While the industry seems so focused on electric vehicles right now, there are still plenty of good hybrid options for buyers that want an electrified vehicle without needing to plug it in. In the compact sedan segment there are a few hybrid options, like the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra. Honda has confirmed that the current Civic will get a hybrid version, but it isn’t coming until 2024.
For years buyers that wanted a compact hybrid had to make do with the Toyota Prius, which until now wasn’t very attractive on the outside. Now you can get a more conventional sedan, like the Elantra with a hybrid powertrain, which means that you don’t have to compromise style to get better fuel efficiency.
The latest generation Elantra is the jack of all trades, since it’s available with several powertrains. It comes standard with a 142 hp naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the N-Line gets a turbocharged 1.6-liter with 201 horsepower and then there’s the awesome Elantra N with its turbocharged 2.0-liter with 276 hp and 289 pound-feet of torque.
While we thoroughly enjoy the Elantra N, most buyers in this segment will easily gravitate to the more affordable options, which leaves the base 2.0-liter or the hybrid. If we had to choose between the two we would easily go with the Elantra hybrid. The hybrid electric version feels more zippy around town thanks to the instantaneous torque and we can’t ignore the even better fuel efficiency.
Under the hood a 1.6-liter four-cylinder is mated to an electric motor to generate a combined 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The hp specs aren’t that far off from the base engine, but the torque rating is much better, since the base engine only has 147 hp and 132 lb-ft. The good news is that the Elantra hybrid doesn’t get a boring CVT and instead sends the power to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Elantra hybrid also gets an independent rear suspension, instead of the old school torsion beam on the standard Elantra.
Around town the Elantra hybrid feels a bit more fun to drive than the standard Elantra, largely thanks to the electric motor and independent rear suspension. The steering is light, but on par with what we expect in this segment. Overall the ride is comfortable without a lot of body roll and not too firm.
The Elantra hybrid is offered in two versions: Blue and Limited. The Blue version is rated at 53 mpg city, 56 mpg highway and 54 mpg combined, while the Limited is rated at 49/52/50 mpg. That’s a nice improvement over the standard Elantra, which is rated at up to 33 mpg city, 42 mpg highway and 37 mpg combined.
Inside the Elantra hybrid’s interior is nearly identical to the non-hybrid version. That means it’s just as spacious with ample room for five passengers. Just like the standard Elantra, we wish that some of the materials were a bit higher quality.
It comes standard with an eight-inch touchscreen and analog gauges, while the Limited adds a digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with the smaller screen, but the larger screen requires you to use your usb cord to access either system.
The pricing for the 2023 Hyundai Elantra hybrid starts at $25,665, including destination.
At the end of the day, the 2023 Elantra hybrid is hard to ignore if you’re looking for a fuel efficient compact sedan that won’t break the bank.
