Hyundai Avante 1.6

The new Hyundai Avante proves you don't need to spend big bucks to stand out...

What's New
Pretty much everything actually, and that includes the car's name. The old Elantra didn't really shift in mammoth quantities so local distributor, Komoco Motors, is starting with a nice clean slate with respect to its replacement. The Elantra's successor is now called the Avante, and it represents a major step forward for Hyundai.

While the old car looked somewhat like it'd been assembled from the spoils of random parts bin raids, this new one adopts a very different look. The Avante's is a clean, grown-up shape, one that incorporates Hyundai's now standard re-curved shoulder line motif.

The nose is a scaled down take on the Sonata's and the Azera's, while the rear has echoes of the Lexus IS'. All the detailing is very nicely resolved, and the car looks very contemporary.

The car's modern looks translate into the interior, too. The Avante's cabin is very roomy, and exceptionally well put together. All the materials used feel top-notch and there's plenty of equipment.

The dashboard architecture is sleek and modern and all the controls and instruments feature soothing blue backlighting. You get twin front airbags and digital climate control, both pretty rare features in a Hyundai.

Hyundai does have a 2.0-litre version that's sold in overseas markets but the only engine option available for Singapore is a 121bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit, mated to a smooth-shifting four-speed automatic.

How it Performs
The 1.6-litre engine is a development of an existing Hyundai powerplant. Its 121bhp output doesn't make for scintillating performance, but the Avante is far from being slow. Floor the throttle at any speed and the car responds surprisingly enthusiastically.

The four-speed automatic is very good, and goes about its business very unobtrusively, which is the way you want it to behave, ideally. If you need extra acceleration and give the accelerator a stiff poke, the gearbox smartly drops to the right gear in very responsive fashion.

The first thing you notice is how refined the Avante feels. There's very little wind and road noise intrusion, even at expressway speeds, and the ride is excellent. The Avante manages to smother road imperfections with surprising ease, and body control is pretty good.

The Avante's electric power steering does take a while to get used to, though. Normally, when you come out of a corner and you want to reduce the amount of steering lock that you've applied, the steering helps by offering up a degree of self-centring action. The Avante's steering comes off as extremely enthusiastic in this regard.

This means that you initially end up unwinding too much lock, which has knock-on effects. Basically, you end up having to continuously make steering corrections for the rest of the corner. After a while, you should be able to get used to this, and it does make U-turns a breeze.That said, the nature of the steering setup means that the Avante is best suited to cruising rather than sporty driving.

How it Stacks Up
At $56,999 with COE, the Avante sits right smack in Toyota Corolla Altis territory. The Altis is the acknowledge king of the small sedan hill, and for good reason. It's impeccably built plus the Toyota badge is worth a lot.

Challenging this position takes a lot of gumption, but the Avante's combination of refinement, high build quality and comfort should see it in excellent stead.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Hyundai Avante 1.6 (A) ENGINE Engine: 1,591cc 16v in-line 4 Max Power: 121bhp at 6,200rpm Max Torque: 153Nm at 4,200rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 180km/h 0-100km/h 12.2s