2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Text and photos by Gabriela Gorvena Galvan

I have to admit to having mixed feelings about this 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited, and that all due the fact that the previous one was so good in its design. Similar to what Hyundai has done with the Sonata, they seem to have been shocked by the success of the previous generation and thought they had the best chance to keep that audience by becoming less daring, more conservative. It is not that this is a bad car, not all, it is very good in fact, but the design language of the previous generation was screaming modern and advanced and sexy and powerful and dramatic and unique and super cool. This one’s language is a weaker version of it at best, a “meh” from me.

Okay, let’s be totally honest. This is a really good car. It has the meanwhile standard excellent Hyundai built quality and fit and finish, choice of materials etc. So in that respect you would buy a really good car. But I am convinced that, like me, a lot of people were choosing the previous generation Elantra because it stood out from the crowd, it was not 0 8 15 as the Germans say. There was nothing average about it, and we, the audience, reacted to that, since it told us we were not getting old and conservative yet, we had life and passion in us, we were still young and want to be heard screaming that we are. In this car not so much.

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited drives really well, has a strong enough and comfortable engine, excellent seating position, comfortable IP, but again, like on the exterior, nothing earth shattering, outstanding. Just a very good solid product…, if you’re looking for that. I am looking for that wrapped in sexy, heart pounding, exciting at an affordable price. Hopefully the next generation will satisfy my desires in that respect.