![]() The five-speed transmission Hyundai supplies with this engine is a perfect fit with the mission of the car, allowing you to exploit every bit of the engine’s performance when you’re feeling talented and adventurous while still managing acceptable gas mileage when you aren’t. I repeat: economy cars need three pedals. Keep the standard five-speed manual, though, and you’ll be humming Johnny and the Sprites in no time. There’s a four-speed automatic available, but the gear ratios just don’t mesh with the engine characteristics. The powerplant revs freely, produces entirely adequate thrust, and makes a decent noise higher up in the rev range. Fortunately, the corporate four-banger is as tasty as bi bim bop. The same two-litre four cylinder engine motoivate both transportation devices, pumping out 138hp at 6000 rpm, and 136 lb.-ft. The Elantra’s interior is only close enough to “premium” to make its similarities to the Spectra jump out at you all the more.Įngine-wise, the Elantra and Spectra are twins under the skin. But the seats and controls underneath are Spectratastic. Leather may be available, the automatic gearstick may zig-zag through the gates to get to each selection, and the center console may have an interesting two-tiered shape to it. The Elantra’s interior, however, can’t cash the check the exterior attempts to write. The switchgear feels… functional, the controls are intelligently laid out, the steering wheel is (thankfully) bereft of buttons, and the plastics don’t get too depressing until you start hunting them out. The Spectra carries it’s sort of respectable simplicity inside the cabin, feeling exactly like a Cobalt and looking only slightly nicer. The socially-awkward manager-in-training and the wannabe skater chick show their sisterhood in their interiors. ![]() ![]() The Elantra is the ill-fitting designer knockoff hanging in Hyundai’s closet next to the Spectra’s denim jeans. But while the cars the Elantra attempts to roughly emulate look sleek and feminine, the Elantra itself comes across as heavy and dumpy. Sure, it has smooth curves and little accents and complex head lights and all that jazz. Neither car takes any sort of chances the Spectra manages to be almost handsome in that simple and clean sort of way that makes a Cobalt coupe acceptable. The Spectra pulls off its hipster looks to a much greater degree than the Elantra pulls off the Lexus thing. But does the reality match the marketing dream? Clearly, the Elantra is aimed at the sort of people that pretend to have stock options, while the Spectra is aimed at the sort of people that pretend to have social lives. The Spectra brochure has “spark” blue and “spicy” red cars racing along winding roads between keggers and climbing walls. The Elantra brochure is full of “black pearl,” “captiva” white, and “quicksilver” Elantras posing in front of fountains and driving through jewel-like cityscapes. The Spectra’s brochure is just standard gloss paper with two staples. The Elantra’s brochure is surprisingly substantial, printed on premium paper stock and bound with an actual binding. Is it a distinction without a difference, in the not-so-grand tradition of General Motors? Let’s have a look to each model’s respective brochures… In fact, American buyers hunting in that market segment can choose between Hyundai’s Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Spectra. As you’d expect, the company offers the now-essential model in any current car range: the budget-priced, fuel-efficient compact car. In the process, the Korean automaker acquired struggling brother Kia. ![]() Find out more about our advertising opportunities.In the last ten years or so, Hyundai decided it’d be fun to build things that resemble cars that people want to buy. Advertise Advertising on is well-targeted, has unique benefits, and is highly successful. ![]() Looking for something lighter? Read our funny complaints to see people who found humor in a bad situation. Vehicle Problems Find out what cars to avoid, view the latest problem trends, or keep up-to-date with the most recently reported problems. Contact us with any comments or concerns. Car Problem Resources Around the Site Information Find out more about us in the press or read stories from drivers who praise our work.The complaints are organized into groups with data published by vehicle, vehicle component, and specific problem. ® is an online automotive complaint resource that uses graphs to show automotive defect patterns, based on complaint data submitted by visitors to the site. ![]()
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