The Hyundai Elantra is one of the most successful models from the brand and in the hybrid avatar, it has become even more attractive. Even in the presence of such stiff competition from solidly reputed brands, the Hyundai Elantra has managed to hold its own and in fact, has managed to carve out a special niche in the segment. It has always appealed to someone looking for a simple, no-nonsense family sedan, and it still continues to do so. In fact, the Elantra is one of the best-selling Hyundai cars in the United States and that's not without a reason. It offers exactly what buyers in that segment look for and then some more. No wonder then that it sells so well and manages to find so many takers. Here are 10 things to watch out for before considering the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid.

Related: 5 Plug-in Hybrid SUVs You Should Buy (And, 5 You Should Avoid)

1 The Elantra Hybrid Offers Adequate Performance

Red Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Front three quarter shot of Hyundai Elantra 

Enthusiasts will be disappointed by the fact that the Elantra is anything but a fast sedan. It is a family car after all and this clearly shows in the way it accelerates. It comes with a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an electric motor that produces a combined output of 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. These figures are surely not going to win any drag races, and it shows in the way it accelerates. The acceleration is strictly average and just about does the job for a family sedan. Add to this the transmission is pretty slow and this adds to the lethargic acceleration. The gearbox is pretty to respond especially when the driver wishes for a quick downshift for overtaking maneuvers. It hesitates a bit before downshifting and hence, quick overtaking moves require quite a bit of planning.

2 The Hybrid Setup Is Efficient

Red Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Front three quarter shot of Hyundai Elantra 

The Elantra hybrid is very efficient and as is the case with all hybrids, it delivers superb mileage in urban conditions where traffic is high and hence, average speeds are pretty slow. In fact, the Elantra offers fuel efficiency that's the best in the segment with a certified city economy of 53 MPG and highway economy of 56 MPG. It delivers brilliant fuel efficiency figures in the city where the low speeds ensure that it runs on pure electric power for the maximum possible distance. In addition to this, it gets a large 12.4-gallon fuel tank that allows it to have a superb range of almost 700 miles on a single tank. The hybrid system is pretty intelligent and allows the Elantra to run on pure battery power for the maximum possible distance. This makes it perfectly suitable for urban dwellers that primarily use the car for intra-city commutes.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Honda CR-V Hybrid Is The SUV To Get

3 The Interior Quality Could Have Been Better

Hyundai Elantra interior
Hyundai
Shot of the Hyundai Elantra interior showcasing the front row and dash

Although the Elantra has very nice looking and user-friendly interiors, when it comes to attention to detail and quality, it lacks a bit and falls short of some of its rivals. The quality of plastics at some points like the lower half of the dashboard definitely could have been better. Hyundai has surprisingly used pretty rough and hard plastics in the lower half of the dashboard, which doesn’t really feel nice and luxurious. All in all, the problem with this cabin is the lack of consistency in terms of plastic quality. Some bits are of very high quality and feel premium, but then some other parts are pretty hard to the touch and rough around the edges. This brings down the overall cabin ambiance and thereby the feel-good factor of the cabin. This is really something that Hyundai should look into in future updates.

4 The Elantra Hybrid Looks Sharp

Blue Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Front three quarter shot of Hyundai Elantra 

One thing that’s true with the Elantra is that one can hate it or love it, but one just cannot ignore it. The sharp design ensures that everyone notices the Elantra on the road. How well this design will age is a different matter altogether, but there’s no denying the fact that it is really sporty and aggressive. The strong character lines give it a strong presence and lend it an air of sophistication. Although some might find the design polarizing, it has been observed that most people have taken well to this latest generation of the Elantra when it comes to looks and design. The coupe-like rear end looks lend it an air of sportiness and also aids aerodynamics. In fact, it has many other small design ques that benefit aerodynamics and hence, performance and efficiency.

Related: 10 Most Reliable Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

5 Plenty Of Standard Equipment

Red Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Rear three quarter shot of the Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra Hybrid is available in two trims and even the lower trim is available with all the necessary equipment that one expects of a mid-size family sedan nowadays and then some more. It gets features like multiple airbags, electronic stability program, automatic climate control, heated seats, a feature-packed infotainment system, and much more. This makes the Elantra a superb value-for-money proposition. It even gets features like alloy wheels, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and connected car tech as standard. Hyundai typically loads all its cars with features that make them stand out in their class and the Elantra is no different. More standard features on offer make it stand out from the crowd in this segment.

6 Tech-Laden Infotainment System

Hyundai Elantra Hybrid touchscreen
Hyundai
Shot of the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid's touchscreen infotainment system

The Elantra gets a modern infotainment system that is loaded with cutting-edge features expected in today’s day and age. The screen, too, is sharp with excellent graphics and an intuitive user interface. Depending on the variant one chooses, the Elantra comes with two different infotainment systems, one with an eight-inch screen while the higher trim gets a bigger 10.25-inch screen. The user interface is extremely user-friendly and allows quick access to all the features that are used frequently. In addition, it also gets all the modern connected car features that are enabled by the presence of an E-sim in the infotainment system. It also gets all the usual features like Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Wi-Fi hotspot is also available in the system.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The Lexus NX Hybrid Is The Best Hybrid SUV

7 The Elantra Hybrid Offers Decent Reliability

Grey Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Front three quarter shot of Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai's products usually score pretty well in reliability scores and the Elantra is no different. This generation of the Elantra has been around since 2021 and has proven itself to be solid and reliable. It has managed to stay reliable despite having many electronics and sensors. More electronics usually make a vehicle less reliable. However, the Elantra has proven otherwise and maintained its high-reliability record. This is a big draw for the average family sedan buyer as these set of buyers value reliability and peace of mind more than outright performance and top speed. The Elantra always had a decent reputation for reliability and this generation carries the legacy forward.

8 No Dearth Of Creature Comforts

Hyundai Elantra center console
Hyundai
Shot of the Hyundai Elantra's center console

Being a family car, the Elantra is designed to be comfortable carrying a family of five in decent comfort and it excels in this department. The seats are really well-cushioned and comfortable and provide just the right amount of support at all the right places. The suspension is tuned for comfort and provides a flat and pliant ride over any type of surface. The comparatively smaller wheel size, too, helps in providing a soft ride quality as the tire sidewall is pretty thick and this helps in absorbing the shocks and jerks due to undulations on the road. This makes the Elantra fit for the purpose of being a no-nonsense and comfortable family sedan.

Related: Why You Need To Buy A Plug-in Hybrid Over An Electric Vehicle

9 It Is Packed With Good Safety Equipment

Grey Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai
Rear shot of Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra is absolutely packed to the brim with all the safety features that one would expect nowadays and then some more. It also has a solid five-star safety rating in the crash tests conducted by NHTSA. It gets all the modern radar-based safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. As expected, it gets all the standard safety features expected nowadays like a slew of airbags for protecting all the passengers as well as electronic stability program for avoiding accidents in the first place. The active safety features like lane keeping assist and lane departure warning, work pretty well in the Elantra and perfectly detect the lane markings on the road. These features use several cameras and radar for reading the road ahead, keeping the car in its lane, and avoiding obstacles and all this works perfectly well in the Elantra.

10 Decent Value For Money

Grey Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
Hyundai
Side profile shot of the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

Considering the tech on offer, the Elantra hybrid is decently priced and is on par with the competition making it a decent buy for anyone wanting a comfortable and efficient family sedan. The Elantra hybrid is offered in two trim levels and the range starts at a low $24,550, which makes it one of the most affordable hybrid sedans on the market. The higher trim is priced at $29,150, which is still very affordable and value for money considering the huge list of standard equipment on offer. Even the lower trim comes packed with all the necessary features while the higher trim is actually the most feature-packed sedan in its class. This makes an ideal choice for all those who are looking for an affordable and feature-packed family sedan that is comfortable and efficient and can seat five passengers in comfort.