Getting into the car is easy since the doors open wide and tilt steering is standard, for those of us who like to tilt the steering to allow easier entry and exit. The seats are firm and supportive and the driver's seat has manual adjustments for fore-aft, height, tilt, lumbar support and of course, recline. It is not hard to find the perfect setup for most drivers. Even with the lumbar adjustment set to flat, there is still some support in the small of the back.

For a compact car, the Elantra is very roomy. The use of interior space is well thought-out and there is lots of leg and head room even with the optional moonroof. Controls fall easily to hand and everything is where it should be. For instance, the radio is above the HVAC controls putting it in easier reach since it is the more often accessed of the two. Power window and mirror controls are on the driver's door arm-rest. Cruise control is stalk-mounted on the steering column and works well, using the last three fingers of the right hand.

My GT has the standard 5-speed manual transmission, and this one is a gem. It has the cleanest feel of all the manual Hyundai trannies I have driven, and feels the equal of any in the Japanese "H" cars some like to rave about. The clutch is light and easily modulated, making wrist shifts easy and effortless. I often shift using my fingertips, it is that easy. No rubbery feel here.

The variable-rate power steering also is precise and direct, with just the right amount of boost for good feedback at all speeds. It does not get light and vague at highway speeds. Needless to say, parking lot maneuvers are a cinch since the car has a very tight turning circle.

Handling is one of the GT's strong suits. It has a stiffer more taut feel than the sedan GLS due to the thicker anti-roll bars and stiffer springs. Hyundai calls it "sport tuned" and it delivers a perfect balance of good handling on the twisties and during quick lane-changes, as well as isolating road imperfections during cruising.