2024 Hyundai Elantra Review: The Basics Of Value

Despite the decline of the sedan in the USA, many automakers still insist on putting an offering forward, but with the focus on crossovers and SUVs, competition is fierce. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra goes up against top sellers in the subcompact segment, like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. It manages quite well with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft, but if you want a little more fun, the Elantra N with its 276-hp turbo-four and manual transmission is the way to go, though we review it separately. There's also a hybrid in the mix for those who value efficiency. The regular sedan is both well-equipped and affordable, which should put it in a strong position, but is that enough to dislodge the established giants like the recently updated Civic?

New for 2024

Changes to the new Hyundai Elantra sedan include an updated front fascia with new exterior light and wheel designs. There are more airbags, too, including rear side-impact bags, and several driver assistance features have been enhanced with haptic feedback through the steering wheel. All of this adds to an already high value proposition.

2024 Hyundai Elantra Price: Which One to Buy

One of the key strengths of the Hyundai Elantra is its low starting price of just $21,475 for the SE. From there, it's a modest step up to the SEL, which sells for $23,425. The top-of-the-line Limited will cost you $26,915 MSRP. Pricing and specifications for the hybrid haven't been announced yet. The $1,115 destination charge applies to all the models in the range.

In terms of value, the SE is your best bet, as the SEL only adds a select few features. It does allow you to tack on the Convenience Package, though, which adds many of the features found on the Limited at a more affordable price. Of course, considering how cheap the Elantra is, even the top-tier trim won't set you back all that much.

Interior and Features

The most impressive thing about the interior is just how much Hyundai has managed to fit into such a compact sedan.

Hyundai has created a very stylish interior space inside the Elantra, with a smartly designed center console that places the touchscreen close to the driver, with the few physical controls located further down but still well within reach. The materials are naturally of the cheaper variety, but that doesn't mean they're low quality or don't feel good to the touch. It doesn't cost a lot extra to get access to the larger touchscreen, which is easy to navigate and operate, and you can get a power-operated sunroof to help make the already airy cabin feel even bigger.

Space

For a compact sedan, the Elantra boasts a capacious interior that can accommodate adults in either row without too much trouble. Unfortunately, the sloping roof does eat up some headroom in the back, and if you opt for the sunroof, passengers in the front have to sacrifice a few inches, too. Getting in and out is not too hard, despite this sloping roof, largely thanks to the wide-opening doors. The six-way manual driver's seat gives you a decent amount of customizability when trying to find a comfortable position when driving, and overall visibility is very good, though you get a lot of standard driver-assistance features.

Cargo

No sedan could ever come close to matching the practicality of an SUV or crossover, so the Elantra's 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space is unsurprising and not overly disappointing. It should still be sufficient for most daily needs and weekly shopping trips. If push comes to shove, you can fold down the rear seats in a 60/40 split to create an area that can accommodate larger items. This function isn't available to the SE.

For in-cabin storage, there are a pair of cupholders in the front and a glove compartment, along with a set of four door pockets. The center armrest cubby is only average in size, so you can't store particularly large items. To get the rear cupholders, you need to upgrade to the Limited.

Materials and Colors

As standard, the Elantra comes upholstered in cloth, with colors including Black and Gray. Despite the low price of the car, the materials don't feel cheap. They manage to combine durability with comfort quite well. But, if you do want something a little more premium, you can upgrade to the Limited trim. This model boasts leatherette seating trim, though the choice of interior colors remains the same, with the Gray getting a slightly lighter shade. There is a fair amount of hard plastic around the cabin, too, but it doesn't feel like a low-budget environment. The urethane steering wheel is only swapped out for a leather-wrapped one at the top trim level.

Features and Infotainment

As standard, the Elantra comes upholstered in cloth, with colors including Black and Gray. Despite the low price of the car, the materials don't feel cheap. They manage to combine durability with comfort quite well. But, if you do want something a little more premium, you can upgrade to the Limited trim. This model boasts leatherette seating trim, though the choice of interior colors remains the same, with the Gray getting a slightly lighter shade. There is a fair amount of hard plastic around the cabin, too, but it doesn't feel like a low-budget environment. The urethane steering wheel is only swapped out for a leather-wrapped one at the top trim level.

Performance

While it may not go anywhere quickly, the Elantra has excellent fuel economy and gets where it is going without feeling too lethargic.

There are two powertrain options for the Elantra, but details for the hybrid range haven't been released for 2024 yet. So for now, there is just one engine to speak of in the Hyundai Elantra, and that is a gasoline-powered 2.0-liter four-cylinder that develops 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. An intelligent variable transmission hands the gearshifts and sends outputs to the front-wheel drivetrain. This setup is not particularly athletic, and it takes the Hyundai Elantra around eight seconds to go from 0-60 mph, according to independent tests. It reaches a top speed of 116 mph.

Despite its sleek lines, the Elantra is far from being a sports car. For that kind of handling and engagement, you'd need to look to the Elantra N. The regular model is, instead, easy to manage, with light steering that remains centered on the highway. For slightly sharper responses, you can switch to Sport mode, and the Limited's independent multi-link rear suspension helps to give the car a slightly more dynamic personality, but don't expect too much. Regardless, ride comfort remains quite good across the range.

Fuel Efficiency

What it lacks in fun, the Hyundai Elantra more than makes up for with its impressive mpg returns. The EPA has tested its gas mileage and rates the standard 2.0L gas engine at 31/40/34 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles - these figures are for all models other than the entry-level SE, which earns even better fuel economy at 32/41/36 mpg. This is likely due to smaller wheels and less equipment on board, making it lighter than others in curb weight.

With a fuel capacity of 12.4 gallons, the Elantra can cover an impressive 422 miles on a full tank.

Safety

The Elantra boasts near-perfect safety ratings thanks to an extensive list of standard driver-assistance features and high-quality LEDs.

Vehicles from Hyundai are generally known for their high safety ratings, and the Hyundai Elantra is no exception. The NHTSA's review of the Hyundai Elantra is incomplete for 2024, but 2023 models returned a five-star rating, with only the front passenger crash test receiving a slightly lower four stars. Similarly, the IIHS hasn't released finding for the 2024 lineup but found no faults in the crash tests for 2023, giving the car a score of Good in every category. It last received a Top Safety Pick award in 2022.

Standard features include forward collision avoidance assist, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, a driver-attention system, and safe exit warning. The Convenience Package adds some of the more advanced features found in the Limited, such as highway driving assist, a blind-spot monitor, cyclist and junction turning detection, front and rear parking sensors and collision avoidance, as well as a surround-view monitor. This is above and beyond the ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags that every model comes with.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Reliability

The brand's reputation for reliability holds true for the Hyundai Elantra, which is rated 81 out of 100 in this regard by JD Power's consumer survey. However, the sedan was subject to two recalls in 2023; the first was for an improperly welded airbag cover emblem, and the second for a far more urgent fault with the electric oil pump assembly that may cause a fire.

As for the warranty, every 2024 Hyundai Elantra is covered for five years/60,000 miles, while the powertrain gets a longer ten-year/100,000-mile plant. Roadside assistance is offered for five years.

Warranty

Design

Despite its sedate character, the Elantra actually looks quite bold, with a sharply sloping hood that leads down to a broad but slim grille. This highly angular design is further accentuated by the sleek LED headlights, which come with matching daytime running lights. The taillights are only upgraded to LED on the top trim. Said brake light bar looks almost indented, with the trunk lid jutting out slightly above. It gains hands-free access from the SEL upwards. The roof slopes slightly like a coupe's would, and a power sunroof can be installed on the upper trims. As standard, the car is equipped with small 15-inch wheels, upgrading to 16s on the SEL, and then 17s for the Limited. At the top level, the regular black exterior accents are replaced with dark chrome.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Hyundai Elantra A Good car?

While small sedans are far from as popular as they once were, the Hyundai Sedan makes a good case for the body style's survival. It is a very affordable car that manages to offer more value than its price tag would suggest. The engine is a bit lackluster, but you can't argue with its efficiency, and it's far from the worst drive in the segment - it's also more comfortable than most. Overall practicality and passenger space are good for the class of vehicle, though they pale in comparison to what SUVs offer. But at this price, you're getting a great deal, especially when you consider the extensive list of standard safety tech and the advanced infotainment suite. Unfortunately, as good as the Elantra is, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are slightly better in a few areas - but if you want to stand out from the crowd, it makes for a good alternative.