2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited Is Packed With Tech

The Elantra is considered an entry level sedan in the Hyundai fleet of vehicles. It comes in four trim levels SE, SEL, Limited, and N Line with the SE starting at $20,950 and the top-of-the-line N Level starting at $27,500. My press loan for the week was the 2023 Elantra Limited trim which has a starting MSRP of $26,800. I have driven enough rental cars in my lifetime to know what a baseline entry level vehicle looks and smells like, so it was hard to drive the Limited and see it or call it an entry level vehicle.

The Limited trim comes with a host of class exclusive options you rarely find on a vehicle under $30,000. It also comes with a BOSE Premium Audio system, which is not class leading, but I'm not aware of another vehicle under 30K that provides that level of a sound system for their customers. The Elantra's class exclusive features include:

• 10.25-inch touch screen
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless device fast charging
• Hyundai Digital Key
• Dynamic Voice Recognition
• Ventilated Front seats
• Integrated Memory System (IMS) Front Seats
• Hands-free smart trunk release
• Safe Exit Warning (SEW)
• Full LED headlights

The powertrain for the Elantra allows consumer options by providing a gas or hybrid powertrain. My Elantra was the gas-powered version with a 2.0ltr Atkinson inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 147 hp and 132 lb-ft torque mated with a variable transmission. The MPGs for this non-hybrid engine are pretty impressive as well, with a Monroney listed city rating of 30mpg and a highway rating of 40mpg. Hybrid what?

I've heard scuttlebutt claiming that the 2.0 is a bit soft in it's zero-60 times at the local drag strip, but I didn't have any problems or issues with the 2.0 Atkinson inline engine in real world scenarios. The vehicle was able to play well with other non 2.0ltr vehicles getting up to speed and merging into interstate traffic or navigating short on ramps in and around Dallas. I like how the exterior in 2021 was engineered with a low profile and clean, sleek sports car lines while finishing up with a longer, wider fastback rear end. When you add polished 17' alloy rims and a power sunroof to the mix, the Elantra sticks out in any parking lot like a shiny new penny in a world of white, blue or gray cookie cutter SUVs. The exterior look says I would be fun to drive for not only the daily commute beat down, but also long weekends through the hill country of central Texas.

The interior of the Elantra Limited perfectly complements the sleek and sporty lines of the vehicle's exterior with a driver-centric cockpit that has a dashboard and center console that projects a feeling of being in a sports car and not a sedan. This uncluttered look allows finding or reaching important driving information on the dash or console a snap. To add some fun to the interior, there is also a sleek LED strip that spans the dashboard air vent. And don't forget the sunroof!

When I made the decision in my 20s to move to Texas, I sold all of my dirt and street legal motorcycles and my beloved truck to buy an economical 4-cylinder. It was my first of many 'adulting' cars, so I can promise you I know what entry-level looks like, drives like and sounds like when you close your door. If you are starting your first corporate job out of college and are looking for a car that is great looking, has a long and proven reliability record, is easy on the budget, and has a great safety rating, you might look at heading to a dealer to test drive an Elantra.

The Elantra includes Hyundai's Smart Sense safety technology which includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC). For more detailed information about Smart Safety technology, visit Hyundai's safety page.

Specifications

Engine: 147 horsepower 2.0 L Atkinson Inline 4-cylinder
Torque: 132 pound-feet
Transmission: Variable
Wheels: 17” Alloy
Sound: Bose Premium Audio
Touchscreen: Class Exclusive 10.25”
Color: Scarlet Red Pearl
Fuel: 30/40/37 (mpg city/highway/combined)
MSRP (starts): $20,950
MSRP (shown): $26,350

Learn More

For more information or to test drive this vehicle for yourself, stop by a local dealer or visit online at:
Hyundai | Elantra

About Hyundai

At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assurance—our promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.