Hyundai has a greatly improved quality standing, as well as a fresh product line, growing sales. But in addition, it has a significant issue: It Is a car company in a truck -centered world. The sales mix of the brand is 76 percent autos in a marketplace which is running at 57 percent trucks, including ever-more- crossovers that are popular.

Meanwhile, its automobile development is not impeding, and the new Elantra is evidence. But the auto had important weaknesses; specifically, a poor construction that fluttered through a poor suspension that delivered a plodding ride instead of much pleasure to the steering system as well as bulges. The bar in body refinement significantly transfers, in huge part by being pasted together.

Aerospace adhesives have for ages been accommodated to automobile building to provide constant bonding along a seam for additional rigidity and to augment or replace spot welds and fasteners. If it were an AMT version, it could certainly survive your youth examining regimen of cellar and firecrackers -wall impacts.

Besides that, Hyundai has reconfigured the back twist-beam suspension having a much more and longer perpendicular shock absorber for better impact damping, and ran an extensive noise reduction system. New sound-deadening material better subframe isolation, in the wheel wells, and firewall holes that are smaller and a thicker windshield and side glass join to cut on cabin noise. Greater use of high-strength steel, says the firm, enabled it to hold the line using the heaviest Limited as well as the lightest SE guide at only over 2750 pounds. That is with Elantras in line we've examined before.

A six-speed manual also is on the foundation SE. A third, more powerful engine will come this autumn in a Sport version to be revealed at SEMA. Secrecy bound us to not talk about the Sport much, but it might only possess a leading technical change between its back wheels that doesn't include propulsion.

Hyundai let's try the most pricey variation in the San Diego hinterlands to get a day.

But while its measurements are almost exactly like it and the old Elantra's offers decent backseat space as well as a 14-cubic foot trunk that grows with folding rear seatbacks, the automobile is quite a bit stiffer, the impacts causing waves of shudders in the steering and body column. Also, wind and road noise as well as the unavoidable thwack of the Limited's big, 225/45 tires on 17-inch wheels smacking the pavement are enjoyably, the cottage an adequate isolation chamber for this price point. a car at

The controls of the newest car are nicely weighted and receptive, when it wants to, the suspensor digesting the road, and the Elantra can hustle rather than readily thrown off its course by rough pavement. It is no Mazda 3, but it is a stiff stage which to base more sporty versions like the aforementioned Elantra Sport, along with perhaps a coupe as well as a tiny crossover. As this one should be every measure Hyundai takes toward dynamic refinement will be encouraged.

You must poke the 2.0 greatly to get any actual push, but the torque band is acceptably wide and it serves its responsibilities with a dull and dispassionate growl. Three driving modes--Eco, Sport, and Normal--fiddle together with the shift time, throttle response, and directing attempt, using the light Sport way being none too sporty (this isn't a criticism; it fits the car's character). There are not any paddles, so you need to remove one hand in the steering wheel and work the shift lever, if you'd like to change yourself. The computer does a great job of providing the proper ratios as needed if you had rather not.

With sales of passenger cars dampening, even the powerful midsize section is taking a hit. This refreshed compact, this mini Sonata, is not going to create lots of headlines, but it is a significant development to a crucial player in the line of Hyundai. Using the new Elantra, the business proves itself ready to handle its problems and exceptionally receptive to criticism.