2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid - Bottom Line Review

BLADDER BUSTING ON A BUDGET : The fastest road trip from Point A to Point B is the one with the most time spent in motion. The cheapest road trip is the one in which the most energy possible is made kinetically.

Entre the updated 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, which need only stop for two five minute bathroom breaks on a Chicago to Clearwater Spring Break run, while continuing to make the case for the roomy compact sedan.

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WHAT: 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited sport is a mid-cycle refresh of the 7th generation compact sedan, built on the K3 platform, shared with the Hyundai Kona subcompact SUV. It is now the smallest Hyundai sedan sold in the U.S. as the Accent model has been discontinued.

Powertrain: 1.6L DOHC 16V DI petrol battery electric hybrid I-4 = 139 horsepower/ 195 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm + 6-speed manumatic automated wet dual clutch helical transaxle, and 4 drive modes.

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE:

NOTCHED OUT: The cosmetic alterations on the 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid amount to a nip and tuck job. The overall profile remains parabolic sedan with spill-over hood, cinched intersected, side-skirted Coke bottle body, fastback stubby trunk with duck bill split between deck and bumper cover.

The junior version of the Hyundai Sonata family sedan (also sporting updates for this year), now wears revised slim front lighting spanned by a light metal bar, a wider split middle grille, bowl recessed stainless steel hood ornament, parametric "C" pillars, darkened taller corner fangs and rear raceway lighting, and a rear lower diffuser bearing wide "U" silver element.

• Hybrid Limited specific: "HYBRID" badge on lower right trunk lid.

WHY: Hyundai's spacious entry into the race for bladder busting budget sedan.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since early Spring 2024

WHERE: Hyundai new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Ulsan, South Korea

HOW ROADWORTHY: Hyundai rates the torque of the 2024 Elantra Hybrid at the same impressive 195 pound-feet as the Elantra N-Line entry performance model. Since the Hybrid's twist comes from electrification rather than turbocharging, the engine must spin at a higher speed. In sport drive mode, a rare wet dual clutch automated gearbox dispatches some hustle unlike the typical CVT driven hybrid can, and it does so without any obnoxious groaning.

HOW LIMBER: Taking a page from the related "N" variants, all Elantra Hybrids upgrade from torsion beam semi to full independent suspension for a more responsive character. Ride compliance is abound, though some sharper impacts dispatch the occasional flinty shake. There is lightness at the helm of the 2024 Elantra Hybrid, offering accurate steering reaction at speed and scrubbing the velocity off albeit through a soft pedal. Road noise suppression is big brother Sonata accomplished. Overall, the 2024 Elantra Hybrid Limited is that comfortable traveler, which de-stresses, but can respond nimbly when called to.

2021 Hyundai Elantra N-Line - Bottom Line Review

VERY WARM HATCH WORK AROUND: As the number of affordable enthusiast front-drive compact hatchbacks continues to dwindle between Pacific and Atlantic shores, there has been a corresponding rise among their sedan counterparts. The latest among these sporty compact four door Q-ships emerges from the ashes of five door sportback which

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

HOW FAR: 51 combined miles per gallon; 550 mile range (+65%, +31% respectively vs. 2021 Hyundai Elantra N-Line)

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: A spacious cabin for five occupants in this compact approaches mid-size sedan interior space.

• Wheelbase: 107.1" inches = +0.7" vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid
• Row 2 Legroom: 38.0" inches = +3.2" vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid

HOW USEFUL: √ Slight incline folding 60/40% split 2nd Row seatbacks; √ Cord suspended rear parcel shelf; +1 Low cowl forward view / -1 Wide side pillars & small backlight impede side / aft view; Tow Rating: Not Rated.

• Cargo volume: 14.2 cubic feet = +8% vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid

HOW SAFE: IIHS 2024 Top Safety Pick; √ 7 airbags; √ Rear camera w/ predictive grid

• STANDARD: √ Lane departure warning, Lane Keep Assist; √ Forward Collision + pedestrian, cyclist warning, avoidance assist; √ Blind spot, rear cross traffic warning; √ Adaptive cruise control - full; √ Highway assist; √ Auto high beam lights; √ Sonar rear park assist; √ Rain sensing windshield wipers

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: The current Elantra epitomizes the low slung sedan with a low cowl for more airy spaciousness than competing compact sedans. A twin cowl front row theme is emphasized by lateral dashboard layers curving into door cards. The Elantra trademark cockpit splitting center console passenger grab bar returns. For 2024, this family compact has fallen in line with others of the Korean household, adopting the slightly concave, contiguous two 10.25" inch LCD displays, with variable instrument cluster on the left and touch media display on the right side, first witnessed in the re-designed Hyundai Kona cute ute.

Control switchgear has a simple to identify, yet classy look. ore base-line finish, the N-Line cockpit retains traditional white on black dual analog gauges and a center stack with knobs controlling audio and dual climate zone temperatures. However cost cutting is apparent in a plethora of hard, if tightly grained, dark plastics on mid dash, door panels and all non upholstered panels.

An interesting Star Trek character incorporation: the light seat matching driver's side door card diverges from the remaining three in black, much like a Cheronian.

√ Keyless entry & ignition, cruise control, power windows, driver’s express; √ (NEW FOR '24) dual contiguous 10.25″ TFT instrument & touch LCD infotainment displays; √ Automatic 2-zone climate control; √ Leatherette perforated seating; √ Heated & cooled sport front bucket seats, 8-way power driver's adjusting + 2 position memory; √ Easy access driver's seat; √ Power moonroof

• -1 Front pax seat no longer height adustable

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Front passenger, center console grab handle; √ Drive mode dependent classic twin dial or contemporary cube shape gauges; √ "Genesis style" menu function pictograms

Details Done Right: Mid dashboard triple horizontal chrome banding integrates climate vents, continues into door cards with triple tandem contrast stitching; Knurled finish vent register tabs; Door panel aluminum audio speaker grille; Cross stitched seating; Sport leather steering wheel 10 & 2 o' Clock detents; Cleanly arranged upper horizontal steering wheel spoke multimedia, MFD & cruise control toggles, switches; Chad lower center stack climate switches.

• NEW FOR '24 - Lateral "H" quad spoke steering wheel; Denim upper door cards & seat back outlines; Infotainment button switches and center volume knob re-located at mid center stack; Denser pile carpeting

Nearly Non-Descript: Hard wall & pillar plastics; Metallic switchgear excessively shiny with low contrast script.

HOW CONNECTED:

√ Native GPS to cloud Navigation, voice commands & guidance; √ Bluetooth handsfree communications; √ SMS text messages + pre-defined replies; √ 6 speaker, 160W HD radio streaming audio + noise reduction; √ Android Auto, Apple CarPlay mobile phone projection; √ Digital key via smart phone; √ USB-A x 1, USB-C x 3 (2 x 2nd Row), 12V x 1

+1 Deep lower front center stack wireless device storage, Qi inductive charging pad

• Audibly Speaking: Bose premium audio, 8 speakers, 320 watts - defeats tinniness, a bit shallow, but provides realism for seven Sounds of Nature audio ambience effects.

HOW "APP" -LICABLE:

√ HD Real time traffic, √ HD Doppler Weather radar; √ Fuel Prices

• By Subscription: Sirius XM radio (90 days trial), BlueLink telematics & remote access (3 years trial)

HOW MUCH: $30,810 = as tested 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited

WHAT'S MISSING: Padded center console saddle; Full express power windows x 4; Fewer 2nd Row rattles; Potential for all-wheel drive?

ANY COMPETITION: Toyota Corolla Hybrid: +1 Panel fit, available all-wheel drive