It’s again! And it positive is pointy. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, which we briefly sampled final summer time, has returned for a full-blown analysis. The fully redesigned compact, now in its seventh technology, has arrived in a market that has grown nearly hostile to small, four-door sedans. American automobile corporations have deserted them altogether, with Ford most not too long ago changing its entry with a truck. Hyundai, then again, is betting that its overhauled compact can have a greater shot at standing out within the shrinking sedan market because of its superior tech, front-running effectivity, and (actually) sharp new styling.
So, this actually isn’t a query of whether or not the Elantra will hold folks out of Konas or Tucsons and even that new Maverick, however whether or not it is going to hold them out of Civics or Sentras or Corollas or Jettas or Mazda3s or Imprezas or, effectively, usually we’d say “you get the purpose” however we’ve successfully exhausted the complete listing.
Hyundai selected to go after the Corolla/Civic mannequin, providing the Elantra in gasoline, hybrid and fanatic variants, eschewing the Mazda’s premium aspirations and the Subaru’s customary all-wheel drive. We’ll be reviewing the brand new 50-mpg Elantra hybrid quickly and the 201-horsepower Elantra N-Line ultimately; and a full-blown N mannequin with 275 horsepower is on the way in which too, however in all probability not till 2022 on the earliest.
Right this moment, we’re centered on our loaner, which was a Restricted mannequin with the usual 2.0-liter inline-four making 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque that is paired to Hyundai’s revised CVT (hybrid, weirdly, is the model with a standard automated). Gasoline economic system is available in at 33 mpg metropolis, 43 mpg freeway and 37 mpg mixed for the SE mannequin; the SEL and Restricted are rated at 31/41/35. We averaged simply over 38 mpg throughout a 60-mile metropolis/freeway check loop.
This base engine is nothing thrilling, to make certain, but it surely’s fairly typical for the compact phase. It’s a lot for every day use, although we’d like a bit extra off-idle enthusiasm, particularly within the default drive mode. Dialing it as much as “Sport” helps a bit, but in addition exaggerates the rubber-band sensation you typically get happening/off the throttle with a CVT.
In contrast to the opposite Elantras, that are fitted with an unbiased rear suspension, the gasoline variants are caught with a twist-beam rear setup. Happily, the Elantra’s wheelbase is on the long-ish aspect for a compact, so the twist-beam setup isn’t an enormous obstacle. The journey is clean and cozy, however not sporty. Positive, you possibly can throw it right into a nook if that’s what you’re feeling like doing, however you gained’t get a lot suggestions from the Elantra’s helm.
Again when issues have been rather a lot much less steamy right here in Michigan, we discovered this the thrilling means when a shaded patch of freeway ice mid-curve resulted in an instantaneous and full lack of traction in any respect 4 corners that was not communicated up the mechanical chain. The lazy drift of the rear finish and the jostle of rubber catching on concrete afterward have been the one indicators that something had even been amiss.
If this have been a sports activities automobile, that might be damning criticism, however for a compact sedan that may virtually drive itself, it’s not make-or-break. And talking of driving itself, the Elantra’s tech suite is spectacular. The (on-by-default) Freeway Drive Help system appears each efficient and pretty dependable. It struggled lower than even our long-term Volvo S60 upon encountering broken or worn pavement markings and building zones. It’s additionally conveniently disabled with a thumb click on, because the toggle is correct on the steering wheel.
Each ’21 Elantra additionally will get ahead collision warning with pedestrian and bike owner detection, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping help, automated excessive beams and a driver inattention warning system. Along with the aforementioned Freeway Drive Help function, our Restricted was additionally outfitted with park help with reverse automated braking, blind spot monitoring with emergency steering help, rear cross-traffic warning with automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise management (naturally). As in different Hyundais, these options all work fairly effectively.
We went over fairly a little bit of the Elantra’s cabin once we had entry to a late-stage growth prototype final summer time, however the ultimate, buttoned-up model is much more spectacular. Positive, the little mystical rune of energy on the left aspect of the sprint remains to be only a piece of plastic with no perform in any respect, and the grab-handle is slightly foolish for what quantities to a commuter automobile, however the materials selections and construct high quality each impress. The material inserts within the door panels are particularly good touches.
The ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system is stable too. It’s massive, versatile, customizable and fairly intuitive to make use of. It additionally makes use of bodily buttons for vital features, together with system energy, quantity and local weather management (proper right down to the heated seats; sadly the wheel will get no such therapy). It additionally responds properly to voice instructions, tuning obediently to requested stations and discovering requested locations (tackle or in any other case) with none fuss.
In actual fact, we solely have one actual grievance. In contrast to the bottom 8-inch unit, this nav-equipped system is incompatible with wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Whereas wired integration is totally supported, you’ll have to attend a minimum of a mannequin yr or two to get each with the bigger display; it is merely a matter of the function not being supported by the {hardware} that powers the ten.25-inch unit. The wi-fi charging cradle, in the meantime, works flawlessly, even when it’s fully redundant for many who plan to plug in for Apple/Android connectivity. If nothing else, it’s helpful for passengers.
All in, the 2021 Elantra is a stable bundle with no evident drawbacks for the common sedan purchaser. Is it as massive of an enchancment over the outgoing Elantra as the brand new Nissan Sentra is over the outdated? Completely not, however that’s extra of an indictment of simply how unhappy Nissan’s compact providing turned. Is it extra revolutionary than the brand new Honda Civic? Completely, and though we will not say it is higher than its principal competitor, the brand new Elantra is for sure nearer than it was earlier than.
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