Hyundai Elantra

The latest Hyundai Elantra generation is an appealing choice for a small sedan thanks to its chiseled looks, upscale interior, and sporty performance. The standard Elantra sedan is available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims. There's also the Elantra Hybrid that provides significantly improved EPA-estimated fuel economy.

The fun-to-drive Elantra N Line is for those looking for a little more fun behind the wheel; if you want something more hardcore, there’s the aggressive 276-horsepower Elantra N. When it comes to gadgets, lower-end Elantra models come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration.

The Elantra also comes standard with advanced driver assistance systems that includes forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention warning. The Elantra offers a lot of value, and just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t stand out from the crowd. 

Introduced for the 2017 model year, this generation of Hyundai Elantra remains a downright handsome and very well-equipped small sedan. Hyundai amped up the refinement in its Elantra sedan for this generation, with classy, upscale styling outside and a comfortable and thoughtfully laid out interior. The Elantra’s interior also grew, giving it better footing against its competition. Technology features include Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, which was available on the base SE model and standard through the rest of the lineup.

For the 2018 model year, a new Elantra GT hatchback was added to the lineup. A refresh to the sedan for the 2019 model year included a new, more angular front-end design and made advanced driver assist systems more widely available across the range. The standard 2.0-liter engine isn’t very powerful, but the fuel-sipping Eco and more powerful Sport both feel more energetic thanks to their turbocharged engines.

Throughout the lineup, the Elantra’s interior shines. It’s comfortable and quiet, and even though the straightforward design is a little dull it feels high-quality. 

Thanks to expressive styling and lots of standard features, the 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra generation is a smart pick for a small car. With inspiration Hyundai says was taken from water flowing around rocks, the Elantra’s styling stands well apart from other compact sedans of the day, and it even holds up well under a modern lens.

The interior feels a bit more dated, but its high style doesn’t get in the way of function. In 2013, the Elantra GT hatchback and Elantra Coupe joined the lineup. Initially available with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the Sport model introduced in 2014 comes with a more powerful 2.0-liter engine, which is also standard for the GT and Coupe.

This generation of Elantra predates technology such as Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, but all trims come with a USB input for music. It also lacks any sort of advanced driver assist systems but does score well in government and industry crash tests, and upper trims come with blind-spot monitoring.