Is the new Hyundai Elantra better than the Toyota Altis?

The new Hyundai Elantra has been launched priced between Rs. 12.51 lakh and Rs. 15.85 lakh. Here we pit it against the popular Toyota Corolla Altis, which is one of its chief rivals to see which car comes out on top.

Looks

In terms of looks the new Fluidic Elantra is more attractive than the Altis which is now old and mundane in terms of exterior design. However looks are a personal choice and many still find the Altis with its traditional design lines classy and attractive. The Elantra looks sporty and aggressive compared to the Altis and has an attractive stance.

Price and value for money

The Toyota Corolla Altis starts at Rs. 11 lakh for the base petrol which is Rs. 1.51 lakh cheaper than the base Elantra priced at Rs. 12.51 lakh. If we look at the top-of-the-line petrol variants of both these cars, then the top-end Altis petrol priced at Rs.15.43 lakh is Rs. 69,000 more expensive than the top-end petrol Elantra which comes at Rs. 14.74. So if you are buying an automatic the Elantra is more VFM than the Corolla. Also read: Hyundai Elantra: 18 great features of the Neo Fluidic

Coming to the diesel variants we find that the base Elantra diesel priced at Rs. 12.91 lakh is almost Rs.1 lakh more expensive than the base Altis diesel which comes at Rs. 12 lakh. When we compare the top end diesel variants we see that the Elantra SX AT comes in at Rs. 15.85 lakh while the Altis GL comes in at Rs. 15.23 lakh. However the top end Altis diesel is not available with automatic transmission, so if you are going for the top end diesel the Elantra diesel is more lucrative.

Space and comfort

The Toyota Corolla Altis offers an extremely comfortable ride, with its soft suspension, that is ideal for bad roads. It goes over most potholes with ease thanks to its 175 mm of ground clearance. It has ample space for three to sit in the rear seats. The Elantra too is comfortable and offers little bit more space in the rear seats. Overall both the cars are very similar when it comes to the level of comfort and space they have to offer.

Features

Both the cars offer safety features like ABS, EBD and airbags. The Elantra though has an edge as it comes with 6 airbags compared to the Altis which offers only 2 airbags. The Elantra also comes with ESP, parking sensors, camera, cruise control, power steering, tilt steering, telescopic steering and rear defogger. The Altis offers features like an IPod dock, steering mounted audio controls, music system (DVD Based), 6 speakers, push button Start, keyless entry etc. The Elantra also comes with all these features but gets only 4 speakers.

Performance

First let’s compare the petrol engines of both these sedans. The Elantra petrol sports a 1,797 cc engine that makes 148 bhp of power at 6,500 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm. The Altis on the other hand sports a 1,798 cc engine that makes 139 bhp of power at 6,400 rpm and 173 Nm of torque at 4,000. So the Hyundai Elantra petrol is definitely more powerful and fun to drive than the Altis.

When it comes to diesel variants the Elantra offers a 1,582 cc engine that makes 126 bhp of power at 4,000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque at 1900-2750 rpm. The Altis diesel sports a 1,364 cc engine that makes 87 bhp of power at 3,800 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 1800-2800 rpm. Once again the Elantra scores over the Altis with its extra power and torque. If it is performance you are looking for the then the Elantra is the car you should opt for. Even in terms of fuel efficiency the Elantra offers 16 kmpl in petrol and 23 kmpl in diesel. The Altis lags behind even in terms of mileage and returns 14 kmpl in the petrol variants and 21 kmpl in the diesel variants.

Verdict

The Hyundai Elantra with its fluidic design, expansive list of features and superior performance is a better choice than the Toyota Altis. However for those who want the Toyota brand name and fit and finish the Altis will still be a better buy.

 

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