I saw one of them on the road today and they look really good in person.
Plus 40 mpg and a $15,500 price ...

I was gonna wait for a 2012 Focus as my next car, but this sounds like a much better deal to me.

 

not bad looking..I like the sculpturing on the upper part of the dash.

 

You do realize that the $15,500 base Elantra is very stripped down and doesn't even have AC, right? Also no cruise, steel wheels, non-telescoping wheel, etc. Option it out to the level of what is standard on a base Focus, and the prices are a lot closer. For me, I could live without AC, but I'd be sharing the car with my wife, and she has to have it.

That being said, even though i have had a lifelong dislike of Korean cars, after looking over the Elantra, I might actually consider owning one. For me, the styling isn't offensive, you can get quite a few options on them and come in at similar prices or a little less than the competition, and one of the best things IMO, both the manual and auto trans cars are rated the same EPA 40 mpg highway. The new Focus and some of the other new more efficient compacts require you to get a special package, usually requiring an auto only, to get the highest mpg rating.

There are a few things I don't like about the new 2012 Focus after sitting in a couple of them at the Detroit auto show this year, but I'll have to wait and see what they drive like and what kind of mileage the manual trans Focus get when they arrive later this year. When I priced out an Elantra and a Focus they way I'd want them, they were pretty close in price IIRC.

 

I have to have a/c (summers are hot in Wisconsin), but I can live without the rest (I've been doing that with my F-150 for the past 6 years). For $1,500 less than a Focus (and even more if Focus hatchback is ordered) and 40 mpg on all models ... for the first time I might actually buy something that's not a Ford.

Although Focus sedan looks just as good in this color with these rims.

 

While the new Elantra certainly looks better than the old (and makes me happy Ford snagged their designer ) even the coldest first impression articles have stated pretty clearly that Focus is the class of the field. Drive them both and tell us how you'd rate them

 

hmm. interesting, may consider this car too if it can store a longboard inside.

 

I am a sales manager at a Hyundai dealership...


So for an Elantra GLS auto premium pack (wheels, bluetooth, etc) in an auto the MSRP is $18,560 and the stick is $17,500...problem is no manuals are available as of yet equipped like that in the northeast.

The store i work at is also a large volume Toyota store...let's just say it's very hard to sell a Corolla next to an Elantra. a base Corolla LE auto is $18,160 with "only" 132 hp, 35 mpg, no wheels, bluetooth, 4 speed auto, etc!

Hyundai has finally arrived!!! LOL i have worked for Hyundai for 13 years and I love the fact that people are blown away by their cars now...it's been a long time coming

 

oh and another cool fact is the Elantra is built in the USA, right alongside the Sonata in Alabama!

 

I saw this car in person at the Philly car show in person.

It looked pretty good.

 

i test drove this car back in december/january (can't remember) and i LOVED it!
it is a great deal... but the face doesn't do it for me unfortunately,
and most importantly, it doesnt do it for my wife neither, she's the one looking for a car.
but, oh man, the interior was VERY nice, the ride was smooth, and the feel/fit of it felt like i was in a much more expensive (and bigger) car.
one of the top cars i have test driven.
i would choose it over the focus.

 

Love what Hyundai is doing... This and the new Sonata are great cars.

 

You would choose it over the current Focus or the 2012 that has not hit dealerships yet?


Good luck with your Elantra purchase Zoran, keep us posted.

 

Actually in May I'm going to Serbia and I'll stay there for about 6 months or so. I already started looking for a car there, it's most likely gonna be a used Focus or Mondeo diesel. I'll be back to the States in ~October and then shopping for a new car will most likely start.

 

current. gotta wait to test drive the new focus to make that decision.

 

Checked one out on the dealer lot last night, pleasantly surprised. Not too thrilled with the difference between the base and top level trims options (available features) and price-wise, but still pretty nice. Too bad the 2.0T is not available for this - it would make for one quick little car and still get decent mileage ratings. Put that in the wagon, and I'd be all over it.