2013 Elantra GT wins 2012 UK Carbuyer Car of the Year

[WinWin]

Coming out this summer and known as the 2012 i30 in the UK.

Hey All,

After my obsessional research, I've so far come up with the new 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT, the 2012 UK Carbuyer COTY, as the best car for me and my family.

Besides reports of Volkswagen engineers looking at one at a car show and remarking that they could learn a thing or two, why do I also consider it the best?

Pros

- great mileage - 29/40 mpg (real world from one review is apparently 25/36...but who knows how broken in that engine was) - this is due to it being the lightest car in class by at least 150 lbs, due to Hyundai's high tensile metal that they produce in their own factory + 0.30 coefficient of drag
- best-in-class cargo space with back seats up and second, I believe, for seats down + lots of interior storage slots and spaces
- Hyundai's usual great standard options, which includes heated front seats, A/C, Bluetooth connectivity, electronic stability control
- though it doesn't have the performance and sporty handling of the Ford Focus, it is still nonetheless a very nice ride (remember, it's a more refined economy car) with low road noise
- good safety rating
- nice looking car inspired by a former BMW designer
- low long-term running costs
- great value for the money + increasing Hyundai residual value

Cons

- usual Hyundai/Kia vague electronic steering
- lack of "sporty" performance (but good enough for city passenger performance)
- lack of rear visibility due to small rear window
- for all the extra goodies, the price has risen slightly compared to the 2012 Elantra Sedan (North American car of the year; but still less than a Ford Focus)
- poor Hyundai image and thus resale value - but this is changing in Canada, as Hyundai recently won most improved residual value and ranks as #7


UK Carbuyer Video Review

Here's the first video review of the GT (i30 in the UK), where it won car of the year there from Carbuyer.co.uk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WDrp-g3bHM


In-depth car review

If you would also like to read the most in-depth review you'll ever read, perhaps of any car, then read the new journalistic review standard for car reviews set by this 75-year-old, yes, I said 75-year-old(!) retiree Alan Ho, who got to give the i30 a premarket test drive that included both speedtrack and urban-road driving. (In another thread, he takes out 2 different i30 models and has the sales guy use a decibel meter to record road noise over various surfaces).
http://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/i...?topic=13340.0

He does comparisons with the UK versions of the VW Golf, Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
http://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/i...?topic=13829.0


Improved Hyundai Residual Value

from the Toronto Star:
http://www.wheels.ca/columns/article/805768

"Automotive research firm ALG Canada has released its 2012 Residual Value Awards, and three Japanese brands have topped its list this year. Subaru snagged the number one ranking for the third year in a row. Mazda took second place, and Honda nabbed third spot.

The “most improved” brand went to Korea’s Hyundai. It surpassed the industry average, ending up in seventh place overall."


ALG's 2012 Canadian Brand Winners:
https://www.alg.com/ResidualValueAwardsCA

Mainstream Brand Residual Value Rankings

1. Subaru
2. Mazda
3. Honda
4. Toyota
5. Volkswagen
6. Nissan
7. Hyundai
8. Kia

Only brands above the industry average were ranked.