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By
EWAN KENNEDY
13 December 2004
The
Hyundai Lantra, called the Elantra in its later stages, is a
small-medium Korean car that tends to be upstaged by its smaller brother
the Excel. Which doesn’t quite make sense as it’s a better car in a
lot of ways, offering not only more interior space, but also improved
handling and a more refined feel on the road.
A quick word about the two different names for the same car. When
Hyundai first proposed bringing in the Elantra, Mitsubishi in Australia
complained the name was too close to that of its Elite model, thus
forcing Hyundai to chop the E off the Elantra to create the Lantra.
The car wasn’t always as good in the steering department as it is
today, from 1995 the Lantra has a good degree of steering precision and
cornering capability. In fact it’s nicer to drive than many other cars
from the same era as other cars from Asian makers. And the Elantra is
even better in the way it rides and handles. These Hyundais are a good
choice for the keen driver who’s on a pretty tight budget.
The Lantra first went on sale in Australia in May 1991. It was fully
renewed in August 1995. Those second series cars are a big improvement
on the older ones. Build quality improved noticeably throughout their
life so the later the model you can afford the better it’s likely to
be. Hyundai Elantra replaced the Lantra in October 2000 and is a further
improvement on the older Lantras.
All Lantras were four-door sedans until February 1996 when a five-door
wagon became an option. Interior room is generally good, though sedans,
particularly in the later series, are a little restricted for rear-seat
headroom. Boot size in the sedan is good, but the wagon’s rounded
styling restricts space somewhat.
Elantras were sold only as four-door sedans and five-door hatchbacks.
Both are reasonably spacious and can be used as small-family cars.
The Hyundai engines are twin-cam fuel-injected units in all models. The
powerplant works reasonably well. The performance from the 1.6-litre
unit used before the 1995 update is regarded as marginal by some, others
are happy with it. The 1.8-litre engine used from then on is good. The
pick of the bunch is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder that was introduced in
the topline version of the Elantra in 2000 and carried down to the rest
of the range in 2003.
All manual gearboxes have five speeds, automatic transmissions have
four. Manual gearboxes have a sloppy gearchange that can baulk at times.
Some cars are better than others so shop around for one of the good
ones.
Insurance costs are around average, as you would expect from a car of
this size and type. We don't know of any real variation in premium
charges from company to company.
These cars have good underbonnet access, so are relatively easy to work
on. Parts prices are generally reasonable. We did hear of some problems
with the availability of spares in the earlier days, but these
complaints have all but dried up.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
If the engine is slow to start, especially when it’s cold, or if
it rattles at its bottom end when first started, it could be due for an
overhaul. Be wary of an engine that doesn’t accelerate smoothly. Some
hesitation is acceptable on an old, cold engine, but too much indicates
troubles.
Look for wear in the seat bases, split seams in the upholstery and
discolouring of the materials. Interiors don't stand up to hard use
particularly well and can be aged ahead of their time by continuous
exposure to sunlight.
The manual gearchange can be sloppy and imprecise, even more so in
post-1995 Lantras than in older ones. If it seems too bad it can result
in crunched gearchanges and damaged synchromesh and therefore the
necessity for an overhaul. Elantras are a lot better than Lantras.
Look for fluid leaks at the brake callipers and backing plates and also
check the shock absorbers are free from oil on outside of their
housings.
Body quality is generally good, though we have seen rust in the lower
panels of some that have been repaired after a crash. Check for repairs
by looking for paint overspray on glass and other unpainted areas,
ripples in the panels and paint colours that don’t match correctly.
CAR BUYING TIP
Shop around for finance and insurance with as much enthusiasm as you put
into finding the best car. It can save you a surprising amount.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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1991
Hyundai Lantra |
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1999
Hyundai Lantra |
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2000
Hyundai Elantra |
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