The Hyundai Elantra is one of the newest small cars on the market. In 2024, it will get a slight makeover that will include new safety features, improvements to the inside, and a new look. The 2021 model year is the first year for the newest version of Elantras. The Honda Civic (which got a new look in 2022) and the Subaru Impreza (which got a new look in 2024 as a hatchback-only model) are the only cars with more modern looks. During the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s 2024 Spring Rally in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, I took a short ride in an Elantra Hybrid Limited to test out the changes for the year 2024.
If you don’t count the high-performance N version, the Elantra Hybrid Limited is the most expensive sedan in the Elantra line. All prices include delivery, and the base price of $30,600 covers almost all options. Splash guards, a trunk cargo net ($470), and Serenity White paint are the only extras that you can choose from. The only extra thing I could find for my test vehicle was a set of padded floormats, which brought the total price up to $30,810.
A Hand That’s Gentler
One of our main complaints about the 2021–23 Elantra is that the materials used inside aren’t very good. We talk more about this in our 2021 Elantra review. The changes made in 2024 are definitely a big step forward, but they don’t instantly make the Elantra the best car in its class when it comes to the interior atmosphere. Some of the front door panels’ hard plastic surfaces have been changed to ones that are smooth to the touch. The new soft-touch surfaces aren’t as smooth as silk, but they’re better than the hard plastic that was on top of the panels before. The new fake leather seating on the Limited trim looks and feels great, and the heather-gray fabric inserts on the front seatbacks and door panels gave my test car more visual interest and texture.
The fully digital gauge panel and built-in 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen (now standard on SEL grades and higher) add to the high-end feel that was already there. The area to the left of the steering wheel is still a strange blank space that doesn’t do anything but balance out the gauge cluster. The Elantra’s interior looks futuristic because the infotainment screen and instrument panel are both made of a single, sleek piece.
News about technology
The six-speaker Bose sound system that came standard with Limited models has been changed with an eight-speaker system. Hyundai has also made the Elantra more compatible with devices. The accessible wireless charging pad has been improved, and a USB-C charging plug has been added to replace the front USB-A data/charging port. You can now use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. All models except the base SE come with two USB-C charging ports for the back seats’ forgotten riders.
It’s too bad that you still need a USB-A data connection to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on the 10.25-inch infotainment screen of the higher trim levels. It’s different from Elantra’s base entertainment system, which lets you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto wirelessly. On the better 2024 Santa Fe and some newer Hyundai models, that feature is only on the top screens. The 2024 Elantra, on the other hand, has yet to be so lucky.
On the other hand, the Elantra Limited comes with a lot of useful new technology and convenience features that aren’t found in any other small car. Hyundai’s Digital Key 2 feature turns your smartphone into a key. The car also has a 360-degree camera system, blind spot cameras, and parking sensors in the front and back. It’s too bad that the Elantra Hybrid Limited doesn’t have a 360-degree camera or a blind spot camera display. It only has a digital key and parking sensors. After testing Hyundai’s systems on other cars, I have found that they’ve always worked well. The Elantra isn’t a big, heavy car, but I like having a surround-view camera and a blind spot camera view while parking or backing up in tight spaces for extra safety.
The lane departure steering assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert systems now have haptic feedback on the steering wheel. Also, all 2024 Elantras come with side-impact airbags and a rear seat belt warning as standard. Haptic feedback is very helpful; I’d rather have the driving wheel vibrate like a smartphone than have loud alarms go off when these alerts are set off.
New things about Sharp Style
I wouldn’t say I like how Elantra’s body is shaped like paper. I think Zorro stole into Hyundai’s style office and went wild on the clay model because of the deeply creased, Z-shaped cuts on the body sides. The 2024 facelift is an improvement. The front of the Elantra, including the front fenders, has a new design that gives it a “shark-nose” look and makes it look much more powerful. Combining the Elantra’s small daytime running lights with a horizontal strip of metal trim gives it a smooth, full-width look. This design choice makes the Elantra look like Hyundai’s upcoming Kona small SUV and the 2024 Sonata midsize car, which has also been changed in the same way.
Engines keep the speed up
The powertrain in the hybrid model continues to impress with good power and usually smooth operation. The powertrains in the Elantra have stayed the same. There are 139 horsepower and 195 pounds-feet of torque from the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and 32-kilowatt electric motor. It has a well-tuned six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that doesn’t clunk or bog down and surge sometimes when going slowly like some dual-clutch transmissions do. Most of the time, acceleration is enough and could be more interesting. The kickdowns for extra-passing power are quick and perfect, and the changes from gas power to electric power are so smooth that you hardly notice them. In the same way, the Elantra Hybrid has an extremely smooth and enjoyable ride, consistent handling, and steering that feels quick and buttery thanks to its perfect balance.
When compared to the rivals
Of course, there is a lot of competition for the Elantra. Some of them are Volkswagen’s new Jetta for 2025 and the K4, a new small Kia car that will likely replace the Forte in 2025 but has been greatly changed. They will not all have electric drives, though. Hybrid powertrains still need to be more common in the popular compact car market, even though they have become more common in recent years. The Toyota Corolla and the newly revealed 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid are the only two small cars on the market right now that have a hybrid drivetrain. The Toyota Prius is the only other one, but its radical 2023 facelift makes it truly unique.
During my short trip, I couldn’t figure out how much gas I was using. The Elantra Hybrid Limited gets 49/52/50 mpg in the city, on the highway, and combined. This is the same as the Corolla Hybrid LE and XLE, which get 53/46/50 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid also comes in a regular Blue color. The EPA says this color will get 51/58/54 mpg.
But, as we already said, the Elantra Hybrid only comes with front-wheel drive, and the 2025 Civic Hybrid will make things even more complicated. You can drive all four wheels with the Corolla Hybrid. Not only does the Civic Hybrid get 50/47/49 mpg, which is about the same as the Elantra and Corolla hybrids, but it also has 200 horsepower, which is a lot more than the Hyundai and Toyota. The 2017 Civic Hybrid has Linear Shift Control, which makes it sound like a sporty automatic transmission with sharply shifting gears. It also feels as quick as its horsepower rating says. On the other hand, the Elantra Hybrid looks stuffy.
The most expensive Civic Hybrid trim level is the Sport Touring, which costs $32,845. This is about $2,200 more than the Elantra Hybrid Limited and $4,500 more than the FWD Corolla Hybrid XLE, which starts at $28,345 but is less well-equipped than the Elantra. The general cost of the Civic Hybrid is a lot higher.
So, the Elantra Hybrid Limited might be the best choice if you want a small, fuel-efficient car but don’t need the Corolla’s offered all-wheel drive or the Civic’s faster acceleration.
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