Better Value than a Honda Civic? We Test the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited
With new car prices hitting record highs each and every day, it is refreshing when we get a tester here that does not break the bank. It is even sweeter when it is a well-optioned model as well.
NEED TO KNOW
- The writer calls driving this for a week ‘a joy’ — it exceeded expectations for a mainstream compact sedan.
- 40 mpg on the highway without a hybrid system is genuinely impressive in this segment.
- Highway Driving Assist reads speed limit signs and adjusts cruise control automatically — a feature usually found in luxury cars.
- The 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty is the best offered by any mainstream brand.
- Omitting wireless CarPlay on the larger screen while including it on the cheaper base trim is a frustrating spec inconsistency.
Let me introduce you to the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited. This is the top trim of the Elantra (if you do not count the N Line and N models that are more suited to spirited driving than commuting). With comfortable seating for 4, total seating for 5, stellar fuel economy, and luxurious touches like leather seats, a digital gauge cluster, and heated seats, this Elantra is quite the bargain with its sub-$30K price tag.
Driving this around for a week was a joy as the 2.0L engine and “intelligent variable transmission” made enough power and delivered it to the front wheels when requested. The steering was light and easily maneuverable in the parking lot and was well-weighted on the highway. Speaking of the highway, this Elantra has Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist which will adjust the adaptive cruise control to not only keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, but will also adjust the preset speed to stay at the posted speed limit for a given stretch of highway.
Having sampled many products from Hyundai, there were some interesting omissions from this Elantra Limited. We have really come to enjoy the blind-spot cameras that Hyundai products use on their vehicles with a digital gauge cluster, displaying the image of what is in your blind spot when you turn on a blinker. However, this Limited model only had the rear-facing backup camera that is mandated by federal laws. Also curiously absent (as with most premium products from Hyundai) is wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Base SE models with their 8-inch infotainment screen get wireless interfaces, but the larger 10.25-inch screen standard in our Limited was relegated to using a USB-A cord.
When you take a step back and compare it to the Honda Civic, this Elantra Limited compares quite favorably. A similarly-equipped Civic would be the Touring model and those start at $29,650, which is more than our $27,395 Elantra. Factor in Hyundai’s 5-year/60,000-mile new car warranty and their 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and some might call you crazy for shopping anywhere but a Hyundai dealership.
2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited Specs:
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2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited
PROS
- Exceptional fuel economy of 30 city / 40 highway / 34 combined for a non-hybrid compact sedan
- Highway Driving Assist with speed-limit-reading adaptive cruise control is a rare safety feature at this price
- Leather seating, Bose audio, and a moonroof are all included under $30,000
- Best-in-class warranty of 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain reduces long-term ownership risk
- Comparably equipped Hyundai Elantra undercuts the Honda Civic Touring on price
CONS
- No blind-spot monitoring cameras despite having a digital gauge cluster — a feature other Hyundai models offer
- Larger infotainment screen requires a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; the base SE trim gets wireless