2025 Hyundai Elantra

Pros 

• Extensive selection of standard and optional features.
• Spacious and comfortable seating.
• Exciting performance from the Elantra N Line trim. 

Cons 

• The slow movement of the base engine. 
• Some of the things that are used inside are pretty cheap. 
• The cabin lets in too much wind noise on the highway.

How does the Elantra feel to drive? Its four-cylinder engine doesn’t move very fast. It took 9.4 seconds for our Elantra to hit 60 mph, which is longer than the average time for other cars. It’s not terrible, but it can be hard to pass or accelerate at highway speeds. 

It could be better for moving quickly because the power it does have is sent to the wheels by a continuously variable automatic transmission that Hyundai designs to use the least amount of gas possible. For the most part, though, the transmission makes the ride smooth and doesn’t make the awful buzzing noise that CVTs are known for. 

Elantra does average work in other areas. For a small car, it turns pretty well, stays in one place, and doesn’t get upset easily when it hits a bump. The N Line, on the other hand, has a sport-tuned suspension that you’ll want for fast driving.

How easy is it to ride in the Elantra? The Elantra is easy to drive. It settles down quickly, and there is enough padding to handle road bumps. The chairs are comfortable all around. Because it looks flat, the bottom of the driver’s seat might need to offer more support on long rides. Also, there isn’t much support on the sides to keep you stable when you turn. 

The temperature controls are easy to use, with big dials included for the two-zone climate control. The heated seats quickly turn on after being installed. However, the noise level inside the cabin could be better. The Elantra is much noisier than the best cars in its class, and this is especially obvious in the wind.

How is the inside? Outside the Elantra, there is a lot of room and good views. One of the most roomy small cars, the Elantra has enough room for adults to sit easily in the back. The driver’s seat in our test Elantra Limited could be moved with power. It should work for both tall and short cars because it can be adjusted in many different ways. The wide range of adjustments on the steering wheel makes it easy to find the best position for driving.

How does the tech work? One display screen on the Elantra is for entertainment, and the other is for gauges. Both are easy to use. The infotainment screen gives you quick, clear directions and choices that are easy to understand. The Elantra only has an 8-inch tablet, but it gets extra points for having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for free. Both ways of integrating a smartphone need a connection in order to handle the bigger 10.25-inch screen, which needs to be clarified. 

The Limited also has a better speech activation system that can correctly follow commands for controlling the temperature, finding addresses, and searching the web. Its high-tech driving aids, like lane centering and smooth adaptive cruise control, are some of the best on the market right now. During our tests, we did not encounter any fake alerts.

How are things with the storage? The trunk room is bigger than average for the class, at 14.2 cubic feet. Some people may like the remote-release latches in the trunk better than the seat openings because the back seats fold flat. People in the front seats usually have storage spaces and cups. The wireless charging pad for smartphones is a great extra that comes with the Limited style. 

There are two anchors on each rear outer seat to hold child safety seats in place. The anchors are hidden between the pillows, making them easy to find. The back seat is big enough that you should be able to fit backward-facing seats without having to crawl into the driver’s seat.

How much fuel does it use? According to the EPA, the Elantra with a 2.0-liter engine gets 34–36 mpg on the highway and 34–36 mpg in the city. In either case, you should get great gas mileage. We easily confirmed the EPA’s prediction and even beat it on our mixed-driving test route, getting an amazing 41.8 MPG. There is also a Hybrid Elantra that gets even better gas mileage.

Is the Elantra a good choice for those on a budget? You’re now in the perfect spot for the Elantra. It is better than the rest because it comes with a limited warranty that covers five years and 60,000 miles, an engine guarantee that covers ten years and 100,000 miles, and free maintenance for three years and 36,000 miles. We’re also interested in the price, especially since all types come with a huge number of features. The only things that worried us were the amount of hard plastic in the car and the fact that the back seats were almost empty.

The Elantra’s big, bright screens, great voice commands, and expressive external design make it stand out. The high-output Elantra N is a good option for car fans who want something more than the base trims, which don’t claim to offer exciting driving experiences.

For little more than the basic model, the SEL Sport adds several features that make the Elantra easier to use every day. These include wireless phone charging, USB ports on the back, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, and automatic climate control for two zones.