2024 Hyundai Elantra

Overview

Compact sedans such as the 2024 Elantra are widely viewed as basic transportation—great for first-time car buyers, fuel-efficient, and easy to park in tight spots—but the Hyundai also brings a ton of style and a whole lot of value. The sharp exterior design turns heads but the Elantra doesn’t skimp on traditional compact-car traits. Its cabin is spacious for its size and an available hybrid powertrain boosts the Elantra’s fuel-sipper cred. The base powertrain is a breathless 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but the N-Line model comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter that offers a bit more zest. Even so, none of the Elantra models will raise its driver’s pulse. Its handling is less entertaining than rivals such as the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3, both of which offer crisper steering and a more agile overall feel. For performance-oriented drivers, the full-on Elantra N model (reviewed separately) is far more satisfying than the regular Elantra, but it also costs a lot more.

What’s New for 2024?

Hyundai’s compact car is sold under the name Avante in Korea, which has been facelifted with a sharper-looking front end, updated exterior lighting elements, and new wheels. We expect the U.S.-market Elantra to adopt these new styling changes for the 2024 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

SE

$22,000 (est)

$24,000 (est)

Blue hybrid

$26,000 (est)

Limited

$28,000 (est)

N Line

$29,000 (est)

Limited hybrid

$31,000 (est)

The midrange SEL model offers the best balance of price and features. Standard content over the SE includes a hands-free trunk release and SiriusXM. Additionally, opting for the SEL over the SE makes more worthwhile options available. For instance, we’d tick the box for the SEL Convenience package, which adds a 10.3-inch digital cluster in addition to a 10.3-inch center display for the infotainment system with built-in navigation; adaptive cruise control; a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; a wireless smartphone charging pad; heated front seats; heated mirrors; and more.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The standard nonhybrid Elantra powertrain is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that pushes out a not-very-exciting 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque under the hood of SE and SEL models. Opting for the sportier N Line model drops displacement to 1.6 liters and adds a turbocharger, resulting in a much livelier 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid models also utilize a 1.6-liter four-pot but it’s paired with an electric motor rather than a turbo, which results in slightly less horsepower than the base engine at 139 but more torque at 195 pound-feet–equal to that of the N Line. The SE and SEL’s base 2.0-liter engine is mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission) while the N Line, Blue Hybrid, and Limited Hybrid models get a DCT (dual-clutch transmission). Notably, the N Line gets a seven-speed DCT compared to the hybrids’ six-speed DCT. The hottest, enthusiast’s pick of the Elantra line by far is the performance-oriented N, which we review separately. But those who can’t quite stomach that car’s price tag could consider the tamer N Line model. After a brief test drive, we came away impressed with the N Line’s perkier acceleration and its adept handling, which ups the athleticism without compromising the ride.

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Hyundai

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates the Elantra with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder will earn up to 33 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. Models with the turbocharged 1.6-liter four have estimates as high as 28 mpg city and 36 highway. The thriftiest hybrid Elantra is rated at 53 mpg city and 56 highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, the Elantra hybrid managed only a 48-mpg result while the nonhybrid Limited with the base engine netted 38 mpg. By comparison, a Corolla hybrid hit 56 mpg in our highway test. For more information about the Elantra’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

To match its dramatic exterior, the cabin of the Elantra looks appropriately futuristic. The dashboard and center console wrap around the driver while the passenger’s side takes a more minimalist approach. A single LED strip follows the dashboard-spanning air vent across the width of the car from the steering column to the passenger’s-side door panel. Passenger volume is generous, particularly in the rear seat, which helps the Elantra compete with roomier rivals such as the Sentra and the Volkswagen Jetta. It’s not as luxurious as it looks in photos, though; there’s plenty of hard plastic inside, which isn’t surprising in this price class. In our testing, the Elantra fit six carry-on suitcases inside its trunk.

2024 hyundai elantra koreaspec interior

Hyundai

Infotainment and Connectivity

An optional 10.3-inch digital gauge display rubs elbows with a second 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that sprouts from the top of the Elantra’s dashboard. The standard infotainment setup is an 8.0-inch center display and analog gauges for the instrument cluster. Hyundai’s latest infotainment interface takes center stage here. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is a Wi-Fi connection. A voice-recognition feature allows the driver to adjust things such as the climate control or the heated seats by simply uttering specific phrases.

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Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Driver-assistance features are on the menu and many of them are offered as standard. For more information about the Elantra’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control with lane-centering feature

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Elantra comes standard with Hyundai’s legendary 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The only competitor that can match the Elantra in terms of standard warranty protection is its corporate sibling, the Kia Forte, although it should be noted that while Hyundai offers three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, Kia does not.

Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 milesArrow pointing downArrow pointing down

Specifications

Specifications

2021 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $26,455/$26,610

Options: carpeted floor mats, $155

ENGINE

DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection

Displacement: 122 in3, 1999 cm3

Power: 147 hp @ 6200 rpm

Torque: 132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm

TRANSMISSION

continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam

Brakes, F/R: 11.0-in vented disc/10.3-in disc

Tires: Kumho Majesty Solus

225/45R-17 91W M+S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 107.1 in

Length: 184.1 in

Width: 71.9 in

Height: 55.7 in

Passenger Volume: 100 ft3

Trunk Volume: 14 ft3

Curb Weight: 2895 lb

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C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 8.1 sec

1/4-Mile: 16.3 sec @ 88 mph

100 mph: 22.1 sec

120 mph: 37.5 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.5 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.1 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.5 sec

Top Speed (mfr’s claim): 124 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 175 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.88 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 35 mpg

75-mph Highway Driving: 38 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 35/31/41 mpg

2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited

Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE

Base/As Tested: $29,105/$29,260

Options: carpeted floor mats, $155

POWERTRAIN

DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection, 104 hp, 109 lb-ft + AC motor, 43 hp, 125 lb-ft (combined output: 139 hp, 195 lb-ft; 1.32-kWh lithium-ion battery pack)

Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSIS

Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink; Brakes, F/R: 11.0-in vented disc/10.3-in disc; Tires: Hankook Kinergy GT 225/45R-17 91W M+S

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 107.1 in

Length: 184.1 in

Width: 71.9 in

Height: 55.7 in

Passenger Volume: 100 ft3

Trunk Volume: 14 ft3

Curb Weight: 3088 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS

60 mph: 8.4 sec

1/4-Mile: 16.5 sec @ 85 mph

100 mph: 24.4 sec

Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.

Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 9.0 sec

Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.7 sec

Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.2 sec

Top Speed (gov ltd): 116 mph

Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY

Observed: 40 mpg

75-mph Highway Driving: 48 mpg

Highway Range: 520 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/City/Highway: 50/49/52 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs