You will not mistake the redesigned Hyundai Elantra for some other sedan on the street right now.
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As the previous saying goes, there’s multiple approach to pores and skin a cat. Whatever vitriol the individual that coined this adage had towards felines is unknown, however their logic is sound, particularly if you happen to’re wanting to economize on the pump. There are loads of super-thrifty automobiles to select from and you do not even must get a plug-in mannequin or one thing that is totally electrical. You may seize a Toyota Corolla Hybrid and even Honda’s economical Insight. And then there’s the Prius, a family title and a confirmed performer. But have you ever thought of the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid? If not, you completely ought to.
LikeRoomy, well-made interiorUnexpectedly performantSuperb gasoline efficiencyDistinctive styling
Don’t LikeOccasional transmission clunksEco-friendly tires are noisyDistinctive styling
In Blue trim, its most effective kind, this small sedan returns some whopping fuel-economy figures. Expect round 53 mpg metropolis, 56 mpg freeway and 54 mpg mixed. The top-shelf Limited mannequin I’m evaluating right here, nonetheless, is 4 mpg much less environment friendly in every driving cycle. That feels like an enormous hit, however on a proportion foundation it actually is not, plus in real-world driving I’m averaging about 48 mpg, which remains to be phenomenal. Those outstanding figures are robust sufficient to make the Elantra Hybrid extra miserly than a few of its rivals, however penny-pinching parsimony is not the one purpose to contemplate certainly one of these Hyundais.What actually units this automotive other than the pack is its avant-garde design. With its intricate entrance finish that remembers a multifaceted gemstone to its crisply creased flanks to that angular rump, this sedan has some severe type. No, its seems to be will not be for everybody, however the Elantra stands out from virtually all the things else on the street right now. The solely potential downside is longevity. This automotive seems to be nice within the second, however I query whether or not it would stay as engaging a number of years down the street or if it would age like unrefrigerated milk.
2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: An avant-garde fuel-sipper
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Those suave attractiveness carry by way of to the Elantra’s inside, which is as upscale as it’s properly outfitted. The techy-looking dashboard is angled barely towards the driving force so extra of the controls are inside simple attain. Painted silver accents brighten up the cockpit, which in any other case is likely to be a bit too extreme in black, although a grey coloration scheme is offered, too.The automotive’s sprint is constructed of engaging laborious and comfortable plastics and the entire shebang seems to be extra upscale than you’d usually count on from a automobile on this class. Of course, some cost-cutting is noticeable, although none of it’s egregious. The headliner is of iffy high quality and there aren’t any air vents or energy retailers for rear-seat passengers. Also, there is a bizarre applique to the left of the steering wheel, a gear-like circle with a line within the center. If you anticipated this ingredient to perform, you will be sorely disenchanted as a result of it is purely ornamental, although on N Line variations of the Elantra that is the place the drive mode button is positioned.
This automotive’s inside is simply as modern as its exterior.
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The Elantra Hybrid’s entrance seats are snug sufficient, plus they’re heated and ventilated within the Limited mannequin, however the rear lodging are spectacular for a automotive of this dimension. There’s stretch-out quantities of legroom and there is almost as a lot head house. On high of that, the cushions are properly positioned with a comfortably angled backrest and even a fold-down heart armrest. This Hyundai’s cabin is ethereal and open, with 99.4 cubic ft of passenger quantity, which makes it extra capacious than its sedan rivals. Even the trunk is very large, clocking in at 14.2 cubes, a tiny bit lower than the Insight gives.
Two 10.3-inch screens are customary on Limited-trim Elantras. This features a reconfigurable digital instrument cluster and a crisp touchscreen that is residence to a wonderful infotainment system. Not solely is it colourful and simple to make use of, this multimedia array is tremendous responsive, virtually by no means lagging or stuttering. Embedded navigation is included right here as properly. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are customary throughout the Elantra vary, although they require using a cable on Limited fashions. Curiously, lower-end examples help wi-fi smartphone mirroring on their smaller 8-inch infotainment display screen, one thing I’ve skilled in different Hyundai and Kia automobiles.As for driver aids, the Elantra Hybrid comes customary with the same old suspects. Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot help, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping help and automated excessive beams, amongst others, are all accounted for. The Limited trim additionally consists of adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality in addition to Highway Drive Assist, which throws lane centering into the combo. All of those facilities work as marketed and are intuitive.The Hyundai Elantra’s powertrain is clean and tremendous environment friendly, if not notably muscular.
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The Elantra Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is matched to a six-speed dual-clutch automated gearbox. This engine is augmented by an electrical motor that brings 43 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque to the get together, whereas a lithium-ion polymer battery pack serves as an electron reservoir. Total system output is a modest 139 hp, however the twist is extra spectacular at 195 lb-ft. Quiet and refined, this sedan accelerates higher than you may count on after studying these numbers. No, it will not set the world on hearth, however it has more-than-respectable scoot for on a regular basis use, particularly when you think about simply how economical it’s. The powertrain’s paucity of ponies is barely actually noticeable at freeway speeds the place it feels considerably asthmatic. Switching to the Sport driving mode from both Normal or Smart does liven issues up barely and marginally stiffens the steering.Slowing your roll, this automotive’s brakes are just a little rubbery underfoot and the preliminary chunk of regenerative deceleration is a tiny bit abrupt, however in any other case the pedal feels advantageous and the transition to friction braking is just about imperceptible. Ride high quality is on the stiff aspect, which is stunning contemplating the hybrid mannequin is about 200 kilos heavier than a standard Elantra Limited. Perhaps engineers have been attempting to make the automotive really feel as sporty because it seems to be.Do you just like the Elantra’s edgy design or is it an excessive amount of?
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Underway, the inside is impressively hushed, aside from the high-efficiency Hankook Kinergy GT tires mounted to 17-inch wheels. Depending on the floor, they have an inclination to sing, plus additionally they really feel just a little greasy whereas cornering, squealing with little provocation. The Elantra’s steering is clean and correct, if in any other case unremarkable. When Highway Drive Assist is activated, the lane-keeping assist does an outstanding job holding the Elantra Hybrid between the strains. In reality, this setup performs higher than some methods supplied in far costlier luxurious automobiles. The solely actual dynamic draw back to this automotive is the transmission, which on very uncommon events can really feel befuddled. Usually, it is tremendous clean and fairly fast to shift, although not as speedy as different dual-clutch gearboxes.An entry-level 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid begins at $24,555 together with $1,005 in vacation spot charges. That makes it about $3,700 pricier than an ordinary 2022 Elantra sedan, an considerable distinction. The top-of-the-line Limited mannequin reviewed right here rolled off the meeting line in Ulsan, South Korea carrying a $29,260 price ticket, which is true in keeping with an Insight Touring and, frankly, not unreasonable contemplating the typical new-vehicle transaction worth lately is round 41 grand.If maximizing gasoline effectivity is as essential to you as modern design, your chariot awaits. The Elantra Hybrid can stretch a gallon of gasoline like one of the best of ’em and it seems to be much better whereas doing so.