Hyundai Elanta – A Closer Look
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra is a compact sedan that aims to make nearly every known amenity on the market available on one of its new models. It’s got impressive safety features and a hefty array of technology to offset its tame style and design.
The 2020 Elantra comes with a stellar warranty package that includes 10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain plus 5 years of 24-hour roadside assistance. That’s worth taking a second look.
Introduction to the New Elantra from Hyundai
The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was plagued with cheap materials, pokey acceleration and a lack of standard safety tech. Luckily, Hyundai engineers have gone back to the drawing board to update the Elantra for 2020. The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has a faster, more powerful Sport model. It has more standard safety features.
The Elantra also has a smoother ride thanks to its all new CVT transmission.
If you like the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla, then you’d be wise to take a closer look at the new Elantra from Hyundai. It’s a worthy competitor this time around. This compact sedan might not win a beauty pageant, but it’s MSRP makes the Elantra sweet on the eyes.
Model Trims
There are six model trims available for the new Hyundai Elantra. There’s the SE, SEL, Value Edition, Eco, Limited and Sport. The base model SE trim comes with standard safety features like lane keeping assist and forward collision avoidance.
The Value Edition sits middle of the pack. It has a power sunroof, hands-free trunk release and push button ignition.
The Limited model trim upgrades the interior of the Elantra quite significantly. It gets leather seating, a wireless device charger and an Infinity premium sound system. The Sport model has a unique front grille design and 18-inch wheels.
It also has sport-tuned rear suspension for added handling and a turbo-charged engine that can reach 201 horsepower.
Performance Capabilities
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has three available engine configurations. Most models that leave the lot will come equipped with a 2.0 Liter, four-cylinder engine that gets a modest 147 horsepower. Then, there’s the 1.4 Liter turbo engine that’s featured on the Eco Edition.
It sacrifices even more power for its robust 33 miles per gallon in the city and 41 miles per gallon on the highway. As mentioned earlier, the Sport model ups the performance with a 1.6 Liter, turbo-charged inline four that gets 201 horsepower and 195-pound feet of torque.
Related: Check out the Honda Civic Type R
The Intelligent Variable Transmission is a new edition for 2020. It’s a CVT, or continuously variable transmission, that adds a few miles of longevity before you’ll need to fill-up the gas tank. It also makes for a quieter ride. Only the Eco and Sport models come without the new IVT. Front wheel drive is standard on all models of the new Elantra and so does a drive mode selector that toggles between Sport, Smart and Normal.
The Elantra Sport gets a different rear suspension system than the other Elantra models. It’s a multi-linked independent rear suspension that matches the sport-tuned steering. The front brake rotors are also much larger. Still, it’s no Type R Civic, but the Sport model can add some excitement to an otherwise boring drive home.
To see how the 2020 Hyundai Elantra stacks up against the Civic SI, check out this video.
Safety
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was awarded a Top Safety Pick + by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That’s their top honor. Hyundai is incredibly generous on standard safety features for the 2020 Elantra. You get a rearview camera, forward collision avoidance system, lane keeping assist and driver awareness alerts.
Blind Spot Collision Warnings are standard on all but the base model. This feature comes with rear cross traffic collision avoidance technology, as well. When you factor in Hyundai’s best warranty on the market and the low entry cost of the Elantra, you get a vehicle that can rival any other compact sedan.
Style Elements
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has a distinctive, yet subdued sense of style. The 2020 Elantra’s best design elements are the two pronounced body lines in the profile. They make the Elantra look sporty when in motion. The front fascia has a simple horizontal cascading grille and LED lights are available as an add-on.
The Sport model has a mesh-style grille that looks borrowed from other automakers like Chevy and Honda. Perhaps, Hyundai would have been better served by keeping with their cascading grille, even for the Sport model. 17-inch wheels come standard, but the wheel wells can accommodate 18-inch wheels with low profile tires.
The rear of the 2020 Elantra has a bit of black paneling at the bottom. It’s most likely tied into the hands-free trunk release, but it doesn’t go very far in adding style points to the Elantra. When the proximity key is in range, the trunk automatically opens and lifts.
That’s a class exclusive feature for the 2020 Elantra, but it would have been nice to see it better incorporated with the exterior design.
Forget stock design, check out this mod.
Interior Amenities
The base model of the 2020 Elantra has an interior that is simple yet functional. The controls favor the driver and sit high enough in the dashboard so that you don’t get too distracted. The seats are comfortable and have attractive stitching. Altogether, this would make for a cool first car for a teen driver who will probably spend a lot of time just sitting behind the wheel.
The Value Edition upgrades the dashboard with push button ignition and an actual touchscreen. The Limited model puts in leather seating, but only the Sport model makes a significant change to the interior of the Elantra. The Sport model has a leather-wrapped steering wheel and black leather seats. Both have bright red accent stitching. The brushed aluminum pedals are also a nice touch.
Technology on Deck
The 2020 Elantra from Hyundai has some impressive technology once you reach a certain price threshold. Owners get 3 years of Hyundai Blue Link free of charge when you start at the Value Edition model. It’s an app that allows you to monitor vehicle maintenance, set climate controls, activate the engine and unlock the doors.
You’d probably expect the Limited model to come with all the top tech amenities, but you might be surprised at just how little you get with the base model 2020 Elantra. It comes with a USB jack and a small 5-inch touchscreen display in the center dashboard. That’s about it.
Just about everything else that you’d want is available from the SEL model up. Then, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, voice recognition Bluetooth, Sirius XM and HD radio.
Final Analysis
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has an MSRP that ranges from $17,700 to about $20,155. That’s a bit of an increase over previous models from 2019. Yet, there are new standard safety features and a new automatic transmission that slightly improves the fuel economy.
The 2020 Elantra falls short of the competition when it comes to the vehicle’s lackluster style. Its design elements are just too simple; it’s a safe bet by Hyundai aimed at attracting a wide audience. Nearly everyone can stomach it, but very few people will rave about it. The profile is the Elantra’s best side, but you’d have to overlook the exterior to find the 2020 Elantra’s true value.
That comes in the safety and technology departments. Standard safety features are plentiful. The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has an eyebrow-raising list of tech amenities, but nearly nothing is available on the base model. Higher model trims are still quite affordable and competitively priced though.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more reliable first vehicle for teen drivers or an everyday beater that can reliably get you to and from work five days a week in the city.
