2020 Hyundai Elantra

For 2020, Hyundai is offering the Elantra in just 4 trims- SE, SEL, Value Edition and Limited. Engine offerings are just limited to the sole 2.0L naturally aspirated motor that generates 147hp and 132lbs.ft. of torque. On the plus side though, all the trims offer a whole bunch of features on all the trims and have been priced very aggressively against its rivals.

Trim	SE	SEL	Value Edition	Eco	Limited	Sport
MSRP (IVT)	$18,950	$19,700	$20,600	-	$22,800	-
MSRP (DCT)	-	-	-	$21,250	-	$23,800
Key Features	Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines	Adds these features from the SE Trims	Adds these features from the SEL Trim	Adds these features from Value Edition trim	Adds these features from the Eco Trim	Adds these features from the Limited trim
	15” Wheels with Wheel Covers	16” Alloy Wheels	Hands-Free Smart Trunk Release	15" Alloy Wheels	17” Alloy Wheels	18" Alloy Wheels
	Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist	Blind Spot Collision Warning	Heated Front Seats	Dual Charging USB ports	Leather Seating Surfaces	Sport Front Seats with Red Contrast Stitching
	Lane Keep assist	Automatic Headlights	Power Sunroof	LED Daytime Running Lamps	Full LED headlights with Auto High Beam Assist	Black headliner
	Driver Attention Warning	7” Touchscreen Infotainment System	Blue Link Connected Car System		Infiniti Premium Audio with Clari-Fi	Sport Instrument Gauge Cluster
	Bluetooth Hands-free telephony	Apple Car Play and Android Auto	One-Touch Auto Up/Down Driver Power Windows		Wireless Device Charging	Sport Front Grille and Bumper Fascia
			Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel and Gear Shift Knob		Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror with Homelink	Sport Side Sill extensions with Rear Diffuser

Package Name	Ultimate Package for Limited Trim	Premium Package for Sport Trim
MSRP	$3,350	$2,050
Features	8” Touchscreen navigation system	8 Speaker Infinity Audio system with Clari-Fi
	Safe Exit Assist	Auto-Dimming IRVM with Homelink, Compass
	4.2” Color TFT Instrument Display	Blue Link connected package for 3 years
	Smart Cruise Control
	Memory Setting for Driver’s Seat
	Memory Setting for Exterior Rearview Mirror

Trim to choose?

The Top of the line ‘Limited’ trim offers plenty of high tech equipment like Leather Seating, Premium Audio, Sunroof and a lot more. What is surprising is the fact that this trim costs somewhat similar to the base trims of the Hyundai’s rivals and which is why it’s the trim to go for.

One of the Biggest Changes for the 2020 Elantra line up, comes in the form of the availability of just 1 motor for the entire range. Hyundai is now offering the 2020 Elantra with just a 2.0L naturally aspirated motor that squeezes out 147 horses and 132 lbs.-ft. of torque. While the performance seems weak for a sedan of this segment, Hyundai says that they have done it specifically to aid the MPG figures of the sedan.

Speaking of transmission, you do have an upgraded CVT unit in the 2020 Elantra and is the only option on offer. The Intelligent Variable Transmission, as Hyundai likes to call it, offers minimal “rubberband” effect at motorway speeds. At city speeds or while moving through school zones, you will feel the jutter from the CVT and a little more prominence of the rubber band effect. 

Models	Hyundai Elantra SE	Toyota Corolla L Sedan	Honda Civic LX Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sport*	Chevrolet Cruze LS*	Volkswagen Jetta*
MSRP	$18,950	$19,500	$20,250	$20,240	$20,400	$20,240
Engine	2.0L Inline-4 Naturally Aspirated	1.8L Inline-4 Naturally Aspirated	2.0 L Inline-4	2.0 L Inline-4	1.4L Turbo Inline-4	1.4L Turbo Inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD
Transmission	CVT	CVT	CVT	6-Speed Automatic	6 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic
Power (hp @ rpm)	147@6,200	169@6,600	158@6,500	155@6,000	153@5,600	147@5,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)	132@4,500	151@4,800	138@4,200	150@4,000	177@2000-4000	184@1,400

*2019 Figures used for representational purposes only

While drawing a comparison with its rivals, the Hyundai seems to fall short of most of them by some margin. The VW Jetta's power figures match this Hyundai’s but is way ahead in terms of torque, courtesy of its turbocharged unit. The new-gen Toyota Corolla manages to upset all its adversaries in terms of power figures but loses out on overall torque against the VW. The rest 3 are similar to each other in terms of power and torque and not much separates them.

How quickly does it gather pace?

The 2.0L naturally aspirated motor of the Hyundai lags behind its rivals in terms of power and torque. What further weakens its cause is the CVT transmission that couples the rubber band effect and, in return, makes it one of the slowest accelerating cars in the segment. Hyundai, however, says that all these compromises in performance aids the MPG figures of the Elantra and is an acceptable compromise.

Models	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Toyota Corolla Sedan	Honda Civic LX Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sport*	Chevrolet Cruze LS*	Volkswagen Jetta*
0-60 MPH (sec)	9.0	7.8	8.2	8.0	7.7	7.7
Quarter Mile (sec)	16.8	16.3	16.3	16.2	16.3	14.05
Top Speed (MPH)	116	112	118	131	125	127
Engine	2.0L Inline-4 Naturally Aspirated	1.8L Inline-4 Naturally Aspirated	2.0 L Inline-4	2.0 L Inline-4	1.4L Turbo Inline-4	1.4L Turbo Inline-4
Emission  (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	5.2	N/A	8.4	11.2	5.6	5.2

While the Cruze and the Jetta, turn out to be the fastest accelerating cars in this comparison, the new-gen Corolla manages to match them closely. The Mazda comes next in line after the trio and the Civic follows in next.

How does the Elantra handle and ride?

Considering Hyundai’s of the past have had this reputation of being too soft and not much sporty, Hyundai engineers have managed to somewhat mitigate and address the same issue. The New 2020 Elantra offers the same comfort as before but blends in sportiness with its stiffened suspension. The Torsion Beam Rear Suspension adds the stiffness in the suspension, that many owners were looking for, and strikes a nice balance between ride comfort and stability.

The steering has been worked on as well and it now offers way more feedback on the highways than any previous Elantra ever did. The steering is light at low speeds but still doesn’t match the feel of the Honda Civic or the Mazda 3. We, however, feel that most consumers will be satisfied with the plush ride of the Elantra in the cities as that is where its strength lies.

What about the Braking performance?

Hyundai has been constantly emphasizing the efforts it has put in improving the braking of the Elantra. We have to say that the efforts have paid off. The reduction in weight and upgrades in the brakes makes the sedan go form 70-0 in an astounding 168ft. In the real world, the brakes feel confident under normal application and don’t fizz out of juice under any circumstance. The vehicle maintains its composure at all instances and there is very little swaying away of the vehicle under the same conditions.
 

Models	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Toyota Corolla Sedan	Honda Civic Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sedan*	Volkswagen Jetta Sedan*	Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
Brake Rotors Front (in)	11	10.8	10.2	10.7	11.5	10.8
Brake Rotors Rear (in)	10.3	10.2	9.8	9.5	10.8	10.4
Curb Weight (lbs)	2844	2840	2742	2899	2870	2959
70-0 MPH (ft)	168	174	180	179	191	161

When comparing this Hyundai to its rivals, you will find that the Elantra manages to beat most of them quite handsomely. The new-generation Toyota Corolla comes the closest in terms of braking performance to the Elantra. The Civic and the Mazda have similar braking performances and both fare lower than the Corolla. Surprisingly enough, The Jetta fares the worst here, despite its better dynamics.

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As we have seen earlier, the 2020 Elantra has somewhat compromised power for fuel economy figures and the weight reduction in the current generation has helped its cause. With Hyundai offering a somewhat milder engine tune in the 2020 Elantra, the MPG figures seem to have benefited from that. The Elantra delivers an astounding 35MPG overall and shines on the highway by delivering an even impressive 41MPG. That gives a minimum driving range of 434 miles to the Elantra, which is a pretty impressive number nonetheless.

Models	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Toyota Corolla Sedan	Honda Civic Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sedan*	Volkswagen Jetta Sedan*	Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
MPG (City)	31	30	32	27	30	28
MPG (Highway)	41	38	42	36	39	38
MPG (Combined)	35	33	36	30	34	32
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	14	13.2	12.39	13.2	13.2	13.2
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) (mi)	434/574/490	396/502/435	372/471/446	343/462/396	384/521/448	396/528/422

With Hyundai improving on Elantra's mileage figures, it now comes close to the segment king- The Honda Civic. The New Corolla also improves on its previous MPG figures but falls short of the Hyundai’s mark. The Turbocharged VW is next in line to the Corolla while the Mazda showcases the least figures.

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The interior layout of the new Elantra remains mostly unchanged over the previous year model. The cabin does feel big from the inside but it still doesn’t match the space offered in the Honda Civic. The seats offer good support and sufficient bolstering to not tire you out on long drives. They are heated and the center arm rest further adds to the convenience of the cabin.

One of the best aspects of the interiors of the Elantra has to be its driver-centric dash layout. The controls for the audio, climate and other conveniences are actual buttons unlike the touch screen systems used in the competition. This makes it easily accessible for the driver while on the go without much distraction off the road.

Models	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Toyota Corolla Sedan	Honda Civic Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sedan*	VW Jetta Sedan*	Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In)	40.3/56.2/42.2	38.3/54.8/42.3	39.3/57.0/37.1	38.3/54.8/42.3	38.5/55.9/41.1	38.9/54.8/42
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In)	37.3/55.3/35.7	37.1/54.8/41.4	37.1/55.0/37.4	37.6/54.4/35.8	37.2/54/37.4	37.3/53.7/36.1

Seating 5 inside the Elantra won’t be big of an issue. However, the rear glass area isn’t as big as compared to the front and it may seem a bit claustrophobic. The 60/40 split seats also expand overall storage and add to the practicality aspect of the sedan. The Elantra offers oodles of space on the inside, however, despite the smaller proportions, the Civic surprises on the inside. The Corolla feels spacious as well which pretty much has always been its forte.

How good is the Cargo space of the Elantra?

The Hyundai Elantra always had one of the best cargo spaces of the segment. It continues to trail behind the segment leader-The Honda Civic but has enough space for handling your weekly shopping luggage or your short weekend drive needs.

Models	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Honda Civic Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sedan*	Toyota Corolla Sedan	VW Jetta Sedan*	Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
Cargo Capacity (ft3)	14.4	15.2	12.4	13.0	14.1	14.8

Nifty features like the hands-free trunk release, that opens the trunk automatically when the proximity key is sensed by the trunk for 3 seconds, adds to the convenience of storing luggage, when your hands are full, without lifting a finger.

What does the Infotainment system feel like?

Perhaps, one of the biggest changes done to the 2020 Elantra has to be in its infotainment system and the features offered. The 2020 Elantra now gets Hyundai’s state-of-the-art AVN system with an upgraded processor that enhances the speed of the system. The base SE trim gets a 5” screen for the infotainment while the higher trims have a massive 8” unit.

Noteworthy features on the inside?

Hyundai bundles a plethora of features inside all of their cars, and the Elantra is no different either. Here is a list of a few of the standout features on the inside of the 2020 Elantra.

• Bluetooth Telephony with Voice Recognition
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play connectivity
• 8 Speaker HD audio system with Sub-woofer in the Top Trim
• Rearview Camera with Dynamic guidelines
• Power Tilt/Slide Sunroof
• Dual Automatic Temperature Control with Auto Defogging System
• Qi Wireless Charging Pad for compatible Phones
• 8 Way Power Adjust driver seat and Lumbar support
• Auto-Dimming RVM with homelink

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Hyundai has completely changed the exterior look of the 2020 Elantra and has made it sharper and edgier than before. The headlights are now of a triangular pattern and house LED inserts which to some minds may resemble a certain “Japanese” brand. The fog lamps have also being given the triangular treatment while the front grille, called the Cascading Grille, is now reminiscent of the design being followed by Hyundai all over the world.

There are new tail lamps in the rear, while a big Hyundai logo sits in between the tail lamps in the new redesigned trunk lid. Underneath the logo, you will also find the ELANTRA name written in bolder words which again kind of reminds of certain Japanese brand.

The Elantra also has one of the lowest weights in the segments owing to the use of aluminum in the chassis. This has in return given the Elantra a higher fuel economy figure and a better performance as compared to its previous generation “avatar”. Other dimensions still remain the same which makes the Elantra one of the most manageable cars to drive in the city.

Model	Hyundai Elantra Sedan	Toyota Corolla Sedan	Honda Civic Sedan*	Mazda 3 Sedan*	VW Jetta Sedan*	Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
Curb weight (lbs)	2844	2840	2724	2899	2767	2870
Length (in)	181.9	183.1	182.3	180.3	185.1	183.7
Width (in)	70.9	69.9	70.8	70.7	70.8	70.5
Height (in)	56.5	57.3	55.7	57.3	57.4	57.4
Ground Clearance (in)	5.3	6.7	6.3	6.1	5.6	6.4
Wheelbase (in)	106.3	106.3	106.3	106.3	105.7	106.3

The Elantra has the lowest ground clearance in the segment and this means that you will have to be extra careful while taking the car over speed bumps. However, the low ground clearance gives the Elantra an advantage in achieving better aerodynamic efficiency and lower drag than the others.

Noteworthy features on offer?

Like the Interiors, Hyundai isn't leaving any stone unturned, in bundling a ton load of features on the outside of the Elantra. There is an endless list of features on offer on the outside of this Hyundai but the standout ones include

• Sharp, Triangle Design LED Headlamps
• LED Tail Lamps
• Redesigned Front Grill
• Hands-Free Smart Trunk Release
• New 17” Alloy Wheels
• LED Daytime Running Lamps
• Redesigned Rear Trunk
• Shark Fin Antenna for Radio Connectivity
• Triangular Design Front Fog Lamps

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The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Picking up from there, Hyundai has added some great safety equipment as standard for 2020. The bodyshell has energy absorbing columns which soak up a lot of impact in case of a collision. Front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters are also present in the 2020 Elantra along with Rear LATCH for Children.

 Standard safety features on offer

• Forward Collision Warning
• Active Lane Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Auto Emergency Brake Assist and ABS with EBD
• Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear View Camera with Adaptive guidelines
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Individual Tire Pressure Indicator
• Vehicle Stability Management and Traction Control with Electronic Stability Control 
• Dual Front, Driver Knee, Side Curtain, and Side-impact Airbags

As we can see, the Elantra scores big on the safety front and this is a clear Indication of how much effort Hyundai has put into making the Elantra a safe car.

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Hyundai Elantra Sedan vs. Toyota Corolla Sedan

The Japanese are good at making reliable and dependable cars. The Toyota Corolla is a testimony of the same with its record-breaking sales figures. The Corolla has been a segment champ in terms of reliability, cost of maintenance and resale value. However, the Corolla isn’t a lively car and certainly not one which makes you feel enthusiastic when you drive it. The Elantra has some amazing features up its sleeves and is certainly one of the best handling cars in the segment. In terms of power, it may not be at par with the Corolla but as a daily driver the Elantra will be the better of the two.

Hyundai Elantra Sedan vs. Honda Civic Sedan

The Honda Civic is another one of the best selling cars in the segment. The Civic is a great driving car and comes with equally good amounts of practicality as well.  The Civic has the Elantra licking its feet when it comes to the space offered inside the cabin and in the cargo too. That Honda also has an all-touch interface for the AC and other controls.

The Elantra, however, still comes with buttons and knobs for most of its controls which does make it easier for the driver to control the settings but seems dated. Regardless, this Hyundai looks sleeker and sharper in its current avatar and also beats the Honda in terms of the features it has to offer.

Hyundai Elantra Sedan vs Mazda 3 Sedan

The Mazda 3 was always known for its good looking interiors and great driving dynamics. The engine inside the Mazda is one of the refined in its class with a good driving character. Mazda, however, is yet to refresh the Mazda 3 sedan for 2020 and the 3 is starting to show its age. The Elantra manages to look better than the Mazda and has also matched its driving dynamics to some extent. The Hyundai also has a great looking interior and is packed with features that even the Mazda fails to provide the customers. 

 

Hyundai has added some much-needed freshness and life in the compact sedan with the new 2020 Elantra. The Elantra now looks much edgier and sharper than its previous edition with its triangular headlamps, bold new grille, a new trunk, and tail lamp design.

It also incorporates some fantastic equipment on board and a whole plethora of safety tech to match the latest safety norms. To sum up, then, Hyundai has done its bit to “WOW” buyers with the new Elantra. It’s got a “love it or hate it” design which certainly can’t be ignored. It also has a good engine and with the number of features inside the cabin, we certainly feel that the Hyundai Elantra does present a strong case for itself.

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