Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. Last year I expressed sympathy for Hyundai salespeople who had to explain that what used to be the Santa Fe Sport was now the Santa Fe and what had been the Santa Fe had been re-named the Santa Fe XL. That was enough of a challenge. But it pales in comparison to a salesperson trying to explain the various vehicles, trims and features of cars that are all called "Elantras." Starting with the Elantra sedan, there are no less than six (!) trim levels. For sake of simplicity consider only the top two; the Elantra "Sport" and the "Limited," with the Limited's MSRP only $100 more than the Sport. What do you get? On the Sport you get a 201HP 1.6L turbo engine, a choice of an MT or a 7 speed DCT, 18" wheels, and multi-link rear suspension. On the slightly more expensive Limited, you get none of those features. The engine is the NA 4 banger with 147 HP, identical to the base trim. The only transmission is a traditional 6 speed torque converter. Wheels are 17" and no multi-link rear suspension. But you do get a better audio system, leather seats, and push button start. Huh? But the complexity doesn't end there. Each model has an optional package. For the Sport another $2250 gets you a navigation system, upgraded audio that matches the Limited, and a few other goodies. On the Limited an option package gets you the nav system, a sunroof not available otherwise, a TFT instrument display, and few other safety and convenience features not available at any price on the Sport. But that package sets you back $3350. So the price difference between the two trims goes from $100 to $1200. Are you keeping up? Good. Because it gets more confusing. In addition to the Elantra sedan there's the Elantra GT, a completely different car. A hatchback that's about a foot (!) shorter than the sedan. Here there are two trim levels. The GT, making it the Elantra GT GT, and the Elantra GT N Line. The N Line's MSRP is almost $3000 more than the GT GT. For the N Line you get the same 1.6L turbo as the Elanta Sport. The GT GT apparently gets the same 2.0L NA engine as the Elantra Ultimate but it's rated at 161 HP rather than 147. The N Line also gets the multi-link rear suspension while the GT GT does not. The N Line gets the same choice of transmissions as the Elantra Sport and the GT GT gets the same 6 speed torque converter transmission, but no MT. There are no packages available for the N Line but the GT GT has a $2900 option package that includes a sunroof and leather upholstery not available on the N Line at all along with some other goodies. Finally, there's one more potential area of confusion. If you think the N Line is the Elantra version of the much acclaimed Veloster N or the even more acclaimed i30N you're wrong. "N" doesn't equal "N Line." And the i30N isn't available in North America'Nuff said on that score since trying to compare the Veloster N with any version of the Elantra is mind numbing. If you've followed all this you now know what a salesperson at a Hyundai dealer has be prepared to describe to a potential customer about top two trim levels of the Elantra sedan and the Elantra GT. Remember, though, there are four more trims for the sedan. Hopefully, dealers will include periodic exams for their salespeople and customers won't run screaming from the showroom halfway through the explanations. I'm sure some of the versions of the Elantra are good cars. But trying to figure out how to choose among them all is an exercise in futility.
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