2024 Hyundai Elantra Review

Hyundai introduced the first generation Elantra in 1990, which ran through 1995 and wasn’t easy on the eyes. The next generation Elantra spanned from 1995-2000 with a less boxy exterior, while the third generation, sold up to 2006, was the model’s first to be assembled worldwide. This compact sedan’s styling has evolved to include larger dimensions in areas like the front grille. 

MotoPickers Rating: 8/10

The Elantra is now in its seventh generation, which launched in 2021. A 2024 Elantra starts at $21,625 and maintains its reputation for offering quality fuel economy, tech, and value in its starting price and warranty coverage.

Exterior additions for the 2024 Elantra include a sharper front-end, fresh exterior lighting, and new wheels. Color choices now include Exotic Green and Ultimate Red, and Hyundai has made rear-side impact airbags and a rear seat reminder standard across all trims. Lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert now deliver haptic steering wheel feedback to drivers, helping form the model’s high IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) ratings. 

Competitors of the 2024 Elantra include: 

• Toyota Corolla
• Honda Civic
• Mazda3
• Nissan Sentra
• Subaru Impreza
• Ford Focus
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Volkswagen Jetta 

In various sections of our review, we’ll evaluate how the 2024 Elantra compares to these rivals so you can better understand its market position.

Exterior spotlight 

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra’s exterior features sharp lines and a front fascia with a new design featuring a wider black-finish grille complemented by a striking mesh pattern. Opting for an N Line Elantra turns this grille’s finish from standard black to gloss block. 

Angular headlights contribute to the front fascia’s contemporary appearance, while LED daytime running lights and projector headlights increase road visibility. Standard LED taillights are limited to N Line and Limited grades. The N Line’s rear also contains a unique fascia with an aggressive look and a sporty rear diffuser. 

Wheel options span from 15” to 18”, with the Elantra N Line receiving new 18” alloy wheels. A chrome twin exhaust outlet comes standard on an N Line variant and isn’t available on any other grade. Window trim is black on every 2024 Elantra except the Limited variant, which opts for chrome. 

Body color door handles are standard across the Elantra lineup, and exterior colors include: 

• Abyss Black
• Serenity White
• Fluid Metal
• Ultimate Red
• Intense Blue
• Ecotronic Gray
• Amazon Gray
• Exotic Green
• Atlas White

Dual fold-away power body-color side mirrors are offered on SE, SEL, and Limited trims, while the N Line benefits from standard gloss black mirror caps. Heated side mirrors are standard on N Line and Limited Grades, but side mirrors with turn signal indicators are only standard within the Limited. 

By comparison, Honda’s Civic and Toyota’s Corolla contain front grilles with a minimalist and refined appearance. The Mazda3’s front grille is similarly less aggressive but elegant with fewer intricate patterns. Civic sport trims feature a rear diffuser, but it’s not as pronounced as its Elantra counterpart. The Civic also lacks a standard twin chrome exhaust option.

Interior analysis

Hyundai’s 2024 Elantra seats up to five passengers and offers 14.2 cubic feet (cu. ft.) of trunk space, competitive for its segment. A 2024 Mazda3, Subaru WRX, and Volkswagen Golf R each have smaller trunk storage capacities. Upholstery options include black or gray cloth in the SE, black and red synthetic leather within the N Line, and black H-Tex leatherette or light Gray H-Tex leatherette for the Limited grade. Unfortunately, heated seats are not available in the base trim and are optional for the SE variant. 

The 2024 Elantra contains solar glass to stop excess heat from entering the cabin, while a power tilt-and-slide sunroof isn’t available in the base but is optional/standard with other trims. Wireless smartphone charging is available within an SEL trim and is standard for the N Line and Limited. Hyundai equips the sporty N Line with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and sport pedals. Still, our performance section will determine whether these touches are an accurate reflection of the grade’s capabilities.

Climate controls are manual on the base Elantra, while higher grades contain an automatic dual climate configuration. Customizable 64-color ambient lighting and a power driver seat with lumbar support are standard with an N Line or Limited purchase. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob is available for the SEL via the convenience package and are standard on higher grades.

Drivers prioritizing material quality are better suited to a competing model like a 2024 Mazda3, Subaru WRX, or Volkswagen Golf R, which offer genuine leather options. Many 2024 Elantra rivals also don’t contain manual climate controls within their entry-level trim. Ultimately, the 2024 Elantra strikes a balance between sportiness and practicality but isn’t super well equipped. We’ll evaluate its technology later in our review to more accurately judge this Hyundai’s interior value.

Power and performance 

The Elantra is a solid daily driver if you prioritize smooth handling and efficiency in areas like mileage. A 2024 Elantra gets 20-32 MPG in the city and 27-31 MPG on the highway. However, this compact sedan won’t deliver if you’re seeking higher performance. All versions except the N Line offer 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. The N Line isn’t much better, with 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. 

However, it’s fair to acknowledge that low horsepower specs are common for the compact sedan segment, as vehicles with more horsepower, like Mazda’s 3, are still limited in their performance with 155 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard across all 2024 Elantra grades, with no available all-wheel drive (AWD) option. This Hyundai’s transmission is a Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission. Standard drive modes include Normal, Sport, and Smart. 

Normal drive mode is optimized for daily driving with a lighter throttle response, fostering an even ride feel. The transmission prioritizes fuel efficiency, and the steering remains less stiff than in Sport mode. Sport mode sharpens this compact sedan’s throttle response, shifts more aggressively, and supplies greater handling control. Smart mode will automatically alter the Elantra’s settings to match your driving style by monitoring factors like acceleration and brake force.

MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and coupled torsion beam axle rear suspension help form the Elantra’s smooth ride, but the multi-link rear suspension is only available with an N Line purchase. All trims contain a front stabilizer bar.

Regarding competitors and their available powertrains, Mazda3 drivers can receive up to 250 horsepower. Other 2024 Elantra rivals like Subaru’s Impreza impress with standard AWD. However, drivers can expect lower fuel economy with higher-powered engines and AWD configurations.

Tech overview 

Hyundai’s 2024 Elantra offers drivers an 8” central infotainment display within the base SE or a 10.25” display with SEL, N Line, or Limited trims. SEL, N Line, and Limited drivers receive a 10.25” digital gauge cluster alongside this central display, supplying the interior with a refined and contemporary feel. This Hyundai is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, but the service is only offered in the entry-level SE. Bose’s upgraded sound system contains eight speakers, a center channel, and a subwoofer. 

Drivers can utilize Apple’s Wallet in conjunction with the 2024 Elantra by adding a car key to the wallet app, allowing remote access to vehicle commands like locking/unlocking doors and engine starts. An in-car WiFi hotspot is available, and Dynamic Voice Recognition is standard on all grades except the base SE.

The competing Mazda3 doesn’t contain a fully digital instrument cluster in most of its trims, and its standard display is only slightly larger at 8.8”. Honda’s Civic contains a smaller standard touch screen than the Elantra at 7”, and it lacks its Hyundai counterpart’s large dual-integrated screen setup. Toyota’s Corolla includes an 8” display across all variants.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are some of the car market’s most in-demand features. Toyota’s Corolla offers wireless compatibility with these two systems across all of its trims. Many other 2024 Elantra rivals offer upgraded Bose sound systems, but the Mazda3 and Civic contain 12 speakers within their models instead of this Hyundai sedan’s eight. The Toyota Corolla’s upgraded JBL sound system features nine speakers.

Regarding digital key functionality, the Mazda3 doesn’t offer this feature, which may disappoint some. Ultimately, the 2024 Elantra N holds its own in the tech category against competitors, but your decision to select it over competitors should hinge on your digital priorities. Most drivers nowadays prioritize larger displays, and the Elantra N’s dual 10.25” screen setup is good-looking and capable.

Safety capabilities 

The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Elantra its top crash protection score of five stars, while the IIHS gave this Hyundai its second-highest crash protection rating of Top Safety Pick behind Top Safety Pick+.

Standard safety features within the 2024 Elantra include: 

• High beam assist
• Forward collision avoidance assists with pedestrian detection
• Driver attention warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Blind-spot collision warning
• Lane following assist
• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist
• Safe exit warning
• Rear occupant alert 

High beam assist automatically toggles your brights on and off during night drives, while forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection alerts you of impending frontal crashes with other cars or pedestrians before initiating automatic braking when necessary. Driver attention warning monitors your behavior for drowsy or distracted driving patterns and displays a prompt to take a break from behind the wheel when triggered.

Lane keeping and following assists stop drivers from drifting with audible and visual alerts before implementing gentle corrective steering. Blind-spot collision warning signals potential hazards but won’t supply corrective steering inputs. We’re impressed that rear cross-traffic alert with collision avoidance assist is standard across all trims during reverse driving. Additional standard features like safe exit warning ensure secure vehicle exits with nothing or nobody from the rear seat left behind.

Available safety features within this Hyundai include:

• Parking collision-avoidance assist – reverse
• Forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning direction
• Smart cruise control with stop-and-go
• Highway driving assist

Parking collision-avoidance assist detects objects in your reverse driving path and applies brakes when needed, while optional forward-collision avoidance assist expands its capabilities from the standard version to include junction turning direction. Smart cruise control with stop-and-go helps you maintain a safe, preset distance from the vehicle you’re trailing via automatic braking and acceleration inputs. Lastly, the highway driving assist automatically sets your pace based on GPS and highway data.

Trim Guide 

Let’s take a look at each 2024 Hyundai Elantra trim by highlighting their starting prices and most attractive features. 

SEL – $21,625

An entry-level Elantra will give you wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, helpful driver assist features like blind-spot collision warning, and 36 combined MPG.

SE – $23,575

Upgrading to an SE means you’ll receive the new dual 10.25” display configuration and a hands-free smart trunk release. However, this grade’s standard 16” alloy wheels are a minor drawback.

N Line – $28,465

The N Line benefits from a horsepower increase maxing out at 201, N Line sport seats, a multi-link independent rear suspension, and 18” alloy wheels. 

Limited – $27,065

A Limited trim delivers Bose premium audio, a surround view monitor increasing your environmental awareness, and synthetic leather upholstery.

Warranty info

Hyundai offers 2024 Elantra customers a five-year or 60,000-mile basic warranty, whichever comes first, and a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both of which are competitive for the compact sedan segment.

Final verdict 

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra is akin to a valuable role player on a sports team in that it knows and performs its job well while stretching its capabilities. The Elantra’s outside design has greatly improved since its original launch, and the N Line holds a solid amount of curb appeal. Besides quality starting prices across its entire lineup, the Elantra delivers value with competitive mileage and tech offerings that mirror more expensive options, like the dual 10.25” displays. 

While its performance regarding speed isn’t exciting, the N Line provides some more capability, and multiple standard drive modes on all grades increase daily utility. The 2024 Elantra deserves an 8/10 overall rating.