Compact cars have long been relegated to the role of being basic transportation with style and features once being considered a mere afterthought. However, with CUVs putting the pressure on these vehicles both in terms of demand and sales, automakers have been forced to inject these vehicles with more style and substance as they attempt to preserve the business case for making these vehicles.
One of these offerings is the 2024 Hyundai Elantra with the four-door compact attempting to stand out by offering a wide range of trims and performance options. The hybrid is hoping to appeal to those that want maximum fuel economy but does it have all of the pieces in place to achieve this goal?
Elantra Hybrid Gets Same Exterior Upgrades
Like other members of the Elantra family, the hybrid gets the same styling updates that made their appearance across the entire Elantra lineup with the front end getting a sharper look that features a revised front grille and slicker headlights. The hybrid also gets new wheel options that make it stand out in traffic. The rear fascia carries over unchanged but that’s ok since the outgoing Elantra had an unbalanced look with the sharper-looking rear clashing with the odd-looking front end.
The unified look that the new Elantra has allows it to stand out better against rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla and while the hybrid model lacks some of the chrome and exterior details that trims like the N model get, the more mature look does allow it to do a better job of projecting its fuel-sipping mission to the broader public.
More Technology Defines Elantra Family
The interior also gets in on the action for the new model year and comes with several updates that are sure to please Elantra fans. Our Limited grade tester arrived with a large 10.23-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. However, unlike some of its rivals, there’s no wireless connection and you have to manually plug your device in to get the best use of both of these features.
The dashboard gets a futuristic treatment and it fully wraps around the driver while the passenger gets a more sparse design that proudly displays its wide swath of cheap plastic and low-rent materials. The seats in our tester were comfortable and supportive and while the bolstering here is not going to stand out too much, it’s just enough to prevent occupants from sliding around too much.
A single LED strip runs along the upper portion of the dashboard and helps give the cabin a stylish nighttime presentation but the real star of the show is the rear seats. Contrary to what the Elantra’s sloping roofline and compact dimensions might suggest, the seats are actually pretty roomy even for taller passengers with our tester doing a good job delivering decent amounts of leg and knee room. Headroom is still a bit tight but that’s a small price to pay when you play in the compact vehicle segment. The Elantra’s trunk can also hold a day’s worth of groceries with ease
A six-speaker sound system is standard but our Limited model arrived with a slightly beefier eight-speaker Bose unit, but unless you’re a dedicated audiophile, most buyers will not notice any discernible difference in sound quality between the two.
Hybrid’s Engine Puts Fuel Economy Ahead of Performance
The Hybrid model is not a fire-breathing track-focused model like the N version ad as a result, it’s not going to win any awards for its performance demeanor. All Hybrids get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s paired with an electric motor to produce a combined system output of 201 horsepower. While that’s a good amount of power and should make the hybrid a lively offering in theory, in practice, its far from that. It’s hard to get a good sense of communication from the throttle and power delivery is lumpy and erratic with the engine preferring to take things nice and easy.
But while outright speed is best left to the N model, the hybrid model makes up for it by offering more fuel economy with our tester getting an EPA-rated 49/53 mpg in city and freeway driving. A DCT transmission is standard on the Hybrid and is a refreshing departure from other compact hybrids which often resort to CVT transmissions to get maximum fuel economy. The DCT delivers good shifts and it managed to go through the motions with little drama. The same can also be said for the overly boosted steering which frustrated us with its vagueness.
Value Quotient:
Pricing for the 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid starts at $26,250 which will get you a base Blue model with standard equipment like adaptive LED headlights and a fully digital instrument cluster. The Blue is also the most fuel-efficient member of the hybrid family and it gets slightly more mileage in both city and freeway driving than the Limited model.
Speaking of the Limited, that trim gets more equipment with our Limited tester having a final as tested price of just over $30,000 due to fees and a light sprinkling of optional equipment. This budget-focused pricing is meant to please budget vehicle buyers and the Elantra’s impressive array of standard equipment makes it a unique offering especially when compared to the Corolla Hybrid and the Honda Civic.
Hyundai is hoping that the Elantra Hybrid’s high fuel economy and 2024 model year updates will be enough to help it standout in the crowded compact vehicle segment. When you combine that with the array of other trim levels that the Elantra brings to the table, it all shapes up to be the proverbial jack of all trades.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.