2023Hyundai Elantra – packed with features and value

There was a time when shoppers of compact sedans had to settle for boring, generic, and plain as built-in features of the cars they were buying. Thankfully, those days are long gone. Case in point – the Hyundai Elantra. Fifteen years ago, the Elantra was a simple car, with its main goal being to get you from point A to point B. Over the years, the Elantra has grown and received some nice features and has even added some performance. Now in the middle of its seventh generation, the 2023 Elantra continues to demonstrate why it is the staple in the South Korean automaker’s lineup.

Now that the Hyundai Accent has been discontinued, the Elantra is the smallest and least-expensive car in Hyundai’s array of vehicles. But don’t let that fool you as the Elantra’s long and wide body along with its sleek roofline and angular styling lines gives it plenty of flair in a class that is dominated by Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas.

There are two versions of the Elantra available – the regular gas version and a hybrid version. Going all gas, there are five trim levels – SE, SEL, N Line, Limited and the high-performance N. For those into fuel economy, the Elantra Hybrid is the way to go as it gets a combined EPA rating of 50 mpg.

The Elantra’s base engine is a 147-horsepower 2.0 liter four-cylinder that is mated to a CVT automatic transmission.

Recently, Hyundai had me in a Scarlet Red Peal Elantra Limited. While the base SE starts at $22,065, the Limited has an MSRP of $27,915, both figures seem very reasonable when you consider the average new vehicle price for 2023 is just under $50,000. And even going with the SE, you get a lot, like an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless smartphone ready, and dual USP ports. And no need to worry about which safety features to pick – Hyundai includes them all in every Elantra, like forward collision mitigation, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic assist, lane keeping assist and even driver attention warning that issues alerts if it feels the driver is becoming fatigued.

Want a few more options? The mid-range SEL is a nice step up as it adds 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with push-button start and dual-zone automatic climate control. Adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, a full 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster display, 17-inch wheels and Hyundai’s Digital Key which allows smartphones as a key) are available. The Limited includes everything that has been mentioned along with leather seating, a larger touchscreen (10.25 inches) and an enhanced automatic braking system. The N Line is equipped just like the SEL, although it uses 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Then there is the N, which really packs in the performance. Using a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, it makes an impressive 276 horses and is even available with a six-speed manual transmission.

There is a lot to take in when first entering the Elantra. The 10.3-inch touchscreen flows nicely into another 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, both of which should satisfy those into the latest technology. The interior is larger than you might expect for a car this size, and back seat passenger room is quite impressive. Unfortunately, the rear seat area is quite bare – no vents and no USB ports, although there are 2 USB ports up front.

Behind the wheel, the Elantra drives well – it’s smooth, quiet and has enough power to get by although with only 147 horses under the hood, don’t expect the Elantra to be a rocket ship. Change it into Sport mode and the digital gauges come alive as they change to red, but to be honest, not much more excitement comes from under the hood. But that’s ok – that’s why Hyundai has those different models like the N Line and N – which should fill the void that the regular Elantra leaves.

As the Elantra is very affordable to get into, it continues to stay affordable during ownership with a combined city and highway EPA rating of 34 mpg (30 in the city, 40 on the highway). And like before, the Elantra comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

While small cars may not be as popular as compact SUVs, the Hyundai Elantra has been, and continues to be a big-time seller. Years ago, for those in the market for a compact sedan, being boring was part of the package. Thanks to cars like the Elantra – that is no longer the case.

— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:

2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Base Price: $27,915.00
Price as Tested: $27,915.00
Layout: front-engine / front-wheel drive
Engine: 2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT automatic
Horsepower: 147 hp
Torque: 132 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 30 city / 40 highway mpg

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