![]() The automatic listens attentively to your right foot jab the gas pedal when cruising, and it readily kicks down a gear. ![]() The transmission also doesn’t race to get to its highest gear - a fuel-saving tactic some cars use - which improves responsiveness. The automatic’s shifts are refined - even under hard acceleration - and quick. We were, in fact, hustling the car pretty aggressively.Ĭontributing to the Elantra’s thrifty fuel use and good drivability is its optional six-speed automatic, which is a new Hyundai-developed transmission. The terrain was hilly, the air conditioning was running and neither of us altered our driving style to get better mileage. The route consisted of mostly traffic-free rural roads and urban freeways, with some city driving mixed in. In one leg of driving that totaled slightly more than 100 miles, my driving partner and I averaged 38 mpg, according to the Elantra’s trip computer. Even when revved high, the engine sounds refined, with no buzzing from the engine bay.Īs gas mileage promises to be a big selling point for the Elantra, I wanted to get a sense of its real-world efficiency. There are times when you need to use a heavy foot to pick up the pace - like when merging on the highway - but the Elantra gets around well at city speeds and on rural roads. There’s no denying the Elantra is a modestly powered car, but so are most of its competitors, including the Civic, Cruze and Toyota Corolla. And Hyundai didn’t sacrifice drivability to achieve those thrifty mileage figures. I’d been wondering what car was going to challenge the new Focus from a styling standpoint, and with the new Elantra that question has been answered - and then some.Īutomakers have been racing to produce small cars that get great gas mileage using conventional engines, and Hyundai has succeeded on that front with the 2011 Elantra, which is powered by a new 148- horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder that gets an EPA-estimated 28/38 mpg city/highway with either the manual or automatic transmission. Pronounced hood and door creases, arching fender flares and a trunklid lip spoiler all contribute to a level of sophistication that’s been mostly absent in compact-car designs, until recently. The car has the look of a coupe as the rear window stretches nearly to the tail, resulting in a short trunklid.īesides the appealing proportions, there’s also a bit of visual flair almost everywhere you look. This gives the car a streamlined appearance, but the left pillar blocks your view a little when navigating winding roads. Like the Civic, the Elantra’s front roof pillars have been stretched toward the front fenders, resulting in a windshield with greater rake. Hyundai has definitely met its goal, as the Elantra’s styling is as dynamic as it gets in this class. The car’s designer, Cedric D’Andre, said one of the goals of the design was to create a car that was at least as sporty-looking as the Honda Civic, which still has a modern look even though it hasn’t been fully redesigned since the 2006 model year. The redesigned Elantra makes a good case for being the most stylish new compact sedan on the market. I tested automatic-transmission versions of both trims click here for a side-by-side comparison of the two models. The 2011 Elantra sedan is available at Hyundai dealerships now and is offered in two trim levels: base GLS and upscale Limited. In short, the Elantra is a home run in the compact segment, allowing more drivers to happily enter a fuel-efficient future. ![]() The Elantra has all the makings of a sales success: stop-and-stare styling, a fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine and an optimal blend of ride comfort and handling poise - all at a competitive price. That’s changed with the debut of efficient models like the Chevrolet Cruze, the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus and now the redesigned Hyundai Elantra. Not too long ago, with the exception of a few distinguished compact cars, that didn’t look like a very appealing reality. ![]() One of the likely consequences of the federal government’s push for more stringent fuel economy standards is that more people will be driving smaller cars in the future. To see what’s new for 2012, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.Įstimated mileage ratings have been lowered to reflect a November 2012 EPA audit of this car’s stated mileage. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. Editor’s note: This review was written in December 2010 about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra. ![]()
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