Hyundai Elantra (2024) Review

Hyundai's seventh-generation Elantra was North American Car of the Year for 2021, and the 2024 refresh sharpens the look with a new nose, reshaped headlights and revised LED taillights, and adds standard rear side airbags. It is still very good value: an SE starts at $21,475 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Limited adds twin 10.25-inch screens, a digital key and Highway Driving Assist. The cabin is roomy for the class, though hard plastics give the price away.

The standard 2.0-liter four makes 147 hp through a CVT and is merely adequate, taking a little over eight seconds to reach 60 mph in testing, but it returns 34 to 36 mpg combined and better in real driving. The one to buy is the hybrid, which pairs a 1.6-liter four and an electric motor with a proper six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and returns up to 54 mpg combined in Blue trim, a figure few cars can beat.

Owner surveys rate its reliability above the average for its model year, the powertrain warranty runs to 10 years or 100,000 miles, and maintenance is cheap. Resale is respectable rather than strong, at around 40 percent lost over five years. The ride is a little firm, the low roofline makes getting in awkward, and the Honda Civic remains the more polished car. As everyday transport that feels more expensive than it is, very little does the job better.