Commuter Review: 2021 Hyundai Elantra

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Regardless of whether you commute from Burlington to Toronto’s core driving the QEW, are on your way from Shubenacadie to downtown Halifax on Highway 102, or you’re heading to the West Edmonton Mall on the 216, things never seem to change — the traffic is gnarled and rather than clipping along at the posted speed limit you are creeping along at a mind-numbingly slow pace cursing the early-to-rise, late-for-work syndrome so many commuters face.

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One of the better commuter choices is the all-new 2021 Hyundai Elantra. On the outside, it’s slightly larger with a sleeker roof line and far more visual punch than before. This aspect is picked up inside where the Ultimate tested features twin 10.25-inch digital display screens, which impart a high-tech look. There’s also more legroom — 964-milimetres for the rear outboard riders.

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One of the Elantra Ultimate keys is the level of technology at play. As mentioned, the new twin-screen format, which is part of the $2,700 Tech package, adds an upscale Euro-like look that presents the information in a clean and clear manner. The instrumentation changes its look according to the drive mode selected; the larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen delivers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation through well-placed touch-points. Moments behind the wheel see the format become second nature, which on a busy QEW commute is a good thing.

The Ultimate’s high-tech side continues with a full suite of safety equipment. Highway Drive Assist (HDA) is a semi-autonomous setup that’s activated through a small button on the right-side of the steering wheel. When activated, HDA follows the road keeping the Elantra centered in its lane. The driver still controls speed and they must hold the steering wheel — if one’s hands are removed the system warns the driver to get a grip after 45 seconds, or so.

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Engaging the adaptive cruise control on the highway adds the ability to follow the car ahead at a driver-selectable distance, which relieves the driver of this chore. The combination eases a mundane drive, at least for the most part — it seems to get lost when the highway splits, as it does heading into Toronto at the Humber Bay. When HDA loses the right-side lane marking it’s not quite sure where the middle of this now undefined lane lies. The nit is it tends to favour the right lane marking, which is exiting, rather than the left line, which continues on the highway.

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Along with HDA comes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The latter also has the ability to stop the car if the driver begins to back out of a blind parking spot in front of a car coming from the side. This, a back-up camera with dynamic guidelines and rear sonar parking sensors means the Elantra is easy to wheel around a sprawling parking lot like the monster at Square One. The 2.48 turns from lock-to-lock and 10.8-metre turning circle cap things off.

When it comes to the drive, the Elantra has different personalities. The Elantra Hybrid keys on economy with a posted average fuel economy of 4.4 litres per 100 kilometres, which is about as good as it gets without going full electric. The Ultimate tested here covers the middle ground. It features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and drives the front wheels through an Intelligent Variable Transmission — a continuously variable transmission (CVT) by another name.

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While the CVT is pretty good at mimicking the shifting of a regular automatic transmission, it still likes to drone under hard acceleration. The plus is the transmission’s Sport setting, which is to the left of Drive — it bumps the engine’s rpm by about 1,000 rpm when engaged, which brings a crisper response to throttle input. If more is needed and a firmer steering feel is desired, there’s always the Sport driving mode.

This version of the Elantra qualifies as basic transportation, something that shows up in the run to 100 kilometres an hour — at 10 seconds it will not make you heart beat faster. However, on a busy 401 drive across the top of Toronto, it has the pop needed to merge quickly. Get off the highway and it holds its own in a town environment, and it has the wherewithal to nip in and out of traffic with a reassuring crispness.

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If more is wanted, it’s found in the Elantra N Line . The 201 hp, 1.6L turbo-four chops the run to 100 km/h down to 7.3 seconds, and it does so while delivering a more entertaining drive. There is a price premium and it lacks some of the Ultimate’s finery, but it’s worthy of consideration.

A weekend foray in search of some less grid-like pavement leads to Snake Road, which is close to the QEW and Highway 6 intersection. It may be a short run with only a couple of twisty kilometres, but it’s one of the best ways of working up to the Niagara Escarpment and twisties to be found north of Burlington. In this environment, the Elantra Ultimate proved to be both competent and entertaining. Yes, there’s some body roll and an enthusiastic pace sees understeer slide in, but considering its station in life, these complaints are minor. The plus is when the fun is over, the Ultimate reverts back to being a commendably quiet and comfortable highway cruiser.

The Hyundai Elantra has long been a solid proposition; the reworked 2021 Elantra makes it stronger from just about any standpoint and with a choice of personalities, there’s one for almost any taste.