The most recent Elantra takes a 4-cylinder/front-drive recipe and adapts it to radically totally different tastes. Gentle on the core, the Elantra Hybrid’s a hypermiler with out actually even making an attempt, whereas the Elantra N fires off warning photographs at a few of our favourite sporty compact sedans. It’s bland in any other case. We give the Elantra a 5 for efficiency, however it’d be at the least a 6 primarily based on the N Line mannequin.

Is the Hyundai Elantra 4WD? 

No, all variations are front-wheel drive.

How briskly is the Hyundai Elantra?

Not very, besides in N trim. Base automobiles soldier together with a frugal, diligent, however finally common 2.0-liter inline-4. Rated at 147 horsepower, it ships energy to the entrance wheels through a CVT, and does so with out a lot gusto. With pre-programmed ratios to step by way of it tries to imitate a great automated, however it lags from launches, even in a Sport driving mode. It’s sluggish even when the throttle’s pressed arduous; freeway passes above 70 mph with one passenger aboard can take some time. 

The powertrain lets down what will be an entertaining automotive to drive. The dynamic enhancements Hyundai’s made are noticeable within the Elantra, which has a extra balanced journey with extra crisp steering than in its earlier generations. With a entrance strut and rear torsion-beam suspension, there’s nothing unique about its composition—and nothing broadly out of spec in its journey and dealing with. There’s a little bit of vagueness in freeway monitoring, however the Elantra’s higher damped for many highway sorts than earlier than, and its brake pedal tuning is persistently good throughout the Elantra household.

Elantra Hybrid efficiency

Take a smaller 1.6-liter inline-4, marry it to an electrical motor and a 1.3-kwh lithium-ion battery pack and a 6-speed dual-clutch automated, and you’ve got the 139-hp Elantra Hybrid. Our editors leaned towards this mannequin as the higher of the 2 naturally aspirated automobiles to drive, principally due to its stellar 54-mpg mixed gasoline financial system.

The Hybrid’s slight electrical enhance off the road merely feels extra responsive than the engine within the base Elantra; its dual-clutch additionally has a extra pure really feel than the CVT. It’s additionally upgraded to a rear multi-link suspension that feels extra planted. The Hybrid transmission can judder between gears and its gasoline engine can fire up a shudder within the drivetrain because it clutches out and in, however these quibbles are minor given the most important distinction in financial system.

Elantra N Line efficiency

Right here’s the place issues get fascinating. Strip the Hybrid of its fuel-saving gadgets, graft on a turbocharger, and the Elantra N Line emerges with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, sufficient for 0-60 mph runs within the seven-second vary. Outfitted with both a 6-speed handbook or a $1,000 7-speed dual-clutch automated, the Elantra N Line lets energy set into its chassis early. It’s a extra vibrant automotive to drive, and it advantages from certainly one of Hyundai’s few handbook transmissions; the 6-speed has a light-weight clutch and straightforward take-up, with long-ish lever throws.

Outfitted with 235/40 R18 Goodyear Eagle F1s, the manual-shift Elantra N Line outgrips the all-season tires that include automatic-transmission variations. It’s not simply the tires; the Elantra N Line’s springs are stiffer back and front; it will get the unbiased rear suspension and a rear stabilizer bar in addition to greater entrance brake rotors, too. All of the tautness lacking from the bottom Elantra is discovered right here with out ruining journey high quality. At about 3,000 kilos, the lighter-weight Elantra N Line strikes a pleasant steadiness between responsive tuning and on a regular basis consolation. It leaves loads of room for the upcoming Elantra N and its 275-plus horsepower.

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