Used 2015 Hyundai Elantra

After a slight facelift for 2014, the 2015 Hyundai Elantra compact gets only a few tweaks this year, mostly rearranging option packages. But that’s OK, as its style, fuel economy, interior space, features, and warranty continue to make it a tough act to follow. Both its quality ratings and resale values are as good as the leading compact cars, and the Elantra’s full lineup of sedan, coupe and GT hatchback models is a real threat to compact cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus. Your practical side will appreciate the 38 mpg on the highway, or you can tickle your inner enthusiast with a sporty 173-horsepower engine. Both camps will appreciate the Elantra’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra splits the difference between the sporty-driving Mazda3 and Ford Focus, and the more mainstream and comfortable Chevrolet Cruze and Nissan Sentra. A 6-speed manual transmission comes standard, or you can opt for a 6-speed automatic. The transmissions do their best to make the most of the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder’s 145 horsepower, but if that’s not enough, the Elantra Sport sedan, the Elantra Coupe and the Elantra GT hatchback are all available with the 173-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. Elantra GT, SE and Limited models come with 3-mode, driver-selectable steering, designed to improve feedback in sporty driving. The GT and Elantra Coupe also get stiffer suspensions for more aggressive driving. Yet even in everyday traffic, all Elantras are comfortable and well insulated from road and wind noise, especially for a compact car.

Although the 2015 Elantra competes as a compact car, the roomy interior gets it classified as a midsize car by the EPA. The comfortable interior features some higher-end soft-touch materials, but there’s also some low-end feeling plastic on the doors and switches. The front seats are properly shaped for leisurely or aggressive driving, and while rear legroom is only adequate for the sedan and Coupe, it’s downright generous in the GT. Fold-down seats augment the large trunk in the sedan and Coupe, and if you haul extra gear but don’t want an SUV, the hatchback-only GT is a good pick.

Hyundai says the 2015 Elantra’s "Fluidic Sculpture" design evokes water flowing around rocks. Whatever you call it, the curves and swoops combine elegantly with sweeping headlights and taillights, looking upscale without feeling gaudy or over the top. Aside from having only two doors, Coupe versions are distinguished by a large, trapezoidal mouth and twin tailpipes in the rear. The GT hatchback receives a similar treatment up front and a sloping roof that looks rather fashionable.

DRIVER SELECTABLE STEERING MODE
The 2015 Elantra’s Driver Selectable Steering Mode allows the driver to choose from three settings: Comfort, Normal and Sport, and is available on the GT hatchback and the SE and Limited sedans.

HEATED REAR SEATS
One of the more surprising standard features on the Elantra Limited sedan is the heated rear seats. Usually extra-cost even on luxury cars, it’s almost unheard of in this segment, and just one more way Hyundai is turning up the heat on the competition.

The base-level Elantra SE sedan comes standard with a manual transmission, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, and a telescoping steering wheel. Also standard are upscale features like keyless entry, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, aluminum-alloy wheels, and a 172-watt 6-speaker AM/FM/CD/satellite radio with USB/iPod inputs. Coupe and GT models feature heated front seats, and GT models come standard with a glove compartment that can be chilled. Coupe and sedan models have six airbags, while Elantra GT versions add a seventh for the driver’s knees.

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra sedan has two upgrade paths from the base SE model. There’s the Sport, which gives you the more powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, or the Limited, which adds more luxury, but keeps the less powerful engine. A new Style package for SE models adds a moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, projector headlights, and chrome and aluminum accents. The revised Tech package for Elantra Sport models adds navigation and an upgraded audio system, plus Hyundai BlueLink. The Limited gets a new Ultimate package, which adds navigation, a sunroof, upgraded audio, dual zone climate control, and push-button start.

The Elantra SE and Limited sedans both get a 145-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, while Elantra Sport sedans, the Elantra Coupe, and Elantra GT all get a 173-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. We think the better bet is the 2.0-liter engine. It offers significantly better power, at the expense of only a moderate hit to fuel economy. Transmission choices are between a 6-speed manual available for the sedan and GT hatchback. A 6-speed automatic is available for the sedan and GT, and oddly is the only transmission available for the sporty looking coupe. The automatic comes with an Eco mode to further enhance fuel economy, and manual shifting mode for a bit of added sport.

1.8-liter inline-4 (SE, Limited sedan)
145 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
130 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/37 mpg (manual), 28/38 mpg (automatic), 27/37 mpg (automatic, Limited)

2.0-liter inline-4 (Coupe, Sport sedan and GT)
173 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
154 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/34 mpg (manual, Sedan & GT), 24/35 mpg (automatic, Sedan), 24/34 mpg (automatic, Coupe) 24/33 mpg (automatic, GT)