2017 Hyundai Elantra challenges Honda, Toyota
In its sixth generation debut, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra maintains the carmaker’s firm position among top economically priced compacts. The newly designed sedan looks modern and is offered in four trim levels: SE, Eco, Limited and Sport.
The SE model is standard with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, full power accessories, height-adjustable front seats, a tiltand-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split folding rear seatback. There’s also a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio and a CD player.
Automatic-transmission SE models offer a Popular Equipment package. Included are 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, cruise control, a 7-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) and steering wheel controls.
The 2017 Elantra is the first mainstream compact sedan to offer a power-operated trunk. Walk behind the car with the key fob in your pocket or hand, wait a few seconds and the truck opens. But there’s also simplicity. Climate and audio controls are buttons and knobs, logically placed and intuitive.
The Eco model, similar to the SE with Popular Equipment and Tech packages, was my test vehicle. It substitutes 15-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged 1.4-liter and a sevenspeed automatic transmission. It also sips fuel, with ratings of 32 miles per gallon in city driving, 40 mph gallon in highway conditions and 35 miles per gallon in combined driving circumstances.
With a base price of slightly less than $21,000 (about $10,000 less than the average price of a new car in the United States) the Elantra is also firmly positioned into the super value sedan category. It’s priced less than a Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza. Depending upon trims and options, the Elantra is similarly priced to the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Jetta.
Despite its designation as a compact, the Elantra has 110.2 cubic
feet of interior space, enough to classify it as a midsize car. The trunk is easily accessible and has 14.4 cubic feet of space, among the spacious in the compact sedan class. The splitand-folding rear seats further add to the compact’s versatility.
The Elantra drives smoothly and quietly with its well-insulated interior. Its road confidence increases sedan’s presence as greater than some higher-priced, larger sedans.
Interior craftsmanship was once an Elantra downfall, but now it surprises. Cheap plastic has been replaced with brushed, matte and soft-touch fabrics. The design contour is modern, clean and refined for its segment.
Beyond its roominess, comfort and a lengthy list of standard features, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra gets top safety ratings from the industry’s primary watchdogs. It also has a 10-year powertrain warranty, equaling its cousin Kia and Mitsubishi as the best in the industry. The Elantra has seven airbags and received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
There’s no downside to the Elantra as long as it’s accepted for what it is. With its 128-horsepower engine, it’s not a performance car. It accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in an acceptable 7.8 seconds. But it feels like the Elantra is peppier because it weighs less than 3,000 pounds.
Overall, the Hyundai Elantra Eco’s many attributes make it a worthy rival in the fiercely competitive compact sedan segment. The Civic and Corolla are perennially among the country’s best-selling cars and with sufficient reasons. But the Elantra is the best car $21,000 can buy.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist based in Sacramento, has published the website theweeklydriver. com since 2004. If you have a comment, story idea or own a vehicle you’d like featured, contact the author via email: james@ jamesraia.com.