2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited

2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited

For the past couple of generations, the Hyundai Elantra earned its spot as the brand’s best-selling vehicle. This completely bucks the trend across the industry, as sedans are supposed to be on the decline, with a few compact models eliminated from their respective lineups. It also bucks the trend for Hyundai, as they are growing their own SUV portfolio.

Still, the Elantra remains popular for both retail and fleet consumers, as it is one of the best values in its class. That value is now growing, thanks to a mid-cycle refresh for 2019.

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We tested a 2019 Hyundai Elantra Limited to find out how this popular Hyundai compact sedan has responded to market trends while upping its own profile.

The mid-cycle refresh starts with a break from current Hyundai design tenets. The front nose is rounder with a large grille and triangular-shaped LED headlamp units. The rear-end is completely influenced by the recently revised Sonata sedan, moving the license plate to the bumper allowing for a cleaner trunk lid design. The new front- and rear-end treatments compliment a handsome silhouette and fastback-like roofline that remains attractive to its customers.

To finish out the look, each 2019 Elantra received a new set of wheels. Our Limited tester came with a handsome sporty set of 17-inch alloy wheels that finished up the overall look. Those wheels looked pretty good on our red tester.

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The Elantra’s cabin received some minor tweaks, following the mid-cycle refresh of the larger Sonata. There are a few details that will catch the eye, such as the checkered flag motif inside the speedometer and tachometer and the satin chrome applique in the center stack intermixing with the climate controls. In all, the controls, readouts, and the large infotainment screen integrated into the dashboard should be familiar with Elantra owners of the past couple of years.

Our Limited tester wore leather upholstery done in a tasteful beige color. The seats offered a mix of comfort and support up front, as well as in the rear. Four average-sized adults will find enough space inside the Elantra. Trunk space is very generous with 14.4 cubic feet that expands with the rear seats folded down.

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Hyundai did not change anything with the engine lineup. Our Limited tester is still powered by a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A six-speed automatic transmission sends that power down to the front wheels. In all, it is pretty responsive on the highway and sharp around town. We turned a fuel consumption average of 34.3 MPG overall in our care.

Ride quality is quite good. It went over bumps and ruts in the road with ease. The Elantra exhibited solid handling and cornering. It never hesitated when presented with a hazard. WE like the steering system, which offers sharp turns in the tightest areas. The brakes are solid with good pedal feel and exact stops. As we were testing in the winter, we found the traction control and anti-lock braking systems to work fine in these conditions.

In our Elantra Limited tester, there is plenty of driver assistance features we had the chance to work with. For example, the Smart Cruise Control kept us in check on the highway, along with the Lane Keep Assist. Our tester was also equipped with Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Blind Spot Collision Warning. The Elantra has been named a Top Safety Pick + by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Perhaps the best piece of driver assistance is the BlueLink telematics system, which enables instant reporting of an accident or theft of your Elantra., along with getting directions sent to your on-board navigation system. You can use BlueLink in various ways inside and out of the Elantra – including smartphone, Amazon Echo, and Google Home

The 2019 Elantra is actually one of the lowest priced vehicles in its class. The SE model starts at $15,600. Our top-of-the-line Limited tester came with a sticker price of $26,960 equipped with the Ultimate Package. There are now six trim levels to choose from, including the 201-horsepower turbocharged Sport model and the highly economical Eco model.

The Elantra has been a solid contender in the compact sedan class. It also has a field of strong rivals to contend with. These competitors include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda3, Kia Forte, Subaru Impreza, Volkswagen Jetta, and Chevrolet Cruze.

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What stands out about the Hyundai Elantra has always been its solidity and user-friendly experience. It has great value with plenty of equipment standard across the board. However, if you are looking for a great value in a compact sedan, you cannot go wrong with the 2019 Elantra.

Credit Story: CarSoup Editors

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