2010 Hyundai Elantra

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra gets even more economical with the introduction of the entry-level Blue trim and its $14,145 MSRP. The GLS trim comes in at $16,895, and the SE at $17,845. The Blue trim offers more than just the bare minimum, however, as it comes with air conditioning, heated power mirrors, power windows and locks, and remote entry. There are certainly a plethora of choices when it comes to economy cars, and this four-door, five-seater is certainly among the ones you ought to consider.

The 2010 Elantra doesn’t look much different than the 2009 version, though the front grill and rear garnish have been restyled. More importantly, the Elantra keeps what has made it attractive in the past - a full compliment of safety features (frontal airbags, front side-impact air bags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution), a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty (and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty), ample cargo space for its class (14.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity), and a distinguished and comfortable interior feel.

All of the Elantra trims are front-wheel drive and powered by a 2-liter, inline four-cylinder (I4) engine that produces 138 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. The Blue trim comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission and gets 26 city/35 highway mpg. The GLS and SE come with a four-speed automatic and get 26/34 mileage.

While the Elantra’s fuel efficiency is very good, engine pep is not one of the car’s highlights. It goes from 0-60 in 8.8 seconds with the manual transmission and has adequate mid-range power, but nothing spectacular. The automatic transmission is smooth, although the manual can feel a bit a clunky. The engine is a touch noisy at high rpms, but road and wind noise are tame.

The Elantra grips well in dry conditions, the suspension (front struts, rear multilink, and gas-pressurized shocks in the front and rear) provides a smooth and sturdy feel on the road, the steering is responsive, if a bit light, and the brakes provide a reliable stop with good pedal feel. It’s no sports car, but within its class, the Elantra’s ride is a benefit.

Convenient and clear gauges and controls welcome the driver into the Elantra’s cabin. Both driver and passenger are provided with plenty of headroom and legroom, especially for an economy car. The six-way adjustable front bucket seats (standard for all three trims) and adjustable steering wheel allow further comfort. The rear seats are also comfortable and adequate for three average-size adults, although the door openings are narrow.

The GLS and SE trims both add a sunroof, cruise control, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a six-speaker sound system with an AM/FM/XM Satellite radio, in-dash CD player, and speed-sensitive volume. Some of the additional SE upgrades include heated front seats, leather-and-chrome steering wheel and shift knob, a trip computer, and 16-inch silver alloy wheels with P205/55HR16 all-season tires.

By Tim O'Sullivan