2023 Hyundai Elantra

Pros:

• A large number of features, both built-in and add-on
• Spacious cabin
• Elantra Hybrid drivers get excellent gas mileage.

Cons:

• The average engine with four cylinders can only go fast.
• Interior plastic that is much firmer, especially under the seats

The way the Elantra is driven. The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine isn’t high-speed. At the Invoice Pricing test track, it took our Elantra 9.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is slower than the other cars. Even though it’s not terrible, passing or getting up to highway speed can be challenging.

It could be more fun to drive because its little power goes through an automatic transmission that Hyundai has made to be as fuel-efficient as possible. But under normal driving conditions, the information gives a smooth ride with little noise, typical of CVTs.

The Elantra is standard everywhere else. It turns pretty well for a small car, acts the same way all the time, and doesn’t mind bumps much. If you want a more sporty ride, get the N Line. Its suspension is tuned for performance.

How comfortable is the inside of the Elantra? Elantra provides a smooth ride. Enough is cushioning to handle bumps in the road, but it settles quickly. Most of the time, the seats are also comfortable. The bottom of the driver’s seat looks flat, and it might not be supportive enough for longer trips. Also, you need more than side support to keep you from moving when you turn.

The available climate control for two zones has big, easy-to-use buttons. When the heated seats are used, they turn on right away. You can hear more wind noise as you go faster, but this is normal for the class, and people can usually talk at an average volume.

How does the inside look? The Elantra’s interior is well-made, with enough room and a good view from the front seats. We’re delighted that the back seat has 2 inches more legroom than the last model, which means it can fit taller people. Even though their heads might not quite reach the ceiling, the Elantra is one of the roomiest cars in this class.

The driver’s seat in our test Elantra Limited was powered and could be moved differently. It has many adjustments, so it should work for drivers of all heights. There are many ways to change the steering wheel, which makes it easy to find the best position for driving.

How good is the tech? The two displays in Elantra Limited are easy to use. One is for the infotainment system, and the other is for the instruments. The menus and instructions on the infotainment screen are easy to understand and use. Even though the Elantra only has an 8-inch touchscreen, it gets extra points for using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. Surprisingly, any smartphone integration method needs to be connected to work on the 10.25-inch screen, which is much more significant.

The Limited also has an improved voice-activation system that can search the web, get directions, and even change the temperature. The optional set of smart driving aids, which includes lane centering and smooth adaptive cruise control, is one of the best things about modern technology. During our testing, we didn’t find any wrong alerts.

What about putting things away? With 14.2 cubic feet, the same size as the Elantra from the last model year, the trunk space is above average for the class. Some people may find it easier to fold the back seats down using the remote-release latches in the trunk instead of the ones on the seats. The front seats come with cup holders and storage spaces as standard. There is a wireless charging station for smartphones on the Limited trim, which is a nice touch.

Two anchors are put on each back seat on the outside to hold down child safety seats. Between the cushions, it’s easy to find the anchors. Since the back seat is significant, you should be able to stay in the driver’s seat to load rear-facing centers.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says that the 2.0-liter engine in the Elantra gets 35 to 37 mpg on average, depending on the model. In either case, you can count on excellent gas mileage. On our 115-mile mixed-driving test route, we averaged 41.8 mpg, which was much better than the EPA predicted.

Is it wise to buy an Elantra? You’ve now found the best place to drive the Elantra. With a limited warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, a powertrain warranty of ten years or 100,000 miles, and free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, it is better than the competition. Also, we like the price, especially considering how many features each model comes with by default. The only things we don’t like are how stiff the plastic is inside and how plain the back seat is.

The Elantra has a “wow” effect because of its high-end exterior design, big, bright screens, and better voice controls. But it doesn’t say anything about getting people excited, which is understandable. Hyundai didn’t just buy something on a whim; instead, they made an excellent all-arounder. This is why the N Line variation is made the way it is.

The SEL is the best value overall. It’s a big step up from the base SE trim, and you can add more tech features if you want to. The Elantra Blue hybrid is also great because it gets excellent gas mileage.

Hyundai Elantra models

The 2023 Hyundai Elantra has five primary trim levels: SE, SEL, N Line, Limited, and the high-performance N. The Elantra Hybrid is another option. It comes in Blue and Limited trim levels.