 lakh
Top speed 185 kph
0-100kph 11.62 sec
Kpl 11.6 (city) ,
14.7 (highway)
For Performance, equipment, cruising stability
Against Sluggish at low revs, low rear seat

There are several reasons why the entry luxury car market today is seeing
exponential growth. Deemed 'just right' by a number of customers, the 'lower D-segment cars are making buyers stretch their budgets, as well as attracting those with deeper pockets, who are looking for better value. For starters, the size is about right. Large enough to be comfortable without being unwieldy, attractive enough to be treated with respect, fast, relatively efficient, safe and most importantly at a price that's within the reach of many today. So it's not surprising that this segment has been the fastest-growing in the market and it's even less surprising that every manufacturer wants a slice of this pie. Hyundai is the latest entrant, with its all-new Elantra poised to snap at the heels of the Optra, Corolla and Octavia. As a company that does nothing by halves, Hyundai recognises the large and important role this class of car will play in the months and years to come. As a result, no stone has been left unturned in fine-tuning the Elantra to suit the requirements of its target audience.
Has Hyundai succeeded in delivering a car that will delight Indian customers? Does it have the potential to lead its segment like the Santro and the Accent have done? We put the new Elantra CRDi, the most promising version, through a full road test to give you the answers.