2022 Hyundai Elantra

　　

2022 Hyundai Elantra Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The 2022 Hyundai Elantra is a small sedan that was just redesigned last year. The sleek and modern styling is a standout in the class, and even at its affordable price, it comes with an impressive list of standard features. A rather anemic base engine and an overabundance of hard plastic inside kept it from claiming the distinction as the zzdcar Top Rated small sedan, but it's still a competitive choice among rivals such as the Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Mazda 3.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$102/mo  for Elantra SE

　　Elantra SE

　　SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $20,200 MSRPSEL 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $21,450 MSRPBlue 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $24,100 MSRPN Line 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $24,350 MSRPN Line 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $25,700 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,950 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6AM) - $28,600 MSRPN 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $32,150 MSRPN 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8AM) - $33,650 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Happily, if you decide to go with the Elantra, you are not locked into the standard engine. There's the N Line model, which has a 201-horsepower turbocharged engine that's pretty strong for this class of car. Or if fuel economy is a priority, there's the Elantra Hybrid that gets up an estimated 54 mpg in combined driving. Then there's the new Elantra N. We originally thought it would come out for 2021 but its arrival got pushed to this year. Under the hood is a turbocharged four-cylinder that puts out a stout 276 hp. This motor, along with a sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers, makes the N an absolute blast to drive on curvy back roads.

　　Want to know more? Read our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full analysis of the Elantra's comfort, technology features and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Elantra drive? The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is lacking when it comes to speed. At zzdcar' test track, our Elantra reached 60 mph in 9.4 seconds, which is slower than average compared to rivals. It's not terrible, but passing or getting up to highway speeds can be laborious.

　　What power it does have is sent through a continuously variable automatic transmission that Hyundai tunes for optimal fuel economy, so it too is not very impressive for spirited driving. But in typical situations, the transmission delivers a smooth experience, and there's only a little of the notorious droning noise that CVTs are known for.

　　Elsewhere, the Elantra is pretty middle-of-the-road. It handles corners decently well for a small sedan, behaving predictably, and it's not easily upset over bumps. But for a sporty drive, you'll want to get the N Line, which comes with a sport-tuned suspension.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Elantra? The Elantra delivers a smooth ride. There's enough plushness to soak up bumps in the road well, but it also settles relatively quickly. The seats are also comfortable for the most part. The driver's seat bottom feels just a touch flat, and it might not provide enough support on road trips more than a few hours long. There isn't much in the way of side bolstering to keep you planted when cornering either.

　　The climate controls are easy to use, with big dials to work the available dual-zone climate control. The heated seats, when equipped, activate quickly. There is noticeable wind noise as you increase speed, but that is typical for the class, and passengers can more or less carry on conversations at normal volume.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below