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2017 Hyundai Elantra

2017 Hyundai Elantra

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Overview

The Hyundai Elantra holds a strong position among similar cars, particularly in the Korean market. It ranks first out of eight in the category of Best Korean Small Cars, demonstrating its superiority in this segment. This top ranking extends to the category of Best Korean Compact Cars, where it also holds the first position out of five. While it doesn't lead in the category of Best Gas Mileage Small Cars, it still holds a commendable second place out of 43, indicating its impressive fuel efficiency. Overall, the Hyundai Elantra is a highly competitive choice in the small and compact car segments, particularly for those seeking a fuel-efficient vehicle.

2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Overview (Final Score: B)
The 2017 Hyundai Elantra has been completely redesigned for this model year. This next-generation vehicle is not as thick with "wow factor" as was its predecessor, but has become a more contemporary, even grown-up compact sedan in its evolution. A smart engine powers the new Elantra and a little bit of added size - roughly an inch in length and width - give it more space inside.

The very obvious exterior design changes are carried inside the car as well, which boasts a more upscale look and feel. The rear seats see more space for passengers and the instrument and controls layouts are much-improved as well.

In all, this four-door compact sedan is a far better offering to the market when compared to its predecessor, but it's only marginally competitive in terms of its driving experience overall.

What We Loved About the 2017 Hyundai Elantra


  • Excellent interior experience with a much better feel despite the low price point.

  • Solid fuel economy returns that don't require finagling to make them happen.

  • Good everyday use dynamics and ergonomics.


What We Didn't Love About the 2017 Hyundai Elantra


  • Exterior design is a bit boring and run of the mill.

  • No pep to its step, though it's not a slouch either.

  • Trunk is a bit smaller now.


2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Exterior View (8/10 relative to market)
The 2017 Elantra has been thoroughly redesigned on the outside, with a new, more contemporary look that blends into the parking lot more so than did the previous-generation's appearance. This has good and bad sides, depending on your point of view. The old, bold styling is gone, making this a much less visually interesting vehicle. On the up side, this means it's less polarizing to the onlooker.

The most obvious change is to the grille and the side panels. The grille is larger, gaping to include nearly all of the front fascia. A small lip above for the hood and a small bit of bumper below are all that border the broad grille. The headlights are, consequently, thinner and pushed more to the edge, as are the cuts for the foglamp bezels.

The hood is flat with strong creases on either edge to denote the flow into the Elantra's fenders. The windscreen is tapered quickly and leads into a rounded, coupe-style roofline. Body lines are straight and fast cut, with the beltline being wide thanks to high greenhouse placement. These lines are straight, rather than angled, with a following line near the running boards to accent.

At the rear, the clipped, fastback-style styling continues from the roof, with a short trunk and fast taillamps. The overall appearance of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra is of a fast-paced coupe-style sedan along the lines of today's contemporary design as such. This look is good, but relatively forgettable in today's market. These changes hide the car's wider and longer build.

2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Interior Comfort, Quality, Ergonomics (9/10)
The interior of the 2017 Elantra has gone decidedly upscale in comparison to the previous generation of the car. Added trim, better materials, and a more spread out, less busy design have come together to make for a much more comfortable feel. Major controls such as for audio and climate, are larger and easy to use as well.

For the driver, visibility is good and instrumentation is well done. The deep, squared bezel means that not only is glare kept at bay, but there is a wide viewing area behind the steering wheel so that, with some adjustment, anyone of almost any height can see those instruments clearly. The same goes for Elantra models equipped with a touchscreen infotainment center, which is also nicely canted for the driver without excluding the front passenger.

Seating in the 2017 Hyundai Elantra is good, with good bolstering all around and nice materials to choose from. The driver and front passenger are treated to plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room. In the back seats, the added length and width of the new Elantra are apparent in the much more adult-friendly rear seating. Headroom is still a bit of a problem for taller folks, thanks to that coupe'd roofline, but most folks up to and around six feet in height will find the rear seating good.

Trunk space is good, but not excellent, standing at 14.4 cubic feet. That's a bit under par for the class, but still useful enough for most daily needs.

Technology (8/10)
Technology in the 2017 Hyundai Elantra is centered on a touchscreen at the center of the dash. The base model Elantra has no screen, but most other models either come standard with or can be upgraded to a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen. This is embued with most of the standard features one would expect, such as smartphone integration (Bluetooth) and the like. These Tech packages also include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity via USB connection.

In upper trims, such as the Limited, Hyundai includes its voice command system and Blue Link safety system for emergency assistance and crash notification. The former can be useful to those who change channels, make calls, or otherwise interact with their infotainment often while on the road.

2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Fuel Economy (9/10)
Fuel economy numbers in the 2017 Elantra are good, though not best-in-class. With the manual transmission, the Elantra is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined, with 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The 2017 Elantra equipped with an automatic transmission is rated at 33 mpg combined, 29 in the city and 38 on the highway. Larger wheels (such as on the Limited) reduce this a bit to 32 mpg combined (28/37). The Hyundai Elantra Eco model is expected to return about 35 mpg combined.

In the real world, our 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited model returned a 31 mpg average after a week of driving.

Predicted Reliability, Initial Quality Ratings (8/10)
There are no listed reliability ratings from any major source for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Given Hyundai's competitive nature in crash safety results and the industry-leading warranty coverage they give, we expect that the Elantra will do very well in crash testing and justify our scoring here.

Safety (8/10)
As above, given the warranty status and Hyundai's well-earned reputation for safety in the past, we expect that the 2017 Elantra will fare well in safety testing when it's conducted. The higher-end options for safety available in this new Elantra are another boon. These include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash mitigation systems, and more. All making the Elantra a potential candidate for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick Plus rating.

2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Performance (8/10)
The 2017 Elantra is not sporty or fast, but it handles itself well and accelerates quickly enough to at least feel competent for most drivers. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers the car with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is available on some trims and a six-speed automatic is optional or standard on others. Front-wheel drive is the only drivetrain option. The Eco model is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that outputs 128 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque and an exclusive seven-speed automated manual transmission.

Our drive with in a 2017 Elantra Limited model with the 2.0L engine and automatic transmission. We found it to be competent in everyday driving with a good feel and plenty of pickup. Fuel economy was easy to achieve, an important factor in the small car market.

Pricing and Value (9/10)
The 2017 Elantra has a history of being value-oriented and that continues forward with the new generation of the car. Its base price is competitive against other makes while its upper-trim prices, including our $27,700 test model, are excellent for the class. We expect that the Elantra will be a good value for most buyers in the segment. Especially with the well-equipped SE model with an optional equipment upgrade or two.

Compared to many contemporaries, especially the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra, the Elantra is very well-equipped for the price tag. Add in the excellent warranty that comes with the car and this Hyundai is definitely a top choice in the segment.

2017 ELANTRA SEDAN

Total Score and Competitive Comparison (67/80, 84%)
In four-door compact sedans, the competition has become relatively fierce. The 2017 Elantra faces off against the best-selling Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The Honda is a more feature-rich, fast-paced car while the Corolla is a bit under par by today's standards. The Mazda 3 should not be ignored either and neither should the excellent little Kia Forte. Both have better get-up and go and handling than do the Elantra, for those who want a sportier experience.

Despite the strong competition, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra does have a solid footing in the class with plenty going for it. It's a good everyday driver with a nice mix of usefulness and comfort with an eye on economy. Unless power and a fast pace are your requirements, the 2017 Elantra has everything you could ask for in a compact sedan. It's definitely worthy of being on the short list of any new car buyer shopping the segment.

2017 Hyundai Elantra Trims

Trim Engine Drive Train MSRP
SE 4dr Sedan 6M (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 17150
SE 4dr Sedan 6A (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
SE 4dr Sedan PZEV (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
SE 4dr Sedan (US midyear release) 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
Limited 4dr Sedan (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 22350
Limited 4dr Sedan PZEV (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 22350
Value Edition 4dr Sedan (US) 4 Cylinder FWD 20250
Limited 4dr Sedan (US midyear release) 4 Cylinder FWD 22350
Eco 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 20650
Sport 4dr Sedan 6M 4 Cylinder FWD 21650
Sport 4dr Sedan DCT 4 Cylinder FWD 22750
SE 4dr Sedan 6M 4 Cylinder FWD 17150
SE 4dr Sedan 6A 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
SE 4dr Sedan PZEV 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
SE 4dr Sedan (midyear release) 4 Cylinder FWD 18150
Limited 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 22350
Limited 4dr Sedan PZEV 4 Cylinder FWD 22350
Value Edition 4dr Sedan 4 Cylinder FWD 20250
Limited 4dr Sedan (midyear release) 4 Cylinder FWD 22350

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