2021 Hyundai Elantra Pros and Cons Review: Can It Slip From the Civic’s Shadow?

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Dramatic slashes through the sheetmetal indicate this is no ordinary compact sedan. No, the ambitious new Hyundai Elantra is laser-focused on the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla—but what else is new? Well, how about this: The Elantra comes closer to the Civic than it ever has before, if you know how to find the model's sweet spot.

Offered only as a sedan in the U.S., the 2021 Elantra offers three powertrains, including a 147-hp 2.0-liter inline-four most buyers will choose, a 139-hp hybrid most buyers should choose, and a 201-hp N Line aimed at enthusiasts. (A 276-hp Elantra N arrives for 2022.) Early on, the Elantra Hybrid emerged as the best of the trio we tested.

"It's definitely the pick among the Elantra trims," Detroit editor Alisa Priddle said, citing the hybrid model's additional 63 lb-ft of torque versus the standard 2.0-liter non-hybrid model. Digital director Erik Johnson added, "Even if the Elantra Hybrid's efficiency doesn't top the segment, I'd rather drive this than any Prius."

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The hybrid's most remarkable quality isn't its off-the-line oomph or the delightful cloth trim on the doors of our Limited test car, but the way the car drives. End-of-travel brake feel is very good, the car engages EV mode more often than you expect, and the transitions to the gasoline engine are relatively smooth. For everyday drivability, those are key advantages.

While the Elantra's exterior design does the talking—"Say what you want about it, but it certainly doesn't cop out on middle ground," executive editor Mac Morrison said—the hybrid quietly excels beyond our expectations. The rest of the lineup, however, doesn't match that standard. Across the line, many editors noted a lack of suspension refinement, and a couple even noticed some vibrations through the pedals or the floorboards of our test cars.

"The hybrid is the only Elantra version I'd recommend," features editor Christian Seabaugh said, "but the overall lineup still struggles. Steering is heavy and vague, the ride can be a bit crashy, and NVH is poorly controlled."

Inside, most judges warmed to the impressive available tech, which includes a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Overall, the materials quality can't compete with the Civic, which rides and sounds better, too.

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Then there's the Elantra N Line, which manages to incorporate sporty design cues and a 201-hp turbocharged engine into a package that sits right around $25,000. That would represent a great deal if the driving experience were better. Some judges appreciated the N Line's budget-fun appeal, whereas others wanted more from a sporty offering that will be compared to the new Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic Si. One thing most of us agreed on: Hyundai needs to work on the Elantra N Line's available six-speed manual transmission, from the vague shifter to the overly light clutch pedal. Deputy editor Alex Stoklosa summed up our thoughts: "Love that it has a manual, don't love the manual."

Ultimately our enthusiasm for the Elantra varies based on the model. Hyundai's latest compact has made meaningful strides forward, but its biggest problem: The Civic has, too.

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