Which of these three models has the best mix of equipment and abilities to satisfy the family man who wants more than just the basics?
THE family runabout was once a no-frills saloon that was relatively spacious and efficient. Buyers today, however, have come to expect more than just these basics, and carmakers have duly responded.
The newest contender in this story is the Subaru Impreza. Utilising a new platform, the model is roomier and more comfortable than before. Apart from these attributes, Subaru also promises a more dynamic driving experience compared to its predecessor.
Trying to be more impressive than the Impreza is the Hyundai Elantra in Elite spec. We’ve always been impressed with this Korean saloon, which has an upmarket feel, an ergonomic cabin and a well-tuned suspension. It was recently updated, and now has a Euro 6-compliant engine. But can the Korean car beat its two Japanese rivals here?
The strongest competitor facing the Impreza and Elantra is the Honda Civic, which boasts improved performance and nicer styling compared to its predecessor. The current Civic was voted as Singapore’s “Best Family Saloon” at the 2016 ST-Torque Awards.
Can the Civic emerge ahead in this shootout? Or will it have to give way to an even better 1.6-litre contender? Keep reading and find out!
SUBARU IMPREZA 1.6
ENGINE
Subaru’s 1.6-litre flat-4 with 114bhp and 150Nm is the smoothest-revving motor of this test.
COCKPIT
The group’s most driver-friendly cockpit features the best forward and lateral visibility, plus the sportiest pedals and the strongest air-conditioning. With four USB ports and two 12-volt outlets, this cockpit offers the best connectivity, too.
BACKSEAT
Best for folks with big feet as the footwell space is the most generous. But the shorter backrests and higher floor protrusion (for the driveshaft) relative to the Honda and Hyundai mean this bench is more comfortable for two occupants rather than three.
METERS
Impreza’s meters look ordinary, but the dashboard’s Multi-Function Display, which shows info such as incline/decline angles and torque distribution, is out of the ordinary and will definitely interest keen drivers.
BOOT
Impreza’s 460-litre boot is good for hauling longer and wider items such as flat-pack furniture, as its pass-through aperture is the largest. However, this is the only boot here without backrest release levers.
HONDA CIVIC 1.6
ENGINE
Honda’s 1.6-litre 4-pot with 125bhp and 152Nm has the keenest power delivery.
COCKPIT
Most driver-focussed cockpit has the most supportive seats and the easiest-to-reach gearshift lever, and is also the only one with paddle shifters. But the short centre armrest and small front doorbins reduce practicality.
BACKSEAT
Most spacious backseat of the group, with class-leading legroom and the tallest backrests, readily accommodates 1.8m tall passengers. The roomy rear doorbins also make this the most accommodating area for family members.
METERS
Civic’s all-digital instrument cluster is the sharpest and most advanced here. It plays a cool animation upon start-up and even lets drivers “remove” the tachometer.
BOOT
Civic’s 519-litre boot has the biggest opening and is the best for bulkier cargo. Its cargo-carrying flexibility, however, is affected by the ledge between the boot and the 60:40 split- fold aperture.
HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.6
ENGINE
Hyundai’s 1.6-litre 4-cylinder with 128bhp and 155Nm is the most powerful motor here.
COCKPIT
Feels even more solid than its two rival cockpits, and its large storage points make it more practical, too. But the car’s lower cost has meant the deletion of features such as the blind spot monitor and ventilated seats.
BACKSEAT
With the flattest floor of the three cabins, the Elantra can easily seat three adults. The supportive bench and better-placed air-con vents make this place the comfiest, too.
METERS
New and old drivers alike will appreciate the Elantra’s logical instrumentation, the meters’ sizeable digits and the user-friendly menus.
BOOT
Elantra’s 458-litre boot is the smallest but the most well-packaged. Apart from having the least intrusive wheel-arches, it’s also the only trunk here equipped with tethering points for securing cargo.
SUBARU IMPREZA 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Flat-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 1600cc
BORE X STROKE 78.8mm x 82mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 11:1
MAX POWER 114bhp at 6200rpm
MAX TORQUE 150Nm at 3600rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 81bhp per tonne
GEARBOX CVT
DRIVEN WHEELS All
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 12.4 seconds
TOP SPEED 185km/h
CONSUMPTION 15.6km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 145g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Double wishbones, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs
TYRES
TYPE Bridgestone Turanza T001
SIZE 205/50 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 7
TRACTION AIDS ABS, VDC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4625mm
WIDTH 1775mm
HEIGHT 1455mm
WHEELBASE 2670mm
KERB WEIGHT 1407kg
TURNING CIRCLE 10.6m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $100,800 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km
+ MOST PLIANT RIDE, BEST ROADHOLDING, COOLEST INFOTAINMENT
– LEAST EXCITING PERFORMANCE, LEAST ROOMY BACKSEAT, PROBABLY THE THIRSTIEST
BEST IN REFINEMENT
HONDA CIVIC 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 1597cc
BORE X STROKE 81mm x 77.5mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.7:1
MAX POWER 125bhp at 6500rpm
MAX TORQUE 152Nm at 4300rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 100.1bhp per tonne
GEARBOX CVT with 7-speed override
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 11.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
CONSUMPTION 14.9km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 153g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2
SIZE 215/55 R16
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 2
TRACTION AIDS ABS, VSA
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4630mm
WIDTH 1799mm
HEIGHT 1416mm
WHEELBASE 2700mm
KERB WEIGHT 1249kg
TURNING CIRCLE 10.6m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $118,999 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
+ SWEETEST HANDLING, MOST RESPONSIVE POWERTRAIN, ROOMIEST BACKSEAT
– THE FEWEST AIRBAGS, HIGHEST PRICE, LEAST PRACTICAL COCKPIT AREA
BEST IN PERFORMANCE
HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.6 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves
CAPACITY 1591cc
BORE X STROKE 77mm x 85.4mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1
MAX POWER 128bhp at 6300rpm
MAX TORQUE 155Nm at 4850rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 102.4bhp per tonne
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select
DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 11.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 195km/h
CONSUMPTION 14.5km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 161g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs
REAR Torsion beam, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Hankook Ventus Prime 2
SIZE 205/55 R16
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4570mm
WIDTH 1800mm
HEIGHT 1450mm
WHEELBASE 2700mm
KERB WEIGHT 1250kg
TURNING CIRCLE 10.6m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $95,999 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge)
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km
+ MOST POWERFUL ENGINE, SMOOTHEST TRANSMISSION, LOWEST PRICE
– FEWER AMENITIES THAN BEFORE, SMALLEST BOOT, RELATIVELY BASIC INFOTAINMENT
BEST IN BUILD QUALITY
LAST WORD
The Hyundai Elantra’s strong points include its sturdy construction, functional cockpit layout and smooth gearbox. At $95,999, it also costs about $10k less than the previous model, and is the most affordable saloon in this story.
The lower price, however, means the Elantra is less “Elite” than before, for it lacks some of its predecessor’s standard features, which include a blind spot monitor and ventilated front seats.
But if you can do without these goodies, the Elantra makes a very tempting proposition for the family man on a tighter budget.
Even more tempting than the Elantra is the Honda Civic. Families will like the roomy backseat and similarly roomy boot, while boyracers-turned-fathers will love the driver-oriented cockpit, responsive powertrain and agile handling, all of which is sure to make them fondly recall their bachelorhood.
The Civic has its shortcomings, though. Apart from having just two airbags (versus six in the Elantra and seven in the Impreza), it is also relatively expensive. The $118,999 Civic (at time of writing) is $23k and $18.1k dearer than the Elantra and Impreza respectively.
The numerous improvements made to the Impreza’s cabin, especially the enhanced connectivity, reduced NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and roomier backseat, are indeed very impressive.
The creamy boxer engine and quiet CVT also deserve plaudits. You wouldn’t expect a family saloon to be this refined, but it is.
However, we do feel that the all-wheel-drive system is unnecessary in our urban context.
The Subaru Impreza might not be as exciting to drive as the Honda Civic or as well-made as the Hyundai Elantra. But as an overall package, it is the fancier family saloon to beat.
