New Car: 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring

The first glimpse we had of the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring 5-Door came at last year's SEMA show, where a prototype was converted into a "Beach Cruiser" concept for that event. While we weren't wild about that concept, the production version of the Elantra Touring was unveiled today at the Montreal Auto Show, and it looks set to take on its primarily Japanese competition.
Equipped with a 141 horsepower, 16-valve 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed automatic is optional), the Elantra Touring's acceleration will probably fall in the "peppy" category -- just shy of "brisk." Still, power should compare favorably with other front-drive competitors such as the Mazda3. Underpinning the hatchback is the same front strut/rear multi-link suspension as in the standard Elantra sedan, though stabilizer bars are now found at both ends, and the damper and spring rates have been retuned for slightly more aggressive driving dynamics.

Plenty of sporty touches have been added to the interior to distinguish the Elantra Touring from the more pedestrian standard sedan variant. Leather now wraps both steering wheel and shift knob, while blue backlit gauges fill the instrument panel with a cool glow. A six-speaker audio setup plays CDs and features both an auxiliary input and a USB port for playing MP3s from a mobile device. A storage tray even surrounds the inputs, offering a convenient place to store the device both while in use and when idle. The rear seatback is of the 60/40 folding type for ample storage space (Hyundai claims more useable room than the Mazda3 Sport), and leather seating is available.

Exterior styling seems to be par for the course, as far as the five-door segment is concerned. Chrome accents, tinted glass, fog lamps, and optional 17-inch wheels give the Elantra Touring a little edge, but it will take some bright paintwork (the red shown in these pictures will do nicely) before it gets a second look approaching in the rear-view mirror. Of course this is a mixed blessing, as just as your friends may not pay much attention to the Elantra Touring, the Highway Patrol is also unlikely to do so.
Pricing has not yet been determined for the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring, but we'll no doubt have an update in that regard before it hits U.S. showrooms later this year.