The Hyundai Elantra works to eliminate the sacrifices you tend to expect when you're buying a small sedan redesign for 2017. The Elantra joins a new class of compact cars, including the Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze, that aim to be premium and substantial regardless of their size class.

Confusion starts outside at a glance; it's easy to mistake the Elantra for Hyundai's mid-size Sonata sedan. LED daytime running lights and tail lights add more upscale touches, while the optional smart trunk release walks up to it with the key and it opens automatically inside.

Inside, the interior feels spacious and airy, more like a living room and less like a cramped cockpit. Windows seem larger than in the previous Elantra, providing better eating visibility. Blind spot monitoring is also available on multiple trim levels, enhancing safety features.

This new Elantra is only about an inch longer than the last one but boasts over two and a half inches more rear seat legroom. It feels like a mid-size sedan firm, just about a decade ago. Like other Hyundai's, controls are very straightforward and simple.

However, we're surprised that Apple CarPlay isn't available at least at launch, but there is Android Auto. The previous Elantra's fuel economy had fallen behind the curve, especially compared to the super-efficient Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla.

Under the new Elantra hood is a more efficient 2-liter 4-cylinder making an estimated 147 horsepower. Unlike many competitors, including the Corolla and Civic, it uses a traditional six-speed automatic transmission in most Elantras, bucking the trend towards more efficient and less natural feeling continuously variable transmissions.

This doesn't mean that Hyundai isn't going high-tech; the economy-minded Eco model uses a trendy 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, made to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. This engine has less horsepower than the standard 2-liter but does have more torque. There's also new safety equipment, including Ford Collision Warning with Automatic Braking and Pedestrian Detection plus Lane Keep Assist, available only on the top-level Limited trim.

Although the previous Elantra had scored well in our test, we did have some complaints about ride quality and noise. Improvements have been made in both areas with better sound installation and revised suspension designs. The new Elantra looks all grown-up but will be tested at our track to determine if it has competitive fuel economy for this class and if it really offers a class-up in refinement. For more on small cars, check out consumerreports.org.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Hyundai Elantra works to eliminate the sacrifices you tend to expect when you're buying a small sedan redesign for 2017 the Elantra joins a new class of compact cars including the Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze that aim to be premium and substantial regardless of their size class confusion starts outside at a glance it's easy to mistake the Elantra for Hyundai's mid-size Sonata sedan LED daytime running lights and tail lights add more upscale touches same goes for the optional smart trunk release walk up to it with the key and it opens automatically inside the interior feels spacious and airy more like a living room and less like a cramped cockpit windows seem larger than in the previous Elantra eating visibility you can also get blind spot monitoring on multiple trim levels this new Elantra is only about an inch longer than the last one but there's over two and a half inches more rear seat legroom it feels a lot like a midsize sedan firm just about a decade ago like other Hyundai's controls are very straightforward and simple we're surprised apple carplay isn't available at least at launch but there is Android auto the previous Elantra fuel economy had fallen behind the curve especially compared to the super efficient Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla under the new Elantra hood is a more efficient 2-liter 4-cylinder making an estimated 147 horsepower unlike so many competitors including the Corolla and Civic indistict with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission in most Elantras that bucks the trend towards more efficient and less natural feeling continuously variable transmissions that doesn't mean that hyundai isn't going high-tech the economy minded eco model uses a trendy 1.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder made it to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic this engine has less horsepower than the standard 2-liter but it does have more torque there's also new safety equipment ford collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection plus lane keep assist are optional but only on the top level limited even though the previous Elantra had scored well in our test we did have some complaints about ride quality in noise and acclaims improvements in both with better sound installation and revised suspension designs so the new Elantra it looks all grown-up but we'll wait until we buy one and test one at our track in order to find out if it has competitive fuel economy for this class and if it really offers a class up in refinement for more on small cars check out consumerreports.org youthe Hyundai Elantra works to eliminate the sacrifices you tend to expect when you're buying a small sedan redesign for 2017 the Elantra joins a new class of compact cars including the Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze that aim to be premium and substantial regardless of their size class confusion starts outside at a glance it's easy to mistake the Elantra for Hyundai's mid-size Sonata sedan LED daytime running lights and tail lights add more upscale touches same goes for the optional smart trunk release walk up to it with the key and it opens automatically inside the interior feels spacious and airy more like a living room and less like a cramped cockpit windows seem larger than in the previous Elantra eating visibility you can also get blind spot monitoring on multiple trim levels this new Elantra is only about an inch longer than the last one but there's over two and a half inches more rear seat legroom it feels a lot like a midsize sedan firm just about a decade ago like other Hyundai's controls are very straightforward and simple we're surprised apple carplay isn't available at least at launch but there is Android auto the previous Elantra fuel economy had fallen behind the curve especially compared to the super efficient Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla under the new Elantra hood is a more efficient 2-liter 4-cylinder making an estimated 147 horsepower unlike so many competitors including the Corolla and Civic indistict with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission in most Elantras that bucks the trend towards more efficient and less natural feeling continuously variable transmissions that doesn't mean that hyundai isn't going high-tech the economy minded eco model uses a trendy 1.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder made it to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic this engine has less horsepower than the standard 2-liter but it does have more torque there's also new safety equipment ford collision warning with automatic braking and pedestrian detection plus lane keep assist are optional but only on the top level limited even though the previous Elantra had scored well in our test we did have some complaints about ride quality in noise and acclaims improvements in both with better sound installation and revised suspension designs so the new Elantra it looks all grown-up but we'll wait until we buy one and test one at our track in order to find out if it has competitive fuel economy for this class and if it really offers a class up in refinement for more on small cars check out consumerreports.org you\n"