The latest version of the Elantra feels like a more grown-up car than the model it replaces. It has a sleek and easy-to-use infotainment system, a well-tuned transmission, gets impressive fuel economy, and has a relatively roomy interior for the class. The hybrid version is the best choice, not only for its superb fuel economy, but its better ride and handling.
The standard 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, though noisy when pushed, gets off the line smoothly and delivers enough power and speed to be considered “brisk” by class standards. We’re particularly impressed by the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which nearly mimics the shifts and operation of a traditional automatic. In fact, we think most buyers won’t even realize that it’s anything other than a regular automatic, because it rarely displays the annoying CVT tendency where engine revs seem disproportionately high compared with the car’s acceleration.