From a styling point of view, there's little to suggest that the Elantra isn't a car built on this side of the world, instead of a Korean product exported widely to North America, Australia, Europe and the UK. Replacing the Lantra, it's longer, wider and higher than the previous model, and a match for most of its direct rivals in passenger space.The CDX is the top model in the range, with a more powerful two-litre engine, better performance and, unlike the Lantra, the choice of four-door or five-door (as on the test car) bodywork at the same very competitive price, just under £14,000.All Elantras on the UK market, including the 1.6-litre versions, are fitted with ABS, EBD, power steering, front and side airbags. The CDX comes, in addition, with 15" alloy road wheels, traction control, leather trim, cruise control and climate control.That's in addition to the items of equipment the 1.6-litre GSi has over the entry-level 1.6 Si. Hyundai upgrades model by model and doesn't do much in the way of extra-cost options. There's only one of those - a four-speed automatic box at £849.The CDX's leather trim is on the shiny side, and maybe somewhat meagre in padding. At least, I felt rather stiff in the Sitzfleisch after an hour or two at the wheel. There's good cabin space up front, as well as much better rear passenger accommodation than in the Lantra, especially for legroom. And Hyundai has built in more generous luggage space than you often find in Pacific Rim cars.Wood-effect trim is standard in the CDX. It's fair enough. Otherwise, the interior is well fitted out, and there's a rather neat instrument display. A slide/tilt sunroof comes as standard.The driving position is fine, although this is one of many cars which, for many of us, would benefit from the steering wheel being a couple of inches smaller in diameter.Since the latest two-litre engine pushes out almost 140bhp, the CDX is a much smarter performer than the corresponding Lantra, while being a little more economical in all the standard tests.It isn't a sports saloon, but, although I didn't drive it so that the traction control had much to do, the handling has also been improved, and there's no problem about keeping up a brisk average either on motorways or out on country roads. I noticed that, since it's not yet all that familiar a sight here, other drivers tend to think it can easily be out-muscled by similarly-sized cars of rival mainstream makes, when, in fact, it can easily hold its own with most of them.Hyundai has uprated the safety features over the ones fitted to the Lantra, but the area in which the new-model R&D seems to have paid off most noticeably is in noise suppression.Hydraulic engine mountings play their part here, and the lower tickover speed helps when you're waiting in a line of traffic. But there's also much more in the way of sound-deadening material, applied in the engine compartment, on the front bulkhead, under the carpeting, and below the rear parcel shelf.It's that combination of improved performance, unflamboyant styling, high equipment levels, better cabin space and quieter running which makes me feel the Elantra is an impressive car for its price, and I think the inevitable faint-hearts will have to come up with a better excuse than, "Well, it's a Hyundai." Engine 1975cc, 4 cylinders Power 139bhp Fuel/CO2 34.4mpg / 196g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 9.1 seconds Top speed 128mph Price £13,999 Details correct at publication date
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