Impressed with the latest from Korea? All of Kia’s new cars and SUVs are dramatically changing preconceived notions about the entry-level brand’s place in the automotive pecking order, while Hyundai is steadily climbing its way out of the brand appeal basement into the entry-level luxury sector with each new model release.

The latest has been the much-touted 2011 Sonata, and the next-generation Elantra will be right on its heels. Also a 2011 model, the compact Elantra looks a lot like its larger midsize sibling, showing a familial theme that should attract a new level of entry-level buyers. The Elantra will no doubt be more popular than ever, and once again give its archrival Toyota Corolla migraine headaches.

Spy shots tell us what we need to know about the car’s exterior design, along with renderings created by enterprising artists, but so far we haven’t seen inside the new economy model. However, a recent debut of the Korean domestic market Avante sedan (the Korean equivalent of our Elantra) gives a clear indication of what Toyota et al are up against.

Hyundai aptly calls its new exterior design language "fluidic sculpture" and that name especially conforms to the interior too. Like the larger Sonata, the Avante/Elantra dash features a nice harmonious combination of sweeping curves and well placed angles for an upscale appearance that wouldn’t look out place in a premium luxury car. Even the door panel grab-handles flow into the armrests with an elegance unusual in this class, while the primary gauge package features large, clear, well-lit dials. The centre stack is sheer industrial artwork, boasting features not always available in the mainstream compact class, such as navigation, automatic climate control and an automatic gearshift lever with sequential manual mode.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Hyundai+Avante+2011+Elantra/3304760/story.html#ixzz0vmGqxgx4