Hyundai Elantra takes First Place with Motor Trend!

Motor Trend recently compared eight compact sedan cars, and guess who took first place? Wink Wink.

The list from first to last place:
1. Hyundai Elantra
2. Honda Civic
3. Mazda 3
4. VW Jetta
5. Ford Focus
6. Chevrolet Cruze
7. Kia Forte
8. Toyota Corolla

Yes, you just read that right. Elantra #1; Corolla #8. Hyundai for the win!

1st Place: HYUNDAI ELANTRA

When MC Guru (RIP) and DJ Premier came together in 1994 to produce “Mass Appeal,” the seminal, bass-backed discourse on the evils of trading authenticity for popularity (also known as selling out), they most certainly were not explaining how to build America’s best C-segment sedan.

Yet the song’s theme matches the Hyundai Elantra’s secret to success: Keepin’ it real. In this case, really stylish, authentically sophisticated, and content rich. Check it out: The Elantra achieved no distinction on our spec charts; it was not the fastest nor the lightest, not the cheapest nor best at the pump. Yet when it came time for our judges to discuss which vehicle should finish on top, the capable and charismatic Elantra was always in the mix without diesel-ringer rancor or anti-Civic animosity.

“Wow, Hyundai’s done a great job here. The Elantra’s styling is a welcome addition to the copy/paste mindset,” said Lago. Others found the atomic guppy styling modern and fresh, if busier than the staid Civic, leering Mazda3, and starched-collar Jetta. Inside, however, the Elantra was king. “I hate tan interiors, and I was still impressed with this. This cheap Hyundai is better inside than some Lexuses,” noted Febbo.

When it came to ride quality, Elantra marries the lightness of the Japanese sedans with the big-car comfort of Jetta and Cruze.”The Elantra’s ride is easily the most comfortable of the bunch: smooth, quiet, and well-controlled. If I had to drive one of these cars from San Francisco to Los Angeles, this would be my hands-down choice,” said Jurnecka.

Sure, there were complaints, primarily about an EPA-certified 29/40-mpg fuel economy number that we did not come close to replicating. Among the gas burners, the Elantra’s 25.9 mpg in mixed driving was solidly midpack. Our crew also wished for a bit more crispness in the handling dynamics and steering.

“Definitely not a sport sedan as there is more body roll than the others on turn-in. It grips pretty well and the chassis is composed, but you can tell it’s not meant for high-g cornering,” said Evans.

Also obvious is the breadth and value of the Elantra Limited’s standard equipment, which includes a power sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity, and heated front and rear leather seats-all for only a bit more than Civic money. (“Seriously? How many cars under $50K have those?” said Febbo.) This feature/value proposition not only helps elevate the quality of the driving experience, it raises Elantra to the top of the C-segment.

Lassa offered a 35,000-foot view: “Closest to the ideal of what a modern compact needs to be if Americans are really going to downsize their sedans. Compacts don’t need to look or feel cheap.”

And the Elantra certainly does not.

“Compared with every other car here, the Elantra feels grown-up and sophisticated,” concluded Jurnecka. It offers the most compelling compromise of styling, packaging, value, efficiency, and comfort, and demonstrates that you don’t have to sell your soul to have mass appeal.

Read more at Motor Trend.