Back to basics
Published Mar 8, 2018 04:05 pm
Text and photos by Eric Tipan
Driving ‘stick’ would be hilariously challenging in today’s crazy, bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions.There will be agonizing minutes on inclines, the overworked calves, and the non-stop shifting but it does keep you engaged behind the wheel and sharp as a tack.But aside from levelling up your driving skills, driving a manual transmission — granted that it comes with a capable powertrain — offers so much more control of the vehicle, which translates to a more fun drive and better fuel economy.I take on the concrete jungle for a week with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GL 6-MT to see what it offers buyers looking to go ‘manual’.
More speed, better fuel consumption
As the entry-level Elantra, it comes with Hyundai’s Gamma 1.6L engine with multi-point fuel injection (MPI).MPI allows it to burn gasoline more efficiently because injector nozzles for each of the four cylinders allow fuel vapor to be completely drawn in for a better fuel-air mix and combustion, resulting in higher performance and lower emissions.
Putting out 127.5 PS and 154 Nm of torque, the six-speed manual transmission hits a higher top speed at 200 kilometers per hour (kph) compared to 195 kph for the six-speed automatic transmission with the same engine and just 2 kph short of the top-of-the-line GLS with a 2.0L engine.
More control, better performance
If you’ve always hated driving ‘stick’, this will make you change your mind.By making everything literally light to the touch and easy to handle, Hyundai has somehow made the menial manual fun again. The clutch is soft to depress,it almost felt like I was stepping on one of those memory foams, and the shifter layout is so compact it’s almost like a short throw. Despite all of its smoothness, I could feel the crisp locking of the gears one through six, which was followed instantaneously by power delivered directly to the front wheels.No torque converter, no delay in power delivery.Totally high, double thumbs up already but the best is yet to come.
Having total control of the powertrain, granted you know what you’re doing in the manual (knowing the threshold for fuel economy and the power band), is such a bliss in these modern times.
Hyundai puts everything in your hands, drive modestly for better fuel mileage or live a little and have some fun — take it to the limit every now and then (just don’t redline the thing).One thing though, I love the lightness of the steering but it feels a little deceiving. A few notches of feedback would be nice.
Essentials only
Looking more Euro-inspired than ever before, the exterior styling (Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture) remains the same across trims except for the fact that the base model does not have fog lamps and no side-view mirror repeaters.
Highlighting its look is the handsome extra-large hexagonal grille flanked by aggressively shaped projection-type headlamps on top and angular wheel air curtains at the bottom.
The dashboard sports Hyundai’s ‘driver-centric’ horizontal layout that uses a simple yet smart design and large buttons with big, bold letters to make sure you see it before you press it.
Another great advantage of this design is its intuitiveness. All it takes is just a few minutes in the cabin and you’ll be able to make changes to the infotainment system and climate control with your eyes closed.
It does come with the 3.5-inch LCD in the instrument cluster but does not have rear air vents, and USB and AUX-in ports.
Manual mode
This variant is practical, depending on your perspective.Sure, using an automatic transmission for your daily drive makes taking EDSA, even at the peak of traffic congestion, a whole lot easier.But it’s all downhill from there.
Automatic variants tack on an extra P100,000 for the AT while taking away some 3 to 10 kilometers per liter because of the added weight and depending on the way you drive in the city.We haven’t even talked about maintenance, and that sense of control and feel that gets numbed-out by an AT.
If you crave for higher driver feedback, better fuel economy, and a sub-1-million-peso vehicle, you won’t go wrong by going back to basics with the P908,000 2017 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GL 6-MT.
Driving ‘stick’ would be hilariously challenging in today’s crazy, bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions.There will be agonizing minutes on inclines, the overworked calves, and the non-stop shifting but it does keep you engaged behind the wheel and sharp as a tack.But aside from levelling up your driving skills, driving a manual transmission — granted that it comes with a capable powertrain — offers so much more control of the vehicle, which translates to a more fun drive and better fuel economy.I take on the concrete jungle for a week with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GL 6-MT to see what it offers buyers looking to go ‘manual’.
More speed, better fuel consumption
As the entry-level Elantra, it comes with Hyundai’s Gamma 1.6L engine with multi-point fuel injection (MPI).MPI allows it to burn gasoline more efficiently because injector nozzles for each of the four cylinders allow fuel vapor to be completely drawn in for a better fuel-air mix and combustion, resulting in higher performance and lower emissions.
Putting out 127.5 PS and 154 Nm of torque, the six-speed manual transmission hits a higher top speed at 200 kilometers per hour (kph) compared to 195 kph for the six-speed automatic transmission with the same engine and just 2 kph short of the top-of-the-line GLS with a 2.0L engine.
More control, better performance
If you’ve always hated driving ‘stick’, this will make you change your mind.By making everything literally light to the touch and easy to handle, Hyundai has somehow made the menial manual fun again. The clutch is soft to depress,it almost felt like I was stepping on one of those memory foams, and the shifter layout is so compact it’s almost like a short throw. Despite all of its smoothness, I could feel the crisp locking of the gears one through six, which was followed instantaneously by power delivered directly to the front wheels.No torque converter, no delay in power delivery.Totally high, double thumbs up already but the best is yet to come.
Having total control of the powertrain, granted you know what you’re doing in the manual (knowing the threshold for fuel economy and the power band), is such a bliss in these modern times.
Hyundai puts everything in your hands, drive modestly for better fuel mileage or live a little and have some fun — take it to the limit every now and then (just don’t redline the thing).One thing though, I love the lightness of the steering but it feels a little deceiving. A few notches of feedback would be nice.
Essentials only
Looking more Euro-inspired than ever before, the exterior styling (Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture) remains the same across trims except for the fact that the base model does not have fog lamps and no side-view mirror repeaters.
Highlighting its look is the handsome extra-large hexagonal grille flanked by aggressively shaped projection-type headlamps on top and angular wheel air curtains at the bottom.
The dashboard sports Hyundai’s ‘driver-centric’ horizontal layout that uses a simple yet smart design and large buttons with big, bold letters to make sure you see it before you press it.
Another great advantage of this design is its intuitiveness. All it takes is just a few minutes in the cabin and you’ll be able to make changes to the infotainment system and climate control with your eyes closed.
It does come with the 3.5-inch LCD in the instrument cluster but does not have rear air vents, and USB and AUX-in ports.
Manual mode
This variant is practical, depending on your perspective.Sure, using an automatic transmission for your daily drive makes taking EDSA, even at the peak of traffic congestion, a whole lot easier.But it’s all downhill from there.
Automatic variants tack on an extra P100,000 for the AT while taking away some 3 to 10 kilometers per liter because of the added weight and depending on the way you drive in the city.We haven’t even talked about maintenance, and that sense of control and feel that gets numbed-out by an AT.
If you crave for higher driver feedback, better fuel economy, and a sub-1-million-peso vehicle, you won’t go wrong by going back to basics with the P908,000 2017 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 GL 6-MT.