The D-segment sedan market share has been reducing. Off lately, it seems that buyers in this segment have been preferring SUVs. Higher ground clearance, better road presence are some of the factors that have been affecting this segment. However for the diesel engine in this segment, there hasn’t been a clear choice. Skoda’s Octavia, the Chevy Cruze have been the powerful diesel engine options. Now, there is the new Hyundai Elantra 2016. Do the more features on the Elantra make it a better deal? We share our detailed comparison of the Hyundai Elantra 2016 vs Skoda Octavia vs Chevrolet Cruze 2016.
In term of styling, each one of the given cars has its own distinctive appeal. Hyundai Elantra’s fluidic design is quite contemporary in nature and it surely adds an element of beauty to the segment line up. The new-gen looks a lot more mature and grown-up, while the previous one was trendy.
The new Elantra 2016 does look a lot more premium than before. The Octavia on the other hand is the biggest car here with length, width and height more than the other contenders and the outer skin is shaped elegantly without really boasting of too many curves & stylised lines making it more look more stately & elegant. Chevrolet Cruze is the oldest in the lot & has a very good road presence.
The all-black Cruze interiors look classy and offer a very sturdy feel. Plastics are hard, but seems like ever-lasting. Chevrolet Cruze seats are very supportive as well. It doesn’t give a feeling of luxury but for someone with a taste for sports it would be very pleasing. When it comes to the rear seat comfort, it’s pretty evident that the Cruze designers never saw it as a chauffeur driven car, and went ahead with all attention reserved for the front passengers.
Hyundai Elantra 2016 being one of the latest entrant in the segment has given due importance to this aspect. The front seats are wide and roomy with a good back support and raised side bolsters.
However, it’s Skoda Octavia which is really stepped up the game quite some notches above its two competitors. Be it the cabin roominess, rear passenger comfort, ergonomics from the driver’s point of view or even the use of rich premium feel material.
All three contenders are equipped with manual and automatic transmission options. The Elantra diesel engine is the smallest engine amongst the trio. Where the Elantra engine excels is engine refinement and noise. It is the least in this segment. It isn’t as powerful as the other two, but is more than sufficient for daily use. There is sufficient torque to overtake with ease and cruise in comfort. However, the comfort on bad roads isn’t as supple as the Chevrolet Cruze or the Skoda Octavia.
The Cruze boasts of the strongest engine in the segment with Power & torque numbers being 163bhp @3800rpm & 360Nm @2000rpm respectively. It has amazing power, however it misses out on is refinement. The engine is fairly loud. Even though the NVH levels are not to the benchmark set by the other two. There is sufficient power but, it isn’t at par with the Octavia.
Skoda Octavia’s 2.0-litre engine churns about 140bhp of power but it comes mated with a smooth transmission makes it the best available option. The DSG enhances the performance and is the most responsive of the lot. In terms of performance and even driving dynamics, the Skoda Octavia is superior amongst the trio.
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All three cars come fitted with the electric adjustable seats, rake and height adjust steering, automatic climate control and reverse parking assists, etc., Some interesting features worth mention are the Hill Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) & ventilated seats in Elantra. Whereas Octavia feels really safe & luxurious due to presence of features like Anti Slip Regulation (ASR) & Motor Speed Regulation (MSR), rear curtain airbags, cornering fog lights, a large sunroof & front parking assists.
The Hyundai Elantra 2016 also comes loaded with the best-in-class features. There are ventilated front seats, Android Auto and some more bells and whistles. It comes loaded with bells and whistles and at the same time, it feels the most comfortable of the lot. The Cruze even misses out on many features and it doesn’t seem plush unlike the other two. Even the rear seats are a little bit too low and upright with the knee room that is just about adequate. Tall people sitting at the back will find it uncomfortable in the Cruze.
Even the practicality on the Octavia better than the other two. The boot opens like a hatch, boot can be accessed from the rear seat and a lot more tidbits that make it a good option to consider.
Chevrolet Cruz is a very capable car with a sturdy build and good performance. Unfortunately it’s lagging a few steps behind other in terms of features, freshness and overall refinement. Skoda Octavia is refreshingly good looking with clean and confident design. It has the best fit and finish and is rich in equipment list as well. The drive quality again is one of the best. Hyundai Elantra’s Fluidic design is alluring and feature set is also impressive. Though the smaller diesel power train leaves us wanting for more. We wish it had a more powerful engine.
Lastly, a fully loaded Skoda Octavia costs INR 25.6 lakhs (on-road, New Delhi) for the top-of-the-line diesel automatic. This when compared to INR 22.6 lakhs for the Elantra diesel automatic top variant, is a lot more steep. If one is seeking pure luxury & best all round performance and price isn’t a big barrier then Skoda Octavia is the best bet. However, looking at the rich equipment list, vast service network & a really sweet price Hyundai Elantra ticks all the boxes and is really a tempting choice. It also happens to be the winner of this contest, due to better resale, service and value for money factor.
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