2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Hyundai Elantra

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra marked a significant departure from its predecessors with a bold redesign that transformed its aesthetic appeal. Previously, the Elantra had a rather unremarkable appearance, blending into the background without drawing much attention. However, the seventh-generation model introduced a striking new look, featuring a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, creating a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette. This design gave the Elantra a unique personality, distinct from the midsize Sonata sedan, with its low-slung profile and distinctive "Z" shape creases on the doors. Inside, the Elantra's interior saw improvements in material quality, offering a slightly above-average experience for the compact car class, despite some hard plastic elements. The 2022 Elantra was available in four trim levels in Canada, with the N Line trim adding sporty styling elements like N Line design front and rear fascias, chrome twin-tip exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra continued to offer a diverse range of options to cater to various preferences. The base Elantra Essential was budget-friendly, while the Luxury trim exuded an upscale feel. The Elantra Hybrid option provided impressive fuel efficiency, and the sporty turbo Elantra N Line Ultimate and performance-tuned Elantra N catered to driving enthusiasts. The 2023 model year saw minimal changes, with the Luxury and N Line models receiving a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel paired with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The exterior styling of the 2023 Elantra was somewhat controversial, appealing to some but not all. Inside, the Elantra Luxury's cabin impressed with its light grey leather seats, classy nighttime illumination, and high-tech displays, although the hard plastic on the upper door panels was a minor disappointment.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options to suit different driving preferences. The standard engine for the Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate trims was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It came with a six-speed manual transmission as standard on the Essential trim, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was optional on the Essential and standard on other trims. The CVT featured Hyundai's Shift Control Strategy for smoother operation. The Elantra Hybrid, on the other hand, combined a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering a total system output of 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. It featured a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) for a more engaging driving experience. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT in Canada. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and multi-link independent rear suspension enhanced its ride and handling dynamics, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

In comparison, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Luxury featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While not particularly fast, the Elantra Luxury's driving dynamics were surprisingly peppy, and the CVT was considered one of the best in the compact car class. The Elantra Luxury averaged 7.1 L/100 km during testing, close to its official fuel economy rating of 6.7 L/100 km. For those seeking a more dynamic driving experience, the N Line Ultimate, Elantra Hybrid, or Elantra N offered options with a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and independent multi-link rear suspension. The Elantra Luxury provided a communicative yet compliant ride, with suitable steering effort levels and a quiet highway experience. While not as fun to drive as the N Line Ultimate or Elantra N, the Elantra Luxury delivered consistent and predictable handling qualities, making it a pleasant surprise.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was designed with practicality in mind, offering a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces. The interior featured clearly marked instrumentation and controls, along with ample storage options. While the N Line's low seating position required some effort to get in and out, the Elantra provided excellent outward visibility. The rear seat accommodated three children comfortably during a long journey, although taller adults might find the sloped roof pinching headroom. Cargo space was adequate at 402 litres, with the trunk capable of holding a weekend's worth of luggage. However, the narrow trunk opening and trunk lid support arms posed challenges for loading. The power tilt-and-slide moonroof produced a noticeable droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air conditioning vents was a minor inconvenience.

The 2023 Hyundai Elantra continued to prioritize practicality and utility, offering a roomy interior suitable for a family of four. The test vehicle featured proximity-sensing keyless entry, making it convenient to access the car. The Luxury model's leather-wrapped driver's seat provided comfort, although manual adjustments were standard in Canada. The test car included dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, but ventilated front seats were not available. Rear-seat occupants might find the backrest too reclined, and the absence of rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports was a drawback. The trunk offered 402 litres of cargo space, with a hands-free trunk release feature available on some models. The 60/40-split folding back seat expanded utility when needed.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its level of technology, offering an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with a rearview camera, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and dual USB ports as standard on the base Essential trim. Higher trims, such as the Ultimate and N Line, featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster. However, only wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the larger touchscreen. The N Line in the U.S. came with an 8-inch display audio system and six-speaker setup, which was tested for this review. While the six-speaker audio system was adequate, the Bose system in other Hyundai models offered superior sound quality.

In 2023, Hyundai expanded the availability of the 10.25-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment displays to the Luxury, Hybrid, and N Line Ultimate trims. These screens elevated the Elantra's technology, offering features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, connected services, dynamic voice recognition, and a navigation system. However, only Bluetooth supported a wireless connection, requiring a USB connection for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The system was easy to set up and use, although voice recognition had some limitations. The Bose premium audio system in the Elantra Luxury didn't meet expectations compared to rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda Mazda3. The test vehicle also featured Digital Key technology, allowing a compatible smartphone to function as the vehicle's key.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra prioritized safety with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist technologies. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, lane-centring assistance, automatic high beams, and driver attention alert. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert and Safe Exit Warning were standard on higher trims. Additional features like intersection turn assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests, with variations in headlight ratings.

The 2023 Hyundai Elantra continued to excel in safety, offering a generous package of standard safety features, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, a full complement of airbags, and antilock brakes with electronic brake force distribution. The Elantra Luxury added features like safe exit warning, cyclist detection, intersection turning assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, and Highway Driving Assist. The Elantra's driving assist systems performed smoothly and subtly, providing a calm and confident driving experience. The 2023 Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.