2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

It’s easy to forget that the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is an economy car. Despite the bold design, spaciousness, standard equipment, high safety scores, and upscale accommodations (in the Limited trim, at least), one of the Elantra Hybrid’s main reasons for being is to get as many miles out of a gallon of gas as possible. In the Blue trim, that works out to an impressive 58 mpg on the highway.

Yet the Elantra Hybrid also demonstrates that fuel economy doesn’t have to equate with frumpiness. Especially not this 2024 model, as a styling revision makes it look even further removed from the ordinariness of the commuter class.

The regular, non-hybrid 2024 Elantra is reviewed separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of hybrid cars, including this 2024 Elantra Hybrid Limited in Intense Blue with an all-in sticker price of $30,810.

You know those already sharp looks of the Hyundai Elantra? Well, it seems like they’re becoming even sharper for this latest model year. We’re making this assumption based on Hyundai’s domestic compact sedan, which is an Elantra by another name. That car receives styling updates on the outside, but there’s no word yet of any tweaks inside. Or of any changes under the hood.

Other compact sedans with gasoline/electric drivetrains are the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the forthcoming Honda Civic Hybrid. The Corolla Hybrid starts at $23.5k, and we expect the Civic Hybrid to be priced similarly.

Before buying a new Elantra Hybrid sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Like its non-hybrid counterpart, Elantra Hybrid resale values are average at best.

The combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor is great for fuel economy. But the combination of extra weight and an output of 139 horsepower doesn’t add up to an entertaining drive. This may well be academic, though, since most people considering a hybrid care more about emissions than sensations.

Assuming Hyundai keeps the 2024 Elantra Hybrid’s drivetrain as it is, there’s still an upshot. The electric motor can deliver its thrust efficiently when driving off from a standstill, and there’s a decently responsive automatic transmission in the mix. This hybrid variant also has a multi-link rear suspension for a more refined and sophisticated ride quality than some cheaper non-hybrid Elantra models.

Those seeking optimum fuel economy above all else will want the Blue trim. In combined driving (55% in the city, 45% on the highway), this version manages 54 mpg. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid does 50 mpg, which is the same as the Elantra Hybrid in its plush Limited trim.

Fuel Economy

Impressive in its fuel stinginess, the Elantra Hybrid delivers an estimated 50 mpg in mixed city-and-highway driving (49 city/52 highway). The Elantra Hybrid is about mid-pack in a segment in which the Toyota Prius is clearly the mileage champ. Learn more about Elantra Hybrid fuel economy at the EPA website.

Clever packaging has resulted in the Elantra Hybrid offering a spacious cabin for front and rear occupants alike. Although this is classified as a compact car, accommodations are comparable to a midsize sedan.

Another example of ingenuity is that there’s no compromise involved in regard to stashing the hybrid hardware. The Elantra Hybrid has the same rear legroom (38 inches) and trunk space (14.2 cubic feet) as its non-hybrid counterpart.

The hybrid battery goes under the rear seats. In Limited trim, those seats can still split and fold. In Blue trim, they fold but don’t split.

This hybrid Elantra has virtually the same exterior as its non-hybrid stablemate. The 2024 model brings a few styling updates to what is already a distinct-looking design, and we think it’s an improvement on an already sharp-looking car.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
We love that this has been standard on even the entry-level Blue trim. We don’t love that you lose the wireless capability when moving up to the bigger screen of the Limited. Maybe this will finally be remedied for 2024?

Bluelink
A standard feature in both 2024 Elantra Hybrid trims, Bluelink provides remote functions like lock/unlock, stolen vehicle location, and automatic collision notification.

Dual 10.25-inch displays
One for driver information, the other for the infotainment system. They add to the high-tech flavor of the Limited model and suit the sparse interior design.

Hyundai Digital Key
Access to the 2024 Elantra Hybrid can be gained using an app on an Android device, or those with Apple iPhones can have a key card. This is standard in Limited trim.

Adaptive cruise control
Any buyers expecting to spend a lot of time on the freeway may want to take a good look at the Limited trim’s extra equipment, which includes this adaptive cruise control with a stop/go function.

Heated/ventilated front seats
Limited trim is the most cosseting, as evidenced by this feature. No need to shiver or swelter.

A naturally aspirated (no turbochargers or anything similar) 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine works with an electric motor energized by a lithium-ion polymer battery to give the Elantra Hybrid 139 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

Drive goes just to the front wheels through a 6-speed automated transmission. Regular gasoline is acceptable. For comparison, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a little thirstier but also has all-wheel drive on its options list.

1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine/electric motor
139 total horsepower
195 lb-ft of total torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 51/58 mpg (Blue), 49/52 mpg (Limited)

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Hyundai and sister company Kia offer warranties that beat most rivals. New-vehicle coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. Both the battery and the drivetrain in the 2024 Elantra Hybrid have warranties for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Safety

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is the recipient of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award for 2024, and it gets a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Part of what makes the Elantra Hybrid so safe is its generous list of standard SmartSense safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.