2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Review: Efficient and Stylish
2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
RRP $ 23,550.00
"A lot of technology and a breathtaking design make the Elantra Hybrid a market leader."
advantages
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Surprisingly spacious
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Lots of technology
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Stylistic look
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54 mpg combined
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Refined driving dynamics
disadvantage
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Tire noise
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Expensive upgrade over non-hybrid
At one point, the Toyota Prius was the only hybrid you could get if you were looking for really good fuel economy. That is no longer the case, of course, because fuel-efficient hybrids come in all shapes and sizes these days. If you look at the EPA's charts, you'll find that the Prius is no longer the king of hybrids as it once was. No, the crown is now on the hood of the Hyundai Ioniq Blue. Hyundai uses its electrified knowledge and brings it into the 2021 Elantra Hybrid.
Sure, the Elantra Hybrid isn't as efficient as the Ioniq or the Prius, but it makes up for it with styling that you won't mind feeling, some impressive tech features, and an interior that makes you actually want to spend your time sometimes Have cake and eat it too. Just like any halfway decent cake from a reputable bakery, you're going to be spending a decent amount of money getting something this sweet.
To get on a 2021 Elantra Hybrid, you'll need to spend $ 24,575 with a mandatory target fee of $ 1,025. That's a hefty upgrade over the regular Elantra, which costs $ 20,675. Our test vehicle was a Limited model that retailed at $ 29,125.
Design and interior
Mainstream automakers can't strike a happy medium with hybrids. Some, like the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq, have weird designs in the name of aerodynamics, while others like the Honda Insight and Toyota Corolla Hybrid are focused on safety. Bucking the trend of needing a slippery design, the Elantra Hybrid says no too boring for something that feels upscale and distinctive.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
As with many other Hyundais, the wow factor of the Elantra Hybrid starts at the very beginning. The edgy sound of the compact sedan features a unique grille with an intricate design that looks like it was completed by Spider-Man, and headlights protruding far back. The doors have angular lines that blend together to look like a modern work of art. However, none of these traits are as noteworthy as the stern. It's as angular as the triangular head of a venomous snake with taillights that are just as menacing as the reptile's eyes.
The Elantra Hybrid goes against the trend of needing a slippery design and being boring for something that feels upscale.
The interior is just as attractive as high-tech. The digital instrument cluster and the central touchscreen are connected around the driver. The dashboard and center console layout follows a similar curve, making the controls easier for the driver to reach.
While the overall design of the Elantra Hybrid is upscale and most of the materials are comfortable, there is one important thing that will make you pause. The instrument cluster and touchscreen look fine, but there's a large blank space to the left of the driver with a random design. It's an odd item in a package that looks as good as the Elantra Hybrid.
As we all expect from Hyundai, the Elantra Hybrid is packed with features. Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a sunroof, ambient interior lighting and a lumbar support for the driver's seat are standard in the limited equipment we tested. There's no denying that these are nice features, but Hyundai should have spent a little more time cushioning the underside of the front seats. On a long ride, your bum will go numb and you will start wiggling around to find extra padding. Fortunately, the cabin is spacious with plenty of space for the rear passengers and a useful 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The main reason for an upgrade to the Limited equipment compared to the entry-level blue model is the additional technology. Hyundai has an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality with the blue equipment. When you upgrade to the Limited, you get a 10.25 "touchscreen and 10.25" digital instrument, but you need to connect your smartphone to the larger touchscreen with a cable. The Limited also adds a Bose audio system with eight speakers, a wireless charger, navigation and Hyundai's nifty digital key. We find it strange that Hyundai should combine its upscale features with wired smartphone connectivity, but switching to limited trim is worth it despite the hassle.
It's thoroughly modern in every way, but luckily not in any other way.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
Hyundai's infotainment system is now considered to be one of the most intuitive on the market. The layout is simple, the menus are logical, and the graphics are precise, if not the nicest ever to be found in a car. The digital instrument cluster is a nice touch and displays information in an appealing way, but offers little customization options. Choosing a different drive mode results in cool animation, but with this type of digital real estate it would be nice to see a little more.
Thankfully, Hyundai's physical buttons and dials have been retained in the Elantra Hybrid. Aside from losing compatibility with wireless smartphones, the larger touchscreen also loses a physical vote button, but that omission is barely noticeable. Forget odd circular gear levers, this hybrid sedan has a traditional gear lever that is much easier to use. It's thoroughly modern in every way, but luckily not in any other way.
Every Elantra Hybrid is equipped with all important safety features as standard. The blue equipment is standard with front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic warning, pedestrian detection, safe exit warning and a driver attention monitor. The limited equipment offers adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors, Highway Driving Assist as well as cyclist and intersection detection. All functions work smoothly and without any problems.
Experience at the wheel
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
The power for the Elantra Hybrid comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that alone has an output of 104 hp. The engine is complemented by a 43 hp electric motor for a combined output of 139 hp. That's a little less than the regular Elantra horsepower of 147 hp, but the electric motor helps make the Elantra Hybrid feel appropriate, but not exactly bubbly. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors with a total of 121 hp, while the Honda Insight, thanks to its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the electric motor, is the most powerful of the group with 151 hp.
Compared to options like the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the Honda Insight, the Elantra Hybrid has a unique feature: a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transmission accelerates the sedan in a similar way to a non-hybrid and reacts better to gear changes than transmissions without fixed gears. Additionally, the Elantra Hybrid doesn't have the same powered drone that plague other hybrids.
With polished driving characteristics and a dampened cabin, the Elantra Hybrid gives a sophisticated feeling.
With 200 pounds of extra weight compared to the regular Elantra and less horsepower, the Elantra Hybrid isn't built for sportiness. Compared to the non-hybrid model, the Elantra hybrid has a rear multi-link suspension that is supposed to compensate for the ride. Without testing the two sedans one after the other, it's hard to see how the rides differ. The Elantra Hybrid's handling is a bit stiff in normal use, but nowhere near uncomfortable.There isn't much body tilt, but with easy steering and highly efficient tires that don't inspire much confidence, it's not what you're going to be looking for winding roads for pleasure. What you get is a fairly comfortable ride and easy-to-drive dynamic for your commute to work.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
One of the main advantages of a hybrid powertrain is how quiet the cabin is. Apart from the tires, which can be loud depending on the road surface, the Elantra Hybrid remains quiet. Combine that with the sedan's refined driveability and the result is a grown-up hybrid that feels more refined than other options in the segment.
Gas mileage and safety
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
The hybrid segment is divided into two options: ultra-efficient options and more mainstream options. The former includes options like the Toyota Prius and Hyunida Ioniq, while the latter includes the Honda Insight, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord. Since the vehicles in the first group do not go quite so well with the Elantra Hybrid, the vehicles in the second group are its competitors. And the Elantra Hybrid has the best consumption values in this segment.
The blue base has combined fuel economy numbers of up to 54 mpg (53 mpg city, 56 mpg highway) while the Limited carries a combined rating of 50 mpg (49 mpg city, 52 mpg highway). These numbers top the mainstream hybrid options. The Insight, Corolla Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, and Sonata Hybrid Blue get up to 52 mpg combined. The Accord Hybrid is the least efficient with a combined rating of 48 mpg.
A note on the fuel consumption figures for the Elantra Hybrid. While incredibly impressive, they'll be really hard to replicate in the real world. In our week in the car we averaged around 43 mpg together. That's still a great number, but in real-life driving conditions, most of the Elantra Hybrid's competitors will come closer to their official EPA numbers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet subjected the Elantra Hybrid to a crash test in 2021. Without any major differences to the regular Elantra, we assume that the evaluation will be carried over to the electrified model. The Elantra 2021 was named the “Top Safety Pick” and received the grade “Good” in all six crash tests carried out by the institute. The headlight ratings should also be adopted, which means that the values range from “Acceptable” to “Good”. In testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Elantra Hybrid received an overall safety rating of five stars in 2021.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
Hyundai backs the Elantra Hybrid with a five-year 60,000-mile base warranty and a 10-year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid components have the same 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty as the powertrain. The regular warranty is above average for the class, while the hybrid drive is average. The Corolla Hybrid comes with an 8-year guarantee of 100,000 miles for the hybrid components and a 10-year guarantee of 150,000 miles for the hybrid battery. The Insight comes with an eight-year guarantee of 100,000 miles on the hybrid components.
How DT would configure this car
Since the Elantra Hybrid is an expensive upgrade over the regular Elantra and the blue trim is the most efficient option, we think the blue trim is the best choice. It might not come with the big screens or the fancy features, but it is packed full of goodies. Heated front seats, six audio speakers, two-zone climate control, keyless entry, wireless smartphone compatibility and Hyundai's SmartSense security package come as standard.
Our opinion
If you like the design of the Prius or Ioniq, these options give you better fuel economy and the added versatility of a hatchback. Of the other main competitors, the Elantra Hybrid has a sharper design, better EPA numbers, and loads of tech. If a compact hybrid sedan is on your radar, the Elantra Hybrid is one of the best choices.
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid has a better hybrid battery guarantee and is cheaper than the Elantra Hybrid, but does not have the same technical features, spacious cabin or load space. The Corolla Hybrid doesn't feel as upscale as the Elantra Hybrid, nor does it have the same high-end design.
The Honda Insight has a 151-horsepower drivetrain and feels peppier than the Elantra Hybrid, but has a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that roars at higher speeds. With up to 15 cubic meters of cargo space, the Insight has a larger trunk than the Elantra Hybrid. Honda's compact hybrid doesn't offer nearly the same amount of tech features and a far safer design.
Should you get one?
Yes sir. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid may not compete with the Toyota Prius or the Hyundai Ioniq, but it is the best of the rest.
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