Test drive Toyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra
In the long-settled C segment, cars from Asia are now ruling the show, and the Japanese and Koreans do not intend to abandon this market. Both new items have changed their style, but in general they keep their traditions.
After bestsellers like Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra left our country, the golf class in Russia shrank noticeably, but did not disappear. The market is still full of offers, and if the choice in favor of the Skoda Octavia or Kia Cerato seems to be a formulaic one, then you can pay attention to the new Toyota Corolla or the updated Hyundai Elantra. Despite their modest appearance, these models have a very good set of consumer qualities.
Moscow got up in the bustle of the New Year. For half an hour, Toyota Corolla, squeezed in the grip of traffic on the Moscow Ring Road, practically does not move anywhere. But the engine continues to thresh at idle, and the average consumption on the on-board computer screen begins to resemble a timer. The number 8,7 changes to 8,8, and then to 8,9. After another 20-30 minutes without moving, the value exceeds the psychological mark of 9 liters.
Start / stop systems are not installed on the Toyota junior sedan even for an extra charge. So, maybe it's for the best that Corolla is offered in Russia with only one 1,6-liter engine. Yes, this naturally aspirated engine does not have outstanding performance: it has only 122 hp. Still, he copes well with the 1,5-ton machine. Acceleration to "hundreds" in 10,8 seconds is measured and calm, but you don't feel restrained. At least in the city.
On the track, the situation is not changing for the better. You drown the accelerator, and the car picks up speed very hard. On-the-fly acceleration is the Corolla's Achilles heel. Although the CVT works logically and allows the engine to crank almost to the red zone. And in general, to guess that the petrol "four" is assisted by a variator, and not a classic automatic machine, it is possible only at the start of the movement, when the car starts off with a slight jolt. This is especially noticeable when you start energetically. Otherwise, the operation of the variator does not cause any questions.
In general, the Japanese sedan leaves the impression of a very balanced car. The salon is spacious, the trunk is necessary, sufficient, with a minimum of claims for ergonomics. Unless the bright blue dashboard illumination begins to annoy in the dark. But adherence to this color of design is a tradition worse than the famous electronic watches from the 80s, which were put on Toyota cars until 2016.
In addition to unsuccessful backlighting, there are only a couple of annoying little things. First, the toggle buttons for heated seats, which look so archaic, as if they moved here from the same 80s. And secondly, the location of the only USB connector for charging the smartphone, which is hidden on the front panel somewhere in the area of the glove box lock. Without looking at the instruction manual, you will not find it.
Yes, there is already a platform for wireless charging of smartphones, but the share of those on the market is quite small, so the USB connector is still a rather necessary thing to place it in the cabin in the amount of more than one piece.
What the Corolla pleasantly surprises with is its chassis settings. After moving to the new TNGA architecture, the car pleases with a good balance of handling and comfort. Unlike the previous generation of the sedan, which drove very bland, this one pleases with adequate handling and good reactions. At the same time, the energy intensity of the dampers and the smoothness of the ride remained at a high level.
By and large, the only obstacle when choosing a Corolla is the price. The car is imported to Russia from the Turkish Toyota plant, so the price includes not only the cost, logistics, utilization fee, but also huge customs duties. And despite the fact that the price of the car starts at a rather attractive mark of $ 15, the Corolla is still expensive.
The base price is the cost of an almost "empty" car with "mechanics". A decently equipped Toyota in the Comfort trim costs $ 18. And the top version "Prestige Safety" with driver's assistants and a winter package will cost exactly $ 784. For this money, Elantra will be already with a two-liter engine and also "in the top". Moreover, with such a budget, you can even take a closer look at the basic Sonata.
Only the lazy didn’t tell how much Hyundai is upset over comparisons between the Elantra and Solaris models. I think it was because of this similarity with the younger brother that the Elantra was subjected to such a radical restyling, and now it has its own face. True, it was this that caused so many controversies, but now this car is certainly not confused with the Solaris.
It is also important that after restyling the sedan received LED optics. And it is good: it beats into the distance with a cold bright light. It is a pity that it is available only starting from the third configuration. And the two basic versions with a 1,6-liter engine still rely on halogen light. Instead of LEDs, a shiny chrome bezel flaunts around the usual headlights. And given the lack of a headlight washer, in the dark, such optics do not seem to be a very good choice.
But Elantra has a complete order with the place. A large trunk with side openings takes almost 500 liters of luggage, and there is room under the floor for a full-size spare tire. The spaciousness of this small sedan is surprising even in the back row. Three can freely sit here, and two will feel royally, leaning on the soft armrest.
There is also enough space in the front, and in terms of ergonomics, the Elantra is not inferior to Europeans. Seat and rudder settings for reach and height are wide enough. There is an armrest in the center between the driver and passenger, and under it there is a spacious box. Even the available versions have dual-zone climate control, with deflectors for the rear passengers. They are also entitled to a heated sofa. In general, even in a fairly simple configuration, the sedan is well equipped.
On the go Elantra with a 1,6-liter MPI aspirated with a capacity of 128 liters. with. and a six-speed "automatic" pleasantly surprises. The engine is quite torquey, so it gives the sedan good dynamics. And only when you go for a long overtaking, there is a clear desire to add traction. By personal feelings, the Korean car is more dynamic than the Toyota Corolla, although on paper everything is different. Or such an impression is created by an automatic machine, which, with its switches, makes acceleration not as linear as a Japanese variator.
As for the pendants, there are no surprises here. Like the pre-styling Elantra, this car doesn't like road trifles. Large pits work well, but noisy. Moreover, the sounds from the operation of the suspensions clearly penetrate into the interior. Studded tires are also heard well. The Koreans have clearly saved on soundproofing the arches.
However, you can put up with many of the car's flaws when you look at the price list. Elantra is offered in four versions Start, Base, Active and Elegance. For the "base" you will have to pay at least $ 13. The top version with a two-liter engine will cost $ 741, and the very presence of such a unit can also play in favor of the Elantra.
For the average Active trim level with a junior motor and automatic transmission, which was tested, you will have to pay $ 16. And for that money, you'll have dual-zone climate control, a rain sensor, heated seats and steering wheel, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, Bluetooth, a color-screen audio system, but only halogen optics and fabric interior. This is also an argument in favor of the "Korean".
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| dimensions (length, width, height), mm | 4630/1780/1435 | 4620/1800/1450 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2700 | 2700 |
| Cargo space, l | 470 | 460 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1385 | 1325 |
| engine's type | Gasoline R4 | Gasoline R4 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | 1598 | 1591 |
| Max. power, l. with. (at rpm) | 122/6000 | 128/6300 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | 153/5200 | 155/4850 |
| Drive type, transmission | CVT, front | AKP6, front |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | 10,8 | 11,6 |
| Max. speed km / h | 185 | 195 |
| Fuel consumption (mixed cycle), l per 100 km | 7,3 | 6,7 |
| Price from, $. | 17 265 | 15 326 |
