2020 Hyundai Elantra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Last redesigned for the 2017 model year, and then boldly restyled for 2019, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra is visually unchanged this model year. Last year’s restyle swapped the Elantra’s Genesis Jr. design cues for a geometric-influenced appearance clearly intended to set the stage for the dramatically angular styling of the all-new 2021 Elantra.

Five versions of the car are available: Essential, Preferred, Luxury, Ultimate, and Sport. MSRPs run from $17,099 to $27,549, and our Elantra Ultimate test vehicle hit the latter price point not including a $1,825 destination charge (Canadian, estimated). In addition to the sedan, Hyundai also offers an Elantra GT hatchback for the 2020 model year.

A black paint job brought the Elantra’s angular headlight, fog light, and wheel designs into stark relief while adding strong contrast to this trim level’s chrome grille, beltline, and logo detailing. Visually, the end result is a stylish small car, if not appealing to everyone.

When Hyundai restyled the Elantra’s exterior, it also updated the interior to add a more upscale look. Silver trim on the air vents, climate control panel, engine start button, steering wheel, and other areas dress the Elantra Limited up, but enough hard and glossy plastic remains to remind you that this is, after all, a mainstream compact car.

The base engine is a 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a brand new continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT replaces last year’s six-speed automatic, while the six-speed manual gearbox remains standard on the Essential grade with the CVT being an extra-cost upgrade. All Elantra models come with a front-wheel drive (FWD) drivetrain.

You can also get the Elantra Sport trim. This sport-tuned version of the car has a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder making power specs of 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, and also swaps out the standard beam-axle rear suspension for an independent design. The Elantra Sport is sold in Canada with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Getting back to our Elantra Ultimate test car, with its powertrain consisting of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder and new CVT, most people will be happy with this combination. Hyundai calls the CVT an “Intelligent Variable Transmission,” and it is an excellent example of the breed. Rarely will you notice that it isn’t a traditional automatic, thanks to simulated gear shifts as the Elantra accelerates.

Hyundai points out that the new CVT employs a chain belt rather than the common push belt, as well as a wide-ratio pulley system providing a broader range of operation for greater efficiency on the highway and improved low-end responsiveness in the city. Based on Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption ratings, the new CVT improves fuel efficiency by 0.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving.

Unfortunately, our real-world experience with the 2020 Elantra did not validate the efficiency claims. This test car averaged 8.0 L/100 km on the testing loop, coming up well short of the 6.8 L/100 km we expected. Worse, a 2019 Elantra Limited with the old six-speed automatic delivered an average of 8.0 L/100 km on the same loop. Of course, your results may vary.

As far as ride and handling are concerned, the downside to the 2020 Elantra is its simple torsion beam axle rear suspension design. Basically, if one rear wheel hits a bump or hole on the road surface, the other side of the axle must also work to absorb the impact. This detracts from both the ride and the handling.

Some cars with beam-axle suspension designs mask this trait with a degree of success, such as the Mazda3. Others, like the Elantra, do not, and it gives the car an unsettled feeling. Based on driving experience in the Elantra Sport, that model’s independent rear suspension provides a superior ride even though that car is tuned firmly.

In general, the Elantra Sport is also more enjoyable to drive. A standard Elantra is agreeable enough, but uninspiring. Ultimately, this car is an appliance for commuting, bought for reasons other than the joy possible in the journey rather than simply the destination.

Counted among the roomier compact cars available, the Elantra offers comfortable accommodations for four adults, with a fifth person squeezed in for (very) short trips.

Our test car came with power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding centre console armrest that improves comfort. Also, miracle of miracles, the automaker equips every Elantra with a front passenger's seat-height adjuster.

Upper-trim 2020 Elantras also include a dual-zone automatic climate control system with an automatic defogging system. All 2020 Elantras sold in Canada have standard heated front seats. Know that air conditioning vents are not available for rear passengers to keep them cool in the summer months.

Interior storage is perfectly proportioned for a compact car, and the trunk supplies 407 litres of space, which is nearly as much as some midsize sedans provide. Another thoughtful touch is the interior grab handle inside the trunk lid, which makes it easy to swing shut.

Standard equipment for the 2020 Elantra includes a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and a USB port. With base Essential trim, the screen size measures 5 inches diagonally. Upgrade to the Elantra Preferred, and a larger 7-inch display is standard, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and SiriusXM satellite radio.

Ultimate trim ups the ante with a wireless charging pad and a premium Infinity sound system with Clari-Fi digital music restoration technology. This trim level increases the touchscreen size to 8 inches and adds a navigation system. The Sport trim is offered with packaging very close to that of the Luxury grade.

Nestled between the stylish new air vents, the touchscreen display sits high on the dashboard and is canted a bit toward the driver. Beneath it, a row of shortcut buttons makes it easy to find the menu or function you seek, and it is flanked by volume and tuning knobs. The execution here is excellent, making the infotainment system exceptionally easy to use, and the voice recognition system is agreeable enough when using fairly natural commands.

The Infinity sound system impresses for the compact car segment, too, producing a depth of sound uncommon in the class.

Another change for the 2020 Elantra is that a collection of advanced driving assistance systems is available on the Preferred trim part as a package, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. (This package also includes a sunroof, keyless entry, and a smart-opening trunk.)

The Preferred trim is already equipped with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Ultimate grade installs full LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, adaptive cruise control, a pedestrian detection system, and Safe Exit Assist, which warns occupants not to open a side door when traffic is approaching the car from the rear.

Our test car had the whole safety enchilada, and the ADAS works with accuracy if not class-leading refinement. Automakers are really improving on this front, especially with regard to smoothness, so the redesigned 2021 Elantra had better offer next-generation technology.

When equipped with full LED headlights, the 2020 Elantra earns a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In testing conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the car gets an overall rating of four stars. Also, the NHTSA notes a concern about rear-door intrusion on the rear-seat passenger during the side-impact test.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra is an absolute bargain of a car. Roomy, safe, equipped with thoughtful details, and even stylish, it competes well on those merits alone. But when you add the unbeatable value inherent in any Hyundai, well, it’s almost irrational to choose any other compact car.

The Elantra includes a five-year/100,000-kilometre new car limited warranty. Plus, the Elantra is known for its low cost of ownership.

It all adds up to an extremely cost-effective choice in a compact car. But value is not the only reason to choose a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. Rather, it is one of many.

Note: Images show a US model.