All-new Elantra combines style, efficiency, value

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2011 Hyundai Elantra

An all-new Hyundai Elantra debuts for 2011 with improved styling, superior fuel efficiency, a long list of standard equipment and a price that’s easy on the budget.

For about $15,000 you can get the 2011 Hyundai Elantra in base (GLS) trim and that includes keyless entry, full power accessories, antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, brake assist, antitheft system and a 172-watt audio system with six speakers.

The base GLS trim can be upgraded with air conditioning, an automatic transmission and other goodies. Or you can step up to the Limited trim level.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited ($19,980), which is still easy on the wallet, adds a six-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning with cabin air filter, leather upholstery with seat heaters for front and rear passengers, steering wheel audio controls, cruise control and Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition.

That’s a lot for $20,000; plus, regardless of which trim level you choose, or whether the Elantra features the six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is rated at a pleasing 29/40 mpg city/highway.

Elantra is not just a fuel-efficient compact sedan loaded with value. It looks amazingly first rate, too.

Designers provided Elantra with Hyundai’s emotional fluidic sculpture design principles. It’s similar to the new Sonata and creates the illusion that the car is constantly in motion.

I like Elantra’s elegant and sleek profile. Its cabin is agreeable, too, both in design and spaciousness.

I found plenty of room up front for my 6-foot 3-inch frame and only had to move the seat slightly forward to accommodate taller adults in the rear. For a compact sedan, Elantra does well at accommodating four adults.

There’s plenty of cargo space in the trunk, too, and taller items are accommodated thanks to the 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks (standard in both trim levels) with trunk-mounted release mechanisms.

Under Elantra’s hood is a new fuel-efficient 1.8-liter engine rated at 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. The 1.8-liter engine is 74 pounds lighter than the previous 2.0-liter engine and much more technologically advanced with variable valve timing on both camshafts, variable induction system and it resides on hydraulic mounts.

I had the pleasure of driving a 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited on a round-trip visit to Detroit. I was impressed with how refined the ride was for a $20,000 car.

Elantra isn’t as sporty or agile as some in this class, but it certainly delivers a nice ride for commuting and for long trips.

The four-cylinder engine won’t push you back in the seat, but it does offer sufficient pep to pull out into traffic and merge on the highway without feeling nervous. The six-speed automatic transmission gets high marks for its smooth shifts and willingness to downshift when the need to pass occurs.

Elantra’s steering and braking systems are state of the art. The electric power steering system provides Elantra with good steering feel and easy operation when parking.

The standard four-wheel disc brakes include standard antilock braking, brake assist, and electronic brake-force distribution to automatically adjust the braking force to deliver shorter stopping distances.

There are many good compact sedans to choose from but the Hyundai Elantra, with all it has to offer, is tough to beat.