2007 Hyundai Elantra First Drive

Credit Hyundai's California design studio with the Elantra's stylish new look, which replaces the odd and dowdy appearance of the previous-generation model. Hyundai calls the Elantra's styling "expressive" and "sophisticated," and I agree. In my opinion, the Elantra is more appealing than the strange Honda Civic, better proportioned than the angular Nissan Sentra, and more curvaceous than the dull Toyota Corolla.

Inside the Elantra, where it's hard to find cheap materials, designers have done an even better job. Aesthetically and ergonomically, the cabin's design and décor provide an upscale feel that makes the sticker price look like a bargain. Hyundai makes a big deal about the blue backlit gauges and controls, which certainly are soothing at night and worth the $50 per car the company claims it costs to install, but it's the level of refinement, the attention to detail, and the feel of the fabrics and plastics that most impressed me. A $55,000 Cadillac Escalade has a hard plastic dashboard, but our $16,780 Elantra SE's instrument panel was composed of soft-touch plastic. Additionally, the headliner was a classy woven mesh fabric, the cloth upholstery was plush and tastefully patterned, the plastic vent bezels and control surrounds were coated with a substance that made them feel substantial, and the silver interior trim did a good job of emulating real aluminum. Better yet, none of the plastic trim showed rough edges like it does in similarly-priced vehicles. Top it all off with a tasteful two-tone décor scheme, and the Elantra does a fairly good impression of an entry-level luxury car.

Comfort levels are high, too, thanks to supportive seats with relatively tall hip points and a softly padded center armrest that puts the hard plastic one in a Saturn Aura to shame. Add the Elantra's simple, logical, and clearly marked controls to the equation, and this is one compact car that makes its driver feel as though she's living large. Well, up front, anyway. Despite the EPA's "midsize" rating, knee room is tight in the back seat when four six-footers are aboard. The standard center armrest with two integrated cupholders is a nice touch, though.

Previous-generation Elantra owners complained about interior storage space, so Hyundai made sure the redesigned model addressed this concern. In addition to the large glovebox and adequate center console bin, Hyundai provides a purse hanger on the dashboard, a sunglasses holder in the overhead panel, a tray just forward of the shifter and convenient to the auxiliary input jack, generous door bins with integrated bottle holders, and dual rear map pockets. There are also two covered bins: one in the top of the dashboard and one just below the climate controls. Trunk space is also generous at 14.2 cubic feet, though the cargo area is cheaply outfitted and lacks a close assist handle for the lid.