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2012 Hyundai Elantra Mechanical Specifications

Article by Joseph Goodfman

The 2012 Elantra sedan returns with a single four-cylinder engine and a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder retains ratings of 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. It mates with the manual or automatic transmission in the GLS models and exclusively with the automatic in 2012 Elantra Limited models. The automatic has a floor shift with a separate gate for manual-type gear control. Automatic-transmission 2012 Elantras gain Hyundai’s

ActiveEco system that modifies throttle inputs and transmission shift points to maximize fuel economy. It’s activated by a dashboard button and Hyundai says it can increase real-world fuel economy by up to 7 percent.

On the road, the 2012 Elantra furnishes perfectly adequate power and smooth shifting, though impatient drivers may be frustrated by the liberal dose of throttle application required to pass other traffic or climb steep hills with any verve. Such full-throttle charges also generate intrusive engine ruckus. And unlike top competitors such as the 2012 Focus, 2012 Mazda 3, and 2012 Civic, the 2012 Elantra sedan does not have a fully independent suspension. Rather, it uses a less-expensive torsion-beam rear axle, which delivers perfectly acceptable levels of bump absorption and road manners, just not the composed ride and handling enjoyed by rivals with independent rear suspensions.

Like virtually every recent compact, the 2012 Elantra employs electric power steering that saves fuel by eliminated the parasitic drag of a hydraulic system. The electric system delivers confident straight-ahead stability and accurate enough turning, but the abovementioned Ford, Mazda, and Honda are among competitors with electric steering that has a more natural and linear feel as you initiate a change of direction.

No complaints about the 2012 Elantra’s standard safety gear. Antilock four-wheel disc brakes return to promote controlled emergency stops, traction control is on hand to enhance grip off the line, and antiskid stability control stands by to mitigate sideways slides. The 2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS sedan comes with 15- or 16-inch steel wheels or 16-inch alloys, depending on options and transmission choice, and the Limited returns with standard 17-inch alloys.

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring wagon reuses the 138-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder that powered the previous-generation Elantra sedan. The ’12 Touring is again saddled with behind-the-times five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions but shows its European design roots with above average ride and handling, courtesy of an all-independent suspension.

Features: Hyundai astutely outfits the 2012 Elantra with a range of high-impact features while throwing in a few amenities – such as available heated front and rear seats — that help this compact stand out from the herd. Every 2012 Elantra sedan again includes in its base price a USB iPod interface as well as power windows and locks, and heated mirrors. Also included as standard are remote keyless entry, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, and a dashboard trip-information display that shows distance to empty and average gas mileage. For model-year 2012, Hyundai adds fog lights and a front-passenger sunvisor extension to the Preferred Package option available on the Elantra GLS sedan.

Nonetheless, the carmaker makes some compromises to keep the base-price of the GLS sedan at an Internet-search-friendly ,195, not including destination fee (see 2012 Hyundai Elantra Prices below). For example, that entry-level GLS comes with manual transmission and requires a ,250 option package to acquire air conditioning, cruise control, and to add a telescoping function to the standard tilt steering wheel. These popular features are standard on the automatic-transmission 2012 Elantra GLS sedan. Similarly, Bluetooth hands-free mobile-phone connectivity is still unavailable on manual-transmission Elantra GLS sedans. Bluetooth — in effect a safety item that’s arguably of particular value to stick-shift drivers – is optional only on automatic-transmission 2012 Elantra GLS sedans and is standard on Limited models.

Moreover, the 2012 Elantra sedan is no longer unique among compact cars in offering a navigation system on all its trim levels. Hyundai had broken with tradition and made the navigation system available on the 2011 Elantra GLS. For model-year 2012 it confines the option to Elantra Limited sedans. This falls in step with most rivals, who also relegate navigation to their more expensive trim levels. Still, Elantra’s navigation system is a good one, utilizing voice activation, a 7 inch dashboard touchscreen, and incorporating a rearview camera and a 360-watt premium audio unit with satellite radio. And the 2012 Elantra Limited retains a class exclusive with standard heated front and rear seats.

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring should again account for fewer than 20 percent of Elantra sales. It returns in GLS and SE models with feature content that roughly mirrors that of the GLS and Limited sedans, though the Touring does not offer a navigation system or such perks as heated rear seats.

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