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Motor1
Motor1
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Jeff Perez

The 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Is A Nearly Perfect Economy Car

Verdict

9.3 / 10

Design | Comfort | Tech | Performance | Safety | Fuel Economy | Pricing | FAQs

– Ft. Lauderdale

Looking at the range readout and seeing "500 miles" is quite a sight. Only a few cars these days claim to offer over 500 miles of range on a single tank of gas, and most of them are diesel trucks with huge fuel reserves. But the pint-sized Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is one of the few compact cars that can traverse time zones without stopping.

At its most efficient, the base Elantra Hybrid Blue gets up to 54 miles per gallon combined, which puts it second only to the new Toyota Prius in terms of efficiency. But even if you "splurge" on the Elantra Hybrid Limited – which adds bigger wheels and better equipment – this fuel-sipping sedan still returns 50 mpg combined and only costs a smidgen over $30,000.

A vehicle's ratings are relative only to its own segment and not the new vehicle market as a whole. For more on how Motor1.com rates cars, click here. 

Quick Specs 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited
Engine 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid
Output 139 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet
Fuel Economy 49 City / 52 Highway / 50 Combined
Base Price $24,550 + $1,115 Destination
As-Tested Price $30,715
On-Sale Date Now

Design

7/10
  • Exterior Color: Ceramic White
  • Interior Color: Melange / Gray
  • Wheel Size: 17 Inches

The Elantra Hybrid looks edgy, which is rare these days for a small car. Its pointed nose and triangular grille are a welcomed reprieve from more boring designs like the Volkswagen Jetta, while the sharp creases on the side profile and rear end add another extra bit of edginess to the overall look. 

The interior isn't edgy at all – it's just simple and good. The cabin is clean and cohesive with soft-touch materials on the door panels, a few weighty aluminum trim pieces, and nice lines that offer a distraction from the hard plastics elsewhere in the cabin.

Comfort

7/10
  • Seating Capacity: 5
  • Seating Configuration: 2 / 3
  • Cargo Capacity: 14.2 Cubic Feet

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid cruises in absolute serenity. The suspension is soft and compliant and able to absorb bumps in the road without so much as a shrug. The leather seats on this Limited model offer great cushioning and excellent bolstering, as well as ample butt and back support. A bit of road noise does make its way into the cabin at higher speeds, but that's not uncommon for a small affordable car. 

The Elantra immediately feels roomier than some of the alternatives when you hop inside, in both rows of seats. And the numbers support that; the Elantra Hybrid has the best or near-best headroom and legroom in the class, but falls just short in cargo space behind the Honda Civic.

  Headroom Legroom Cargo Space
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 40.6 / 37.3 Inches 42.3 / 38.0 Inches 14.2 Cubic Feet
Honda Civic 39.3 / 37.1 Inches 42.3 / 37.4 Inches 14.8 Cubic Feet
Nissan Sentra 38.9 / 36.7 Inches 43.8 / 34.9 Inches 14.3 Cubic Feet
Toyota Corolla Hybrid 38.3 / 37.1 Inches 42.3 / 34.8 Inches 13.1 Cubic Feet
Volkswagen Jetta 38.5 / 37.2 Inches 41.1 / 37.4 Inches 14.1 Cubic Feet

Technology & Connectivity

7/10
  • Center Display: 10.3-Inch Touchscreen
  • Instrument Cluster Display: 10.3 Inches
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto: No 

The top-end Elantra Hybrid Limited tested here has a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a corresponding 10.3-inch touchscreen. The infotainment interface is clean and easy to use, while the digital cluster is pretty nifty too, with highly configurable settings that offer quick access to audio, safety, and efficiency. But like a lot of current Hyundai products, it still forces you to plug in to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Performance & Handling

5/10
  • Engine: 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid
  • Output: 139 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet
  • Transmission: Six-Speed Dual-Clutch 

If you want a sporty Elantra, buy the excellent N model. Otherwise, the Elantra Hybrid will happily get you from point A to point B without fuss or frills. The hybrid powertrain is moderately torquey but not overly powerful – you will have to bury your foot deep into the go pedal to get this car up to highway speed. The suspension is squishy and not at all dynamic, but at least the steering is nicely weighted and delivers decent feedback. Even the six-speed dual-clutch transmission is a better option than the traditional continuously variable units found on many hybrids; it doesn't drone or lag.

Safety

9/10
  • Driver Assistance Level: SAE Level 2 (Hands-On)
  • NHTSA Rating: Not Rated
  • IIHS Rating: Top Safety Pick 

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has a whole host of standard safety features ranging from a front-collision warning to lane-centering and high-beam assist, with a number of options in between. The Limited model adds adaptive cruise control and Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist, which applies steering, braking, and acceleration inputs when active. And it works wonderfully on the highway, keeping the car centered in the lane and steady with the flow of traffic. 

Fuel Economy

9/10
  • City: 49 MPG
  • Highway: 52 MPG
  • Combined: 50 MPG 
  City Highway Combined
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (Limited) 49 MPG 52 MPG 50 MPG
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid (Blue) 53 MPG 56 MPG 54 MPG
Honda Civic 33 MPG 42 MPG 36 MPG
Nissan Sentra 29 MPG 39 MPG 33 MPG
Toyota Corolla Hybrid 53 MPG 46 MPG 50 MPG
Volkswagen Jetta 31 MPG 41 MPG 45 MPG

Pricing

6/10
  • Base Price: $24,550 + $1,115 Destination
  • Trim Base Price: $30,265
  • As-Tested Price: $30,715 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find another car this efficient and affordable; the Elantra Hybrid Blue starts at $25,665 (with the $1,115 destination fee included) while the Limited gets slightly pricier at $30,265. But the only option on the top trim model is $450 white paint, which you could easily skip for a number of no-cost hues.

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is the only serious alternative to the Elantra in terms of range and affordability; Toyota asks just $24,395 for its base LE model. But if you’re not as concerned with efficiency, most of the pure gas alternatives are cheaper, even when you start adding options.

  Base Price Competitive Spec
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid $25,665 $30,715
Honda Civic $25,045 $32,100
Nissan Sentra $21,745 $27,970
Toyota Corolla Hybrid $24,145 $28,620
Volkswagen Jetta $22,585 $30,370

Competitor Reviews

FAQs

How Many Miles Per Gallon Does The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue Get?

The base Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue is the most efficient option of the bunch, returning up to 53 miles per gallon in the city, 56 on the highway, and 54 combined. The Limited model, with bigger wheels and more equipment, drops to a still-efficient 49 city, 52 highway, and 50 mpg combined.

How Many Miles Does The Elantra Hybrid Drive On A Full Tank Of Gas?

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid can drive up to 550 miles on a single tank of gas. That’s thanks to the combination of an efficient four-cylinder engine and a 1.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

How Long Does The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Battery Last?

Hyundai recommends that the Elantra Hybrid’s battery pack is replaced every 150,000 miles or 15 years.

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