Hyundai Solaris or Elantra - what is the difference and which is better

Elantra or Solaris: which is better?

At one time, Hyundai launched the Elantra model for the European market, since its more expensive and functional Sonata sedan began to sell very poorly throughout Europe due to its high cost and rather large size.

Despite the fact that the Elantra is quite similar to the flagship model, it received its platform from the more budget-friendly one - Solaris, also known as Accent.

These models have more similarities than the flagship and Elantra, so let's compare which is better - Solaris or Elantra.

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The search for something more prestigious and technically advanced for 700 thousand leads into the jungle of many options 8–12 years old with mileages of about 150–200 thousand km. Of these, we can highlight those that were sold in fairly large quantities - for example, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class III (W204 body), produced until 2015. One hundred percent premium - both in appearance and in equipment. However, it is very expensive to maintain and repair, and most units do not have the resource characteristic of Mercedes of an earlier period.

Characteristics of the Solaris car

Hyundai Solaris (Accent) appeared on the automobile market in 1995, immediately winning its place in the ranking of popular cars. In 2011, the company that produces the car decides to rename it from Accent to Solaris, slightly changing the technical part. Modifications were made to the refacing of the façade, and the ground clearance increased significantly. It should be noted that a representative of this class has a decent chassis with a spacious interior, where passengers feel quite comfortable and free.

The model has several advantages:

• A fairly economical car with fuel consumption of 6 liters .
• A powerful power unit in a small car size with economical fuel consumption.
• The safety system includes 6 airbags and an ABS system.

Hyundai Solaris or Elantra - what is the difference and which is better

Hyundai launched the Elantra on the European market instead of the previously sold Sonata sedan.
Due to its high cost and significant size, the sedan did not find its consumer in the European market.

Elantra in appearance is similar to the flagship model, but is produced on the platform of the budget Solaris car. Therefore, these two representatives of Hyundai have great similarities in their designs.

04.12.2019

Due to its high cost and significant size, the sedan did not find its consumer in the European market. Elantra in appearance is similar to the flagship model, but is produced on the platform of the budget Solaris car.

Therefore, these two representatives of Hyundai have great similarities in their designs.

Cost of ownership

It's time to talk about the maintenance costs of these two Korean sedans. Let's compare what expenses the future owner of a car with a 1.6-liter engine and a manual transmission in the minimum configuration will face up to a mileage of 60 thousand kilometers (inclusive). Prices will be taken from the websites of official dealers in Moscow. So, Cerato vs Elantra: TO-1 (15 thousand km) - 9,185 rubles. vs 10,442 rubles, TO-2 (30 thousand km) - 9,625 rubles. vs 14,921 rub., TO-3 (45 thousand km) - 10,370 rub. vs RUR 10,442 and TO-4 (60 thousand km) - 16,159 rubles. vs RUB 19,918 Total amount: 45,339 rub. vs 55,723 rubles, i.e. Elantra in service turned out to be 10,384 rubles. (23%) more expensive than a competitor. The cost of one kilometer, based on the total repair costs up to a mileage of 60 thousand km (inclusive), was: 76 kopecks for Kia and 93 kopecks for Hyundai.

And, of course, let’s compare the cost of CASCO for both models. To do this, we will use existing online calculators. We will choose an unmarried 25-year-old man with 5 years of experience as the owner, and we will take the car for 1,200,000 rubles with a power of 128 hp. with use in Moscow. Depending on the insurance company and the type of policy, the cost for Cerato vs Elantra is: “Anti-crisis CASCO” in Rosgosstrakh - 39,804 rubles. vs RUR 38,228; “Necessary protection” in the Renaissance - 80,940 rub. vs RUB 87,336; “Standard” at MAX — 200,700 rub. vs 176,700 rub. As we can see, insurers assess the risks in this pair of sedans differently. Some people use the multiplying factor for the Elantra, and others for the Cerato. Therefore, if you always insure yourself with the same company, you need to find out the cost of the future policy in advance, so that later it does not become an unpleasant surprise.

What is the difference between Solaris and Elantra

It would seem that both cars look identical, but still the Elantra design looks more elegant and organic due to the size of the body. This is the same performance, but on a small Solaris body. Despite the seeming identical chassis, the Solaris, due to its low weight, skids much more often when making turns.

While the Elantra, with its higher weight, turns almost perfectly at any speed. This will be especially noticeable when operating a car within the city. Elantra uses power units of 128 and 150 hp. With . and volumes of 1.6 and 2.0 liters . While the Solaris model has engine power of 100 and 123 hp. With. and volumes of 1.4 and 1.6 liters.

The Elantra has sufficient interior space and trunk space, while the Solaris loses significantly in these indicators. Solaris requires AI-92 gasoline, while Elantra requires AI-95 fuel. In terms of demand among consumers, Solaris is in first place among budget representatives.

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Not the best handling in the class. But the imposing chassis settings had almost no effect on the handling: The car can be adjusted easily: I really want to believe that by the time the model is delivered to Russia, the suspension settings will not be changed.

Because for our average person, this is it: The only thing is that something could be done with the front shock absorbers so that the car wouldn’t nod so much when braking. True, there is a turbocharged engine and richer options. But its dynamics are duller, and its handling, to be honest, is thinner.

Compare Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Solaris with other models

The new Ford Focus, a favorite of the Russian market, with an engine of similar horsepower. But it is definitely tighter.

But it can be stuffed with options in such a way that even Volvo and Audi couldn’t imagine. True, the price tag will be over a million.

And there is still some possibility of individualization: Middle-class cars are good because they can afford not only bare functionality, but also a little beauty, as well as a certain amount of real human conveniences. For example, a power and memory driver's seat, lumbar support, or such nice things as individual ventilation vents for rear passengers - the Elantra has it all.

For the convenience of rear passengers, there is an armrest and separate ventilation deflectors on the central tunnel. A middle-class car must certainly have a driver.

He should also belong to the middle class, otherwise there will be a misalliance. A modest person without ambition is as dangerous in our business as a spoiled snob. Excessive fascination also interferes with adequate perception, like prejudice. And there is nothing better for adaptation than immersion in the environment. This is how I explain to myself the choice of site and test drive program for the new Hyundai Elantra.

We came to Sochi again, and this city corresponds well to the concept of “middle class”: the Hyundai Elantra feels great on Sochi roads. Even though there are a lot of different cars here - from completely broken and rusty Abkhazian carts to luxurious limousines from the Moscow region, everyone here shies away from some like lepers, others are despised and, on occasion, they try to wipe them off.

And the Elantra does not evoke strong emotions. I called the salon and said let’s think about something. Well, they suggested that I look at the Elantra.

I came and saw it, it was dusty, it could have been washed, I would have broken it less, it was red, but cool. The next day, Saturday, I paid: We agreed that on Monday morning I would come and pick it up. They had the PTS in the safe, and the keys were with someone there who had left for lunch, well, anyway, he didn’t plan to pick it up until Monday.

The body is mounted on two suspensions: It would seem that the cars are identical in terms of chassis, but the smaller Solaris often skids when turning, apparently due to lack of weight, while the more self-confident Elantra in appearance and weight allows you to very harmoniously turn into turns at almost any speed . At the same time, the differences are not critical, but the Elantra will still be easier to drive, which is especially noticeable in the city.

Frosts are not scary

Hyundai Solaris has a real treasure, namely a powerful winter package. The heaters start working almost immediately after starting the engine. Under the hood, a reinforced generator works, which spares no energy to defrost the windshield and fry the seats. After five minutes you are already jumping on them, like on a frying pan. Fortunately, the heating has three operating modes for the coils. Thus, after dancing around the snow-covered body with a broom and removing snowdrifts from the roof and hood, you return to the car, hot with hospitality.

None of the competitors has such a balanced package. For example, the heating in the Polo works with less efficiency, but the front glass also has an electric coil that can remove ice of any thickness in five minutes.

In general, Polo seems like a simpleton compared to the dressed-up Korean. The design of the center console is simple, although the top versions have a radio from the Golf.

The “10 years with Hyundai” competition is over.

10 people who believed in Hyundai Solaris from the very first day of its production won 10 New Solaris!

Here are the names of the lucky ones:

1. Kucher Anastasia, +7(9*2)-***-*2-36 2. Kiryavainen Olga, +7(9*1)-***-*1-40 3. Kirillin Alexander, +7( 9*3)-***-*5-79 4. Yulia Semenova, +7(9*2)-***-*1-74 5. Tatiana Cherkasova, +7(9*2)-*** -*6-85 6. Alexey Gordeev, +7(9*5)-***-*9-29 7. Dmitry Filchev, +7(9*5)-***-*9-93 8. Mazein Sergey, +7(9*5)-***-*8-09 9. Gulnara Khamadieva, +7(9*7)-***-*8-88 10. Natalya Karavaeva, +7(9*4 )-***-*9-51

We congratulate the winners and invite them to the car presentation ceremony in St. Petersburg on October 23, 2021. We will be glad to meet those with whom we started this journey 10 years ago and please them with the new Hyundai Solaris.

• Submit your application by October 11, 2021
• Win one of 10 new Hyundai Solaris
• Competition rules

What's inside the VII generation Elantra?

While the exterior is a mixed bag, the interior was nice! It really was a big step forward for Koreans, and a comparison of the two generations clearly shows this.

In addition to the pleasant visual component of modern design, the Koreans promise to provide higher quality materials, improved ergonomics and the most advanced technologies.

And you believe this from the very beginning. When you sit behind the new steering wheel, the first thing you notice is that in front of you is a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. To the right of it will be an 8- or 10.25-inch (depending on configuration) infotainment system with support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay devices.

There are thin air vents running down the entire length of the dashboard (like on the Volkswagen Passat), and drivers will also find an updated switchgear, a new gear lever and will be able to touch a more premium center console.

What do Solaris and Elantra cars have in common?

“liquid sculpture” style is obvious . Both cars have elements and protruding cheekbones that stretch along the entire length of the body. The front part has a hexagon with vertical overlaps. There are also no significant differences in the chassis; it is the same welded steel body with a body mounted on two suspensions: front and rear. Both representatives are equipped with Gamma series power units. General indicators include:

• Unique design.
• They are in demand in both the primary and secondary markets.
• The power units are reliable and of high quality.
• Stable Korean quality.

Options and prices

The configurations and prices of the Hyundai Solaris and Volkswagen Polo are indicated for cars manufactured in 2021.

Hyundai Solaris II

Volkswagen Polo V

The Volkswagen Polo also has a well-tuned chassis and is quite enjoyable to drive. On a good road, is its behavior similar to that of a Hyundai Solaris? The car feels good. But when the good asphalt ends, you feel every pothole on the road with your hands, vibrations are often transmitted to the steering wheel, and the suspension strives to rebound. However, the Polo is much quieter than the Korean.

Video test drive

The manufacturer provides a 3-year or 100,000 km warranty on the Volkswagen Polo, while the official warranty on the Hyundai Solaris is 5 years or 150,000 km.

What is better: Volkswagen Polo or Hyundai Solaris in a new body? We can say that both sedans performed very well, and both cars coped with the tasks assigned to them. Some are better, some are worse. For Active drivers, we can recommend the Hyundai Solaris; it handles quite well and copes better with bumps on the road. With a great modern design, it looks really fresh. But the rear passengers will not be very comfortable in it; there is an order of magnitude less space in it than in the Polo. Volkswagen Polo has more balanced qualities for a calmer and more controlled ride. He can be called a hereditary family man who will happily take you and your children to the nearest park. Polo also benefits from a psychological effect – German quality. Although Solaris is assembled and thought out very well, as evidenced by the tests.

But the final choice is always yours, our job is to tell you only about the nuances of each of the cars, but the burden of choice falls entirely on your shoulders.

Conclusion

When choosing between these models, you need to pay attention to the little things. If you need a good and reliable car for daily use and rare outings with the whole family, Solaris is your choice. For more comfort, you should turn to Elantra, it will provide comfort comparable to the Sonata, but will cost 17-25% less. The initial configuration of Elantra costs 957,000 rubles, Solaris - 624,900. The difference is noticeable, but the choice is yours!