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The new Hyundai Elantra is one great car but is it worth its new premium price tag? We’re finding out as we test it against its 2017 counterpart.
Hyundai Elantra Leading Value
Hyundai has made its way in this world by offering buyers more for their money than most of its rivals. That was true when the all-new for 2017 Elantra debuted and it’s true for the 2022 model as well. Still, at its core, this is an economy car, isn’t it? So what happens when we compare the two years to one another? Does the 2022 model year offer so much more that it’s worth the premium price tag? We’re about to find out by comparing them side by side. We’ll look at every aspect from how they drive to how much they cost to what kind of perks they offer and then we’ll choose a winner.
New vs Used Hyundai Elantra Specs
Take a quick look at the 2017 Hyundai Elantra’s currently for sale and you’ll note that even the nicest trims won’t crest above $30,000. Among those trims, we’ll use the Sport as our test subject since it’s got the best chance against the new car. It uses the same sneaky good 1.6L engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It also gets a bunch of excellent equipment including 18-inch wheels, bigger brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and a tech package that includes an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and eight speakers.
The 2022 Hyundai Elantra we’ve selected is the N-Line since it uses the same drivetrain and has some similar equipment. It also gets 18-inch wheels, a sporty suspension, and a combination of cloth and leather upholstery. It uses the same sized infotainment screen and both vehicles get similar fuel economy. The 2022 Hyundai Elantra beats the 2017 model for gas mileage scoring 31 mpg combined compared to the 2017 model years 29. The starting MSRP for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is $24,350.
Driving Characteristics
We call this powertrain sneaky good because that’s exactly what it is. Anyone else on the road who’s never driven one of these cars would never imagine how good they are to drive. Typically we’d always argue for the manual transmission but the dual-clutch in each of these cars is fantastic. It’s fast to snap off shifts and has no problem downshifting under load so that it can scoot out of corners just that much quicker.
We also like the balance the car has through corners, but this is where the two start to separate themselves. The new car with its updated suspension has an easier time changing direction and limiting body roll. We also like the steering and pedal feedback. They’re linear and that makes it easier to get the most out of the Elantra. Both are only available with front-wheel drive.
Interior & Comfort
The 2017 Elantra is a comfortable car with good visibility and nice ergonomics. We really like how things are laid out and overall it’s a nice little car. Seating is comfortable throughout though it could use firmer padding in our opinion. We love the infotainment system and the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as SiriusXM radio.
Our new Elantra is also comfortable but feels like the sleeker version it should be considering its age. In our testing of it alone, we found it to be one of the nicest cars available at this price point. Some of the materials feel a little cheaper than we’d like, but the 2017 model has even more of that so we won’t complain in this case. The seats are better and the dash feels much more modern despite using a nearly identical screen.
New vs Used Hyundai Elantra Trims & Features
The 2017 Elantra came in four trim levels. It starts out with the SE which uses a 2.0-liter engine that makes 147-horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It also gets 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, a basic stereo with six speakers, and air-conditioning. Above that is the Eco model with its fuel-sipping 1.4L engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It shares almost all of its features with the Limited trim which gets 17-inch wheels, LED tail lights, adaptive headlights, leather upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Sport trim that we’re testing is similarly priced to the Limited but is the only one available with the turbocharged 1.6L engine.
For 2022, Hyundai sells the Elantra in five trim levels starting off with the SE. It gets the same features as the 2017 but has a nicer 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay despite losing two speakers. Above that, the SEL adds keyless entry as well as push-button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, and another pair of speakers to bring the grand total to six. Next is the Limited which gets a larger 10.25-inch infotainment system. It still sports Android and Apple connectivity but it’s only the wired type. It also has LED headlights, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 10.25-inch driver information screen.
The N-Line is the one we’re in and again, it’s the only one in the lineup with the 1.6L engine. It also gets special exterior styling and sport tuned suspension. New for 2022, the Elantra N offers 276-horsepower from a 2.0L turbocharged engine and equips the rest of the car with 19-inch wheels, a variable sports exhaust, bigger brakes, sport seats, and a special suspension for more agile handling.
It’s Hard to beat Hyundai’s New Car Warranty
The Elantra holds its value well and for that reason, we’d go for the new car every time. Not only will you not have to spend much more, but you’ll get Hyundai’s exceptional warranty. In addition, the updated styling and interior make this choice just that much easier.
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