2019 Hyundai Elantra Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

Refreshed for 2019New exterior appearanceMore standard technology features and new infotainment systemActive safety features standard on more trim levelsPart of the sixth Elantra generation introduced for 2017

　　Variety and value are the main ingredients in the 2019 Hyundai Elantra's appeal. Three available engines and six configurations mean it's easy to find an Elantra to suit your needs, whether that's you're focused on fuel economy or just something fun to drive. As for value, the Elantra doesn't deal in subtlety. The aptly named Value Edition, for example, comes standard with several desirable features, including a sunroof, keyless touch entry, hands-free trunk release, heated seats, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$125/mo  for Elantra SE

　　Elantra SE

　　SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6M) - $17,200 MSRPSE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $18,200 MSRPSE SULEV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $18,200 MSRPSEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $19,500 MSRPSEL SULEV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $19,500 MSRPValue Edition 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $20,500 MSRPValue Edition SULEV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $20,500 MSRPEco 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $21,050 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $22,600 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $23,700 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $22,700 MSRPLimited SULEV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 6A) - $22,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　For 2019, the Elantra gets a significant new exterior look, with a reshaped hood, front end, fenders, rear bumper, and even a new wheel design. Interior changes are less drastic, but they include a revised center console with new controls, vents, storage tray and updated gauges. These changes come after a complete redesign two years earlier, an indication of just how quickly the compact sedan class evolves.

　　The new Elantra also comes with expanded convenience and safety tech, including a standard rearview camera with guidelines, a larger infotainment display and Bluetooth phone connectivity on base models. Moving up the trim ladder brings features such as wireless device charging and an 8-inch infotainment display. All trims except the SE base model receive driver aids including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, and a drowsy driver warning system.

　　Despite extensive changes, the Elantra remains the same under the hood. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder base engine carries over with its underwhelming 147 horsepower, but it returns a respectable 32 mpg combined. The turbocharged four-cylinder engines in the Eco and Sport trims are more satisfying but come saddled with clunky-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.

　　Ultimately, the Elantra's value isn't enough to vault it to a podium finish in its class. Alternatives such as the Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf simply drive better and offer nice interiors. But the Elantra remains a solid pick behind the front-runners, offering a lot of features for less money. If you're open to getting a hatchback, the Elantra GT (reviewed separately) is worth consideration. Essentially the European version of the Elantra, the GT is livelier than its sedan counterpart.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Hyundai Elantra Limited (2.0L inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.9 / 10
Driving	6.0
Comfort	6.0
Interior	6.5
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

6.0

　　In most cases, the Elantra is adequate but far from impressive. With only 147 horsepower, it's at a power disadvantage for the class, and it shows in the slow acceleration. Handling is also lackluster, and the Elantra can get unsettled when driving on imperfect road surfaces.

　　

Acceleration

5.0

　　There's a good initial response right off the line, but there's not a lot of power afterward. Passing slower traffic requires a heavy foot and some patience since this is one of the slowest sedans in the class. It took 9.8 seconds for this Elantra to reach 60 mph, which is 2 to 3 seconds slower than its chief rivals.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　In everyday driving, the moderately firm pedal is reassuring and easy to modulate in stop-and-go traffic. Press harder and the vehicle remains composed and controllable. Our test Elantra required 121 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph in our emergency braking test, which is average for cars in this class.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　There's not much steering feel to report, but that's not unusual for any car today. The effort in the wheel is pleasantly light at parking lot speeds and builds to appropriate levels on streets and highways. The small turning circle makes maneuvering in tight spaces easy.

　　

Handling

5.0

　　The Elantra corners with a fair amount of stability when you're on smooth pavement. But on choppy, pockmarked or uneven pavement, the rear suspension struggles to keep the tires solidly planted. The resulting jitters sap driver confidence.

　　

Drivability

6.5

　　It's pretty effortless to drive the Elantra but not particularly pleasurable. Gear changes from the conventional automatic transmission are smooth but noticeably deliberate and slow. That said, you might like this traditional feel more than the elastic-like power delivery of some continuously variable automatic transmissions found in many other small sedans.

　　

Comfort

6.0

　　The Elantra isn't uncomfortable, but it falls well short of the benchmark set by the competition. In many ways, it has maintained its position, but rivals from Mazda and Honda have made significant improvements.

　　

Seat comfort

6.5

　　The front seats have an appropriate amount of padding and support to keep occupants comfortable for a few hours at a time. The rather flat cushions tend to cause some hard spots on longer drives. The leather upholstery breathes well enough in warm weather that you won't miss that ventilation isn't an option.

　　

Ride comfort

6.0

　　The Elantra doesn't have a firm ride, but you still feel many pavement flaws. There's no real impact harshness, but there are some residual body motions after bumps. The skittish rear suspension further degrades ride comfort.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.0

　　There's a noticeable amount of wind and road noise, though it's not intrusive enough to cause any fatigue. The engine sounds coarse and loud when you get on it. Unfortunately, that's pretty often as you wring out every bit of the engine's meager power.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　The layout of controls is more straightforward than before and makes it easy to operate. The vents do a good job of evenly dispersing cool or warm air. Once set, you rarely need to adjust the temperature.

　　

Interior

6.5

　　Not a lot has changed inside with the 2019 refresh, which isn't such a bad thing for the Elantra. It remains straightforward and easy to use, though it's not visually exciting and the materials are only about average for the class.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The primary controls are just where you want them. Buttons and knobs are logically placed and well-labeled, too. It's refreshing to see a cabin that prioritizes functionality over gimmickry or fashion.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.5

　　The doors are fairly short in length, facilitating entry in tight spots. The sloping rear roofline will require passengers to stoop quite a bit to keep from whacking their heads.

　　

Driving position

7.0

　　There are just enough adjustments to find your ideal seating position quickly, but initially the seat height felt a little too tall. Tall drivers may wish the seat cushion would drop an inch or two more.

　　

Roominess

6.5

　　Up front, there's a good sense of spaciousness. The rear seats lack headroom for passengers who are 5-foot-9 or taller. The low and short rear seat cushion lacks thigh support, but that's not all that uncommon in the class.

　　

Visibility

6.5

　　Forward visibility is good, with sensibly sized front roof pillars and mirrors. The high rear decklid obscures the view when backing into a spot, but the rearview camera alleviates any guesswork.

　　

Quality

7.0

　　A few short years ago, the Elantra's interior may have been considered slightly above average. Recent redesigns from rivals, Mazda in particular, have raised the bar, making the quality of Hyundai's interior materials acceptably average. It is nonetheless solidly built.

　　

Utility

7.5

　　The Elantra isn't class-leading if you're looking at specs alone, but its smart use of space gives it an edge in real-world usability. There's more than enough space for your stuff, whether in the trunk or in the cabin. Child seat space isn't abundant, but few vehicles in the class are much better.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　Smartly sized and placed cupholders, a deep center armrest bin, large door pockets, and a wireless charging pad all come together to give you an abundance of places to store your personal effects.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The Elantra's 14.4-cubic-foot trunk capacity is average for the class, but its shape makes it more convenient than that number suggests. The wide area behind the wheel humps easily holds a full-size golf bag. And remote release levers allow for easy seat folding when it's time to expand the space and load larger objects.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　Although the car seat anchors are marked well, it'll take a little fishing to get to them. Forward-facing seats and boosters fit well enough, but rear-facing infant seats may require front passengers to scoot forward and sit upright more than they'd prefer.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　In the top Limited trim with the optional Ultimate package, the Elantra meets expectations for a contemporary sedan in this class in regard to infotainment technology. It may not be impressive in its presentation, but the ease of use and tuning more than make up for any missing wow factor. As for active safety tech, the majority of trims are well-stocked with standard equipment.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The placement of the infotainment touchscreen high on the dash makes it easy to read at a glance and operate without too much distraction. Our test car was fitted with the premium audio upgrade, but its performance was noticeably weak and lacked clarity.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but Hyundai's infotainment system is so easy to use, some may be fine with the native system. The top Limited trim further benefits from a wireless charging pad that doesn't demand precise phone placement.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　All Elantras except the bargain-basement SE come standard with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, driver alertness monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert systems. The Limited can be further equipped with optional enhanced forward collision pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control (ACC). Others offer ACC as standard and do not omit lower trims, but Hyundai is still above average in this category.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　Voice recognition is accurate, but the amount of system control isn't all that impressive. Apple CarPlay responds better to natural conversational speech, but as always, you'll need an internet connection.

　　

Which Elantra does zzdcar recommend?

　　This year, we think the Value Edition is the trim to get for the Elantra. Last year we picked the SEL. It's still a good deal, but for about $1,000 more, the Value Edition adds items such as a sunroof, heated seats, dual-zone auto climate control and even rear cupholders. It's worth the stretch.

　　

2019 Hyundai Elantra models

　　The 2019 Hyundai Elantra comes in six trim levels, with three engines and three transmissions shared among them. The base SE offers a pretty limited feature set, but moving up to the SEL, the Value Edition and finally the Limited nets many improvements. The Eco offers a more fuel-efficient engine with midlevel equipment, and the Sport comes with a strong turbocharged engine.

　　The base engine, and the only option for the SE, SEL, Value Edition and Limited trims, is a 2.0-liter four cylinder (147 horsepower, 132 pound-feet of torque). The SE trim comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but an upgrade to a six-speed automatic is offered.

　　The SE trim is somewhat minimally equipped, with 15-inch steel wheels, front disc and rear drum brakes, power mirrors, a rearview camera, height-adjustable front seats, air conditioning, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system with a 5-inch display and a USB port. Adding the optional automatic transmission also adds cruise control and a selectable Sport driving mode.

　　Stepping up to the SEL trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, automatic headlights and heated side mirrors. Rounding out the SEL's upgrades are a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and satellite radio. You also get a suite of driver safety aids including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and a drowsy driver alert system.

　　From there, the Value Edition adds a sunroof, LED daytime running lights, door-handle approach lights, keyless entry with push-button start, and hands-free trunk release. Inside are heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, rear-seat cupholders and — a special treasure for those who live in sunny climates — sun visor extensions.

　　Hyundai's Blue Link Connected Car system is also included, and it offers the ability to start the car, set the climate control, lock and unlock the doors, and perform several other functions from a smartphone app.

　　As its name suggests, the Eco gets a more fuel-efficient engine: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder (128 hp, 156 lb-ft of torque) paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It's equipped similarly to the Value Edition and adds dual USB ports, but it doesn't get the sunroof. It also rolls on 15-inch alloy wheels.

　　Compared to the Value Edition, the Elantra Limited upgrades include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and automatic high beams. The cabin gets leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a sliding armrest, adjustable rear headrests, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and an eight-speaker Infinity premium audio system.

　　The optional Limited Ultimate package adds further refinements with the sunroof, an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, driver-seat memory settings, and additional safety features such as adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection and Safe Exit Assist, which alerts exiting passengers of potential oncoming cars before they open the doors.

　　The Elantra Sport, whether you get it with an automatic or a manual, is equipped largely like the Limited. It loses the dual-zone automatic climate control, includes the sunroof, and offers several sport-oriented changes such as a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, with either the six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic), a more sophisticated rear suspension with firmer tuning, 18-inch alloy wheels with grippier tires, stronger brakes, and chrome exterior accents.

　　The sporty theme continues inside with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, unique gauge cluster, leather-upholstered front sport seats with heating, and a black headliner.

　　The optional Sport Premium package offers an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, the Infinity audio system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Blue Link Connected Car services.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Elantra articles

　　

2019 Elantra Highlights

Trim: SESE SULEVSELSEL SULEVValue EditionValue Edition SULEVEcoSportLimitedLimited SULEVSE

　　

Base MSRP	$17,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$125/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles