There used to be a show on TV called Extreme Makeover, not sure where it has gone, but it doesn't seem to be on anymore. The Extreme Makeover Home Edition is still on with the extra annoying host Ty Pennington.
The original Extreme Makeover was not for homes, it was for people.
That's right, the show basically demolished a person and rebuilt them from the bottom (literally) up.
There were new butts, new hair, new smiles new clothes new-looking skin and teeth where there used to be only nubs and gums. Someone that was in some people's opinion a little extra 'homely" looking was changed - through surgery when needed - into generally a good-looking person.
Some of the transformations were immense and even their closest friends and spouses couldn't recognize them, and after a second look went, "damn, I married to her, yeehaa."
Now although this is not exactly what has happened to the Hyundai Elantra, it has to be said that the old model did reside a bit on the homely side of the fence.
But because Hyundai is striving for nothing but the best they took the scalpel and the scissors and have tucked and pulled at the new Elantra in more than one place and the result is nothing resembling the older model. It has transformed from the girl nobody wanted to date to the tight little number at the end of the street that everyone notices and wonders what it would be like to drive.
There is nothing left of the old Elantra. The looks, the interior feel of the car, the way it drives, the way it handles, the curves are all the work of some really good surgeons.
Even the physician who worked on the engine has worked wonders managing to squeeze 58 mpg on the highway out of this engine.
The Elantra has transformed from the ugly duckling into a swan. There is only one problem.
When many of the people on the TV show do their makeovers they then believed they were too good for their spouses or significant others, even though they had stuck by them when they were ugly. And although the Elantra isn't going to up and leave anyone, it will be coveted by others, so you will have to watch where you leave it and who you let drive it.
Hyundai has also managed to pack quite a lot into the Elantra starting with the engine. Although it is only a 1.8-litre engine it puts out 148 horsepower, which is excellent for an engine of its size. The small size and the sixth gear really help with the gas mileage, and this is an area where you will be very pleased, after all 42 mpg in the city and 58 on the highway are diesel fuel numbers.
So we have attractive on the outside and a nice little motor, but what is it like on the inside and how does it drive. Well, the interior is absolutely nothing like the outgoing model and well laid out with option after option at your disposal.
Everything is covered in tightly-pulled leather (as any face lift might be), and not only do the front passengers get heated seats but the rear passengers are treated to heated butts as well. For a small sedan there is good room in the back for adults and adjustable head rests and pull down armrest add to the comfort.
But the best part is up front where the driver gets to play with the manumatic transmission and all the lovely little buttons. On the highway the Elantra goes quite good for something with an engine smaller than two litres, and the handling is excellent, aided by the big-for-this-car 17-inch rims.
They are probably the boob job of the makeover. If you are going to get them you may as well go big. All the goodies have been included, with traction control, satellite radio, Bluetooth hands free phone, ABS, brake assist, speed sensitive audio volume control, electronic stability control, side and curtain airbags, heated mirrors, Automatic temperature control, telescoping wheel, power moonroof and more.
This makeover of the Elantra has definitely been required and it appears that Hyundai hired just the right people to do the job.
The makeover is complete and the new beauty is ready for everyone to see.
Just be careful of the people who want to check out her big tires.
Vehicle type: 4 door sedan
Transmission 6-speed manumatic
Engine: 1.8-litre four cylinder
Horsepower: 148 @ 6,500
Torque: 131 @ 4,700
Mileage: 6.8 l/100 km 42 mpg City 4.9 l/100km 58 mph hwy
Price: $26,195
