The New Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra comes with a lot of unique features, which is why it is ranked high in its class.  The Elantra is just into its ninth year of production, which makes it a fairly new car.  The latest 2020 model went through a redesign, which makes the car more appealing.  Because of the redesign and the Eco trim base-level SE and the top-of-the-line Limited, Elantra has so much to offer.  Read below to learn more about the new 2020 Hyundai Elantra.

Performance

The new Elantra SE has limited trims.  The standard engine that comes with the trims is a powerful 2.0-liter inline, 4-cylinder engine that provides 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque.  The SE has a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Limited has a 6-speed automatic transmission with an SHIFTRONIC® shifter to allow manual upshifting and downshifting.  Hyundai makes use of an Active ECO system on the Limited solely to boost fuel efficiency, thus making it equal to the SE’s fuel economy at 28/37 mpg.

The fuel efficiency Eco trim, which has a fuel economy of 32/40 mpg, thanks to its drive train: a 1.4-liter turbocharged I4 that linked with a 7-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission for manual and automatic gear shifting.  However, the Eco engine is not as powerful as the SE and Limited as it only yields 128 horsepower, in addition to 156 lb-ft of torque.

Seating and Space

When it comes to passenger space, the Hyundai Elantra has 95.8 cubic feet with 14.4 cubic feet for cargo.  This can change by folding the rear back seat because of the great 60/40 split-folding design.  The car can accommodate five people without a problem.  Standard on all Elantra’s is premium cloth seat covering and front-seat 6-way power adjustable seating.  The Eco trim has heated seats and the Limited trim has power lumbar support on its driver’s seat.

Infotainment

The Elantra comes with a sophisticated six-speaker stereo system.  With the speaker system comes an AM/FM radio tuner, CD/MP3 player and a free three month SiriusXM satellite radio subscription.

The Eco and Limited has an added unique features: 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen that displays audio information, steering wheel-mounted controls for maximizing convenience, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay™ by using an Android device or iPhone to control the stereo’s head unit.

Comfort and Convenience

The Elantra gives priority to passenger comfort.  The Eco trim features Dual-zone automatic climatic control that comes with a complete air purifier, push-button engine start, proximity key entry, and a 3.5-inch TFT monochromatic cluster display.

The Limited trim has all of the unique features including: Blue Link® Connected Care, a communications system from Hyundai that provides services such as automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, car care appointment scheduling, and a monthly vehicle health report that even comes with a three-month trial subscription.

Safety Features

The Elantra is ranked high in security because of safety testing that was performed during manufacturing.  The vehicle includes the following for safety: front impact airbags facing the driver and the front passenger, side impact airbags mounted on the front seats, and side curtain airbags flanking both rows of seats, there is also a knee airbag on the driver’s side.

The vehicle is also stocked with electronic stability features that allows the driver to regain control of the vehicle in any situation.  This includes Anti-lock brake for preventing wheel-lock whenever the brake is applied, traction control for handling slippery surfaces, brake assist and an electronic brake-force distribution for maximizing efficiency in stopping ability.

For security Hyundai has fitted the Elantra with remote keyless entry system and panic alarm to protect from car theft.  In the Eco and Limited trims, the driver’s blind spot mirror was upgraded to a blind spot detection system, which includes lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert coupled with a rear view camera that covers the back of the vehicle when in parallel parking or  when coming out of the garage.

Competition

The two primary competitions of the Elantra are the best-selling, well-rounded and most highly acclaimed cars in the history of  the automobile industry.  They are the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla.  The Mazda 3 is also an upcoming competitor especially for drivers that want a sporty and zippy feel and coupled with fuel economy.

Pros and Cons

The Hyundai Elantra engine is not powerful compared to some of its competitors.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) picked the vehicle as the number one in safety.  The Elantra received an excellent score in crash worthiness and front crash prevention.

Size Classification and MSRP

The Elantra is a beautiful compact four-door sedan that is smaller in size compared to other Hyundai’s in the same category.  With everything the Elantra provides, you will be getting a bang for your buck. The Elantra starts at an MSRP of From $19,300.

Final Thought

The Hyundai Elantra has some tough competition in its class, but it still holds its own.  You will not be disappointed driving your new Elantra off the dealership lot.  If you are still on the fence about the Elantra then you should visit the dealership to learn more about the Elantra and take it for a spin.