The Hyundai Elantra Touring offers a smooth ride, and a surprisingly spacious interior

Growing up, my siblings  favorite argument was about the back of the car. Neither of them ever had enough room, and heaven forbid either of them ever sit in the middle seat, or behind the driver and survive with a little less leg room. Now they’re older and wiser, but their arguments haven’t really progressed. Put the two of them in a car together and you only need to wait to see who will throw the first punch. With that thought in mind, I decided it would be a good idea to bring both of them with me to a Chicago Hyundai dealer for a test drive of a2009 Chicago Hyundai Elantra Touring.

Having heard rumors about the insanely large interior, I figured I had brought along a fool-proof way to test how spacious it really was – with back-seat-warring siblings.

We took it out for a spin, and the 138-horsepower engine was more powerful than I had expected it to be. More importantly, it’s efficient and economical. This wagon gets 25 mpg overall,  better fuel economy than most other vehicles in its class. It offered a smooth and easy ride that was very pleasant to steer. A salesperson from the Chicago Hyundai dealer explained as we drove how safe it is. The Elantra Touring received five stars for its overall crash rating.

The Touring also boasts a multitude of features that are now offered standard. Air-conditioning, keyless remote entry, heated outside mirrors, a six-speaker sound system and even XM satellite radio are all now offered standard in this sporty little wagon.

However the most remarkable aspect of the test drive was the back-seat silence. Neither sibling was yelling about the other occupying the other’s legroom, and neither threw a punch over who had to sit behind the driver’s seat. The copious cabin space saved the day! Everyone had enough leg room and head room, and they were far enough away from one another that they could carry on a pleasant conversation without accusing anyone of halitosis. And there was room to spare. The rear cargo space , which the Chicago Hyundai dealer salesperson informed me is 24.3 cubic feet, is large enough to fit cargo for almost any outing.

So, I am pleased to say that there is something out there that can supress my siblings’ loathe of riding together in the back seat. Its safety ratings, great fuel-efficiency, and smooth ride are all added bonuses to the amount of room it boasts for its sportiness and affordability.