Aesthetics remains one of Hyundai’s highest competencies, and even sitting in the lower end of the lineup, the all-new redesigned 2021 Hyundai Elantra shows daring looks that may otherwise fool you into thinking it is from the luxury class. Good looks make its way into the cabin space as well with upscaled finishing carefully crafted to fit the contemporary era.
A four-cylinder 147 horsepower engine comes standard, but more enthusiastic drivers can opt for the N-Line model that comes equipped with a turbocharged variant upping the output to 201 horsepower. A hybrid model is also available for the fuel savvy buyers. Regardless of engine choice, the 2021 Elantra comes generously equipped with a full suite of safety and tech features as well.
All said, it’s perfectly designed to compete against the compact sedan contenders namely the Nissan Sentra, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
INTERIOR AND TECHNOLOGY
Despite its lower tier status, the 2021 Elantra’s interior surprisingly boasts premium qualities while retaining a contemporary and upscaled look. It even has LED strips installed throughout the cabin for ambient lighting spanning across the front dashboard and air vents as well. Worthy notes during our week’s long test drive include the leather wrapped steering wheel and square shifters that both look and feel premium to the touch.
Other key features include both heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, dual climate controls and power sunroof.
A standard 8” infotainment touchscreen manages all multimedia controls and smartphone connectivity that works both with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The upgraded 10.3” infotainment display is highly recommended for a premium user experience but will be made exclusive to the Elantra Ultimate trim.
Hyundai SmartSense comes equipped with a host of safety features including rear cross traffic alert, blind spot collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist and pre-collision avoidance.
POWER AND DRIVE
The front-wheel drive (only) configuration comes with a 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower via a continuous variable transmission A smaller 1.6L 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle hybrid engine is also available working in tandem with an electric motor that produces 139 horsepower as a net result.
The N-Line model brings the Elantra to life with a turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder engine rated at 201 horsepower and its transmission is upgraded to a dual-clutch seven speed automatic transmission to deliver quicker acceleration and sharper gear shifts.
The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offers good compromise with its smaller 4-cylinder engine and despite its lower power output, it still manages good composure in the city and on the highway. While the transmission is a CVT, engineers at Hyundai introduced some tricks to heighten the thrill by emulating a conventional 6-speed automatic gearbox while still retaining some of the benefits of a well-respected fuel economy EPA rating coming in at a combined 7.8 L/100km.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The base Essential trim can be had for as low as $17,889 and despite the fact, still comes generously packaged with heated front seats, an 8” infotainment touchscreen. The Preferred trim adds Blind-Spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, proximity keyless entry and heated leather steering wheel priced at $21,889. The highest Ultimate trim costs more at $25,599 and comes equipped with upgraded leather seats, larger 17” alloy wheels and Bose premium 8-speaker audio system. Of the three trims, we highly recommend opting for the Ultimate trim if within budget as the premium interior cabin space and high-quality and comfortable leather seats makes it a worthy, if not, a really good bang for the buck.
