The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is the second year for this nameplate’s next generation model. Featuring a new body style that is completely different from its predecessors, this compact sedan is aiming for the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Chevy Cruze to achieve supremacy in the lucrative compact car market.
Exterior
As mentioned earlier, the 2018 Elantra is featuring a new body shell for this model year. While it is classified as a compact car, it has dimensions that almost match that of a midsize car. It looks big and it feels big. It features a fastback look, with the roofline sloping almost all the way to the trunk lid. Aerospace adhesives have been used in constructing this car, which promises to solve one of the biggest problems of the previous generation Elantra: lack of structural rigidity.
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Interior
The interior of the car is just like the previous generation Elantra: spacious. There is more than enough room in both the front and back seats, meaning even those who are tall have more than enough wiggle room. There is that big touchscreen that dominates the dashboard, which holds many functions for this car. And while there is an abundance of hard plastic in the interior, its utility-inspired interior design will still impress a good number of shoppers.
Features
The Elantra has an abundance of both standard and optional features. One of the biggest standard features is the Hyundai Blue Link telematics service, which helps send destinations searched thru Google from other devices into the car. It also comes standard with satellite radio, Bluetooth, and USB. Perhaps the best feature of this car is the optional Ultimate package. We highly recommend that you get it if it’s available, as you’ll get features such as dynamic headlights and adaptive cruise control.
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Specs
For the 2018 model year, the Elantra comes with just a single engine option, a 1.6-liter engine. This is enough for a maximum output of 127 horsepower and 157 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This car won’t win you races, but it doesn’t really try to do so either. The suspension is tuned more towards comfort, but it is made up by the stiffer platform and properly weighted steering.
Verdict
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is a significant improvement to the previous-generation model it replaced. While it is nowhere close to being the perfect compact car, it has more than enough qualities that make it a beyond-worthy compact car choice.
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