Review QuickTakes:
The 2022 Hyundai Elantra lineup offers compact four-door sedan buyers plenty of value and variety. There is something here for just about any compact car buyer, from the affordable standard trim and upscale Limited version to the fuel-efficient Elantra Hybrid model and the high-performance Elantra N. Except for a five-door hatchback. Or an all-wheel-drive system. If you want those features, try the Hyundai Kona.
What's New for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra?
The only change to the Elantra for the 2022 model year is the addition of the new Elantra N. You can tell it apart from the other Elantras by its blacked-out front end, 19-inch wheels, pedestal-style rear spoiler, and significantly bolstered front seats.
This performance variant has a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder cranking out 276 hp and 289 lb.-ft. of torque. A standard 6-speed manual or an available 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters gets the power to the ground through the front wheels and an electronic limited-slip differential.
Substantial engineering changes to the Elantra's structure, suspension, braking, and exhaust systems support the performance mission. Launch control and downshift rev-matching are standard, and with the optional DCT, Hyundai also provides software support in the form of N Grin Shift, N Power Shift, and N Track Sense Shift. The infotainment system includes special performance-tracking features, too.
2022 Hyundai Elantra Price and Configurations
This year, 2022 Hyundai Elantra prices range from the low $20,000s to the mid $30,000s. Seven versions of the compact sedan are available:
Hyundai Elantra SE — Highlights of the SE trim include 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic high-beam headlights, power exterior mirrors that fold in, and remote keyless entry. Inside, the SE trim includes air conditioning, cloth seats, a height-adjustable driver's seat, and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard, offering Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
The Elantra's standard safety package is generous, equipping the car with forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking. Additionally, every Elantra has lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a safe-exit warning system.
Hyundai Elantra SEL — The Elantra SEL includes 16-inch alloy wheels, a hands-free trunk lid release, and a passive hands-free keyless entry system with push-button engine starting. This model also includes dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services with a complimentary three-year trial subscription. In addition, it provides access to numerous options that are unavailable for the SE trim.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue — Outfitted like the Elantra SEL, the Hybrid Blue also includes a hybrid drivetrain, an independent multi-link rear suspension design, heated exterior mirrors, and heated front seats.
Hyundai Elantra N Line — The sporty Elantra N Line builds on SEL equipment with unique design details inside and out, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, an independent multi-link rear suspension design, upgraded brakes, and 18-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires.
The N Line also includes heated exterior mirrors, a power sunroof, leather and cloth upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Added tech includes wireless smartphone charging and digital key technology that turns your Android-based smartphone into the vehicle's key.
Hyundai Elantra Limited — Based on the Elantra SEL, the upscale Limited trim has upgraded exterior trim, full LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated exterior mirrors, and a power sunroof. After dark, ambient interior lighting greets the driver and passengers. The Limited also includes leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat.
Inside, the Elantra Limited wows with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, expanded Blue Link connected services, and digital key technology. Safety upgrades include cyclist detection for the forward-collision warning system, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and a semi-autonomous Highway Drive Assist system.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited — Equipped like the Limited but with the Hybrid Blue's powertrain and multi-link independent rear suspension design, the Hybrid Limited also offers ventilated front seats. This feature is exclusively available in this version of the car.
Hyundai Elantra N — This is the performance-tuned version of the Elantra. It has a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 6-speed manual transmission with downshift rev-matching, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a variable-valve exhaust system. In addition, it rides on a performance-tuned adaptive-damping suspension and is equipped with robust front and rear stabilizer bars and upgraded structural bracing, steering components, and braking system.
With the optional "wet" DCT, the Elantra N adds launch control and a slew of software-based performance enhancements, including N Grin Shift, which boosts engine output to 286 hp for 20 seconds.
Naturally, the Elantra N gets revised styling to set it apart, plus 19-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Inside, the N has performance-bolstered front seats, a fixed rear seat that does not fold down, and unique performance-tracking apps within the 10.25-inch infotainment system. Equipment is generally the same as the Elantra Limited, but with exclusive trim and a slimmed-down safety offering that matches the base Elantra SE, plus rear parking sensors.
Beverly Braga
2022 Hyundai Elantra Review and Test Drive
The Hyundai Elantra N is more than just another pretty face of the Elantra family. Following the Veloster N's intro in 2018 and debuting alongside the all-new 2022 Kona N, the Elantra N is the latest vehicle to wear Hyundai's high-performance, motorsports-developed N badge in North America.
Hyundai's current motorsports program is a relatively young one. In 2012, the South Korean-based automaker established a motorsports group in Germany and re-entered the World Rally Championship (WRC). The following year, Hyundai introduced the "N" logo. But 2014 is when Hyundai Motorsport became less of a corporate hobby and saw serious commitment. For starters, Hyundai hired Albert Biermann away from the BMW Group, the boss of BMW’s M division. Biermann added legitimacy to the Hyundai N program, which officially debuted the following year.
Today, not only does Hyundai Motorsport have a WRC championship under its belt, but the program has topped the podium in other races and series. There are six Hyundai N models sold globally, but only three for the U.S. And where N-variants of the Veloster and Kona are rowdy rascals on the track, the Elantra N positions itself as a refined racer. With the Elantra N, Hyundai has achieved something its other N cars couldn't: be an affordable daily-driver sports car.
Beverly Braga
For this 2022 Hyundai Elantra review, we test-drove a Performance Blue Elantra N with an 8-speed wet DCT at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville, Georgia. Because the Elantra N is essentially an all-inclusive trim level, your only options are transmission type and color choice — of which Ceramic White and Performance Blue carry a $400 premium. My test car's total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $34,845 includes the $1,045 destination charge. Hyundai provided the vehicle for this Elantra review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.
2022 Hyundai Elantra Review: The Design
The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was redesigned last year and carries over its sleek new styling. The seventh-generation Elantra is longer, lower, and leaner. The standard Hyundai Elantra has a handsome overall design with chiseled features and strong character lines. So, how does the performance version change the looks? Not much, it seems.
Beverly Braga
The Elantra N has a wing-type spoiler versus the thin-mustache style of the Elantra N Line, but it's not gaudy, and doesn’t impair the driver's rear visibility. Hyundai swaps the chrome accents that appear on the standard Elantra with black trim on the Elantra N. For example, the signature grille wears a matte black finish, and other bits like the window trimming, front lip spoiler, rear diffusers, and spoiler are finished in semi-gloss black. There are also flashes of red because red is the unofficial official color of "fast." But these are not overly done. Instead, the red is paired well with the black trim and appears on the Elantra N's side skirts, brake caliper covers, and bumpers.
Don't be mistaken, though. The Elantra N is undoubtedly sporty; it's just not flashy about it. If there is anything excessive about the Elantra N's exterior design, it would be the number of N badges. The logo appears on the grille, trunk lid, side skirts, front brake calipers, and wheel center caps. It's a bit much. Thankfully, Hyundai dials back the N branding within the cabin.
To continue the functional sportiness theme, the Elantra N's interior has leather-trimmed sports seats with microsuede inserts. Not only do the seats look and feel premium, but the front buckets provide ample bolstering and support for your more aggressive drive sessions.
The Elantra N cabin does come in only one color, though: black. And where red accents decorate the exterior, light blue (an N Brand hue along with red and black) acts as the contrasting color for the interior. Stitching on the seats, shifter boot, and steering wheel is the soft blue hue, as are two prominent steering wheel-mounted N drive-mode buttons. The N logo itself makes an appearance on the steering wheel, gear shifter, aluminum door scuff plate, and front seats. The front seat N inserts also illuminate when you open the doors. A power moonroof isn't available on manual transmission-equipped models, but is standard on those models optioned with the DCT.
Beverly Braga
Also worth noting is that the Elantra N gets a one-piece rear bench seat rather than a 60/40-split folding seat. This detail is likely due to the bright red chassis brace positioned directly behind the rear seats. Nevertheless, the Elantra N has the same 14.2 cu. ft. of trunk space as a standard Elantra and comes with a hands-free smart trunk release.
2022 Hyundai Elantra Review: The Technology
Even though the Elantra is a compact sedan, Hyundai does not skimp on gadgets. For example, Elantras on the more expensive end of the lineup, including the N model I tested, receive a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel (IP) as standard equipment.
A performance-specific graphic interface is exclusive to the Elantra N's digital IP. When the vehicle is in N drive mode, it displays oil temperature, engine temperature, boost, torque, rpm, gearing, and steering and suspension status. In addition, the infotainment screen can provide similar info plus performance data such as a shift timer indicator, track maps, lap times, G-force measurement, and launch control. Even if you're not on a track, they're fun screens to play with. You can also customize both N drive mode shortcut buttons via these N menu screens.
Beverly Braga
Across the Elantra lineup, infotainment comes with either an 8-inch or 10.25-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. Interestingly, all 8-inch systems come with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, but the larger 10.25-inch setup standard in the Elantra N requires a wired connection to a USB data port to run those smartphone connectivity platforms.
Safety is a hallmark of Hyundai vehicles, and all Elantra models come standard with Hyundai SmartSense. A collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), SmartSense includes features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert with avoidance assist.
Beverly Braga
One safety feature that is not standard on the Elantra is Highway Drive Assist, which pairs an adaptive cruise control system with lane-centering assistance for semi-autonomous driving. Your hands must remain on the steering wheel, though. Unfortunately, this feature comes only with Limited and Hybrid Limited trim, so I could not evaluate it.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) names the 2022 Hyundai Elantra a Top Safety Pick, a rating that applies to the entire lineup. In addition, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards the standard Elantra with its highest crash safety rating of five stars. The agency lists the Elantra N as a separate model but has not provided a rating for the model as of this review's publishing date.
2022 Hyundai Elantra Review: The Drive
Hyundai offers four different powertrains for the 2022 Elantra. The standard engine (SE, SEL, Limited) is a 2.0L four-cylinder producing 147 hp and 132 lb.-ft. of torque. It's mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Beverly Braga
Next in line is a hybrid powertrain that marries a 1.6L four-cylinder with a 32-kW electric motor for a combined output of 139 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Both the Elantra Hybrid Blue and Hybrid Limited use a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
There are two turbocharged engines available. The Elantra N Line features a 1.6L four-cylinder that produces 201 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, delivered to the front wheels through a 7-speed DCT.
Beverly Braga
At the top of the lineup, the performance-tuned Elantra N ups the ante to 276 hp and 289 lb.-ft. of torque from a 2.0L turbo-four. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard, with an 8-speed wet DCT optional.
According to Hyundai, an Elantra N with the automatic is the quickest version, and with launch control activated, it can reach 60 mph in 5 seconds. This level of performance makes the Elantra N particularly suited for the track. And it's not just because of the fancy N mode infotainment screens either. Every Elantra N comes with reworked suspension tuning, braking components, steering gear, and exhaust system, plus a plethora of body and chassis reinforcements.
Beverly Braga
The Elantra N sits on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer performance tires (a Hyundai N first) wrapped around 19-inch alloy wheels. With a 14% larger footprint, the Michelins provide excellent grip during track, autocross, and really any driving that includes turning.
Of course, the Elantra N also gets bigger brakes. The standard Elantra's brakes measure 11 inches in the front and 10.3 inches in the rear. The sporty N Line upgrades the fronts to 12 inches. But the Elantra N goes even further with Sonata-sourced 14.2-inch fronts and 12.4-inch rears matched with calipers engineered to N specifications. Basically, you're getting high-performance stopping power at a bargain price because the parts already existed within the Hyundai universe. No outsourcing here. And all of this is before you even get into the vehicle.
Once you're behind the wheel and start the engine, it's clear the Elantra N is a totally different kind of car. It growls but isn't intimidating. It's eager but not anxious. The Hyundai Elantra N is equipped with so much race-day technology (i.e., rev-matching, electronically-controlled suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential (LSD), integrated drive axle, etc.) that anyone from a novice to a pro will appreciate it. Plus, the aural excitement of the large-bore dual exhaust pipes produces a familiar "snap, crackle, and pop" backfire that doesn't hurt your ears.
In Eco and Normal, the Elantra N is rather pedestrian. It's Clark Kent taking his daily commuter car to the Daily Planet. Sport mode offers a bit of N Line mannerisms by stiffening the suspension, activating rev-matching, and waking the engine up a bit. But it'll be the N (or Custom) mode that gets your blood boiling — in a good way.
Beverly Braga
Remember those blue steering wheel-mounted buttons I mentioned earlier? They represent N1 and N2. One defaults to the Hyundai-specified N setting, but you have the option to customize both. And not just steering feel or ride comfort. Like the German performance brands it benchmarks, Hyundai N means tuning the engine, steering, suspension, transmission, differential, stability control, and exhaust note to your specific liking for whatever specific driving condition you want. Oh, and there's also a quick-access overboost feature — called N Grin Shift — that produces an extra 10 hp for 20 seconds. Then let it cool down for 40 seconds, and you can do it all over again.
Surprisingly, the manual transmission is less impressive than the wet DCT. Although the gearing is smooth, shift throws are a little long, and the clutch is wonky. Due to its high bite mark and the rev-matching feature releasing an rpm too early, I found myself stalling the Elantra N more often in one afternoon than I have my stick shift-equipped daily driver in the nine years I've owned it. So, it's not me. It's the car. Or, rather, the clutch.
Nevertheless, the Elantra N is so dialed in for exhilarating driving that your only disappointment will be not finding the right roads or enough of them to enjoy yourself, because the Elantra N is genuinely fun to toss around. After several laps on the autocross course, I wasn't anywhere close to physically tired, but my face was definitely worn out from smiling so much. With the DCT, the Elantra N downshifted smoothly and snapped upshifts without hesitation. If I had too much speed going into what felt like a thousand corners, those N-tuned brakes and tires kept the car right side up (which I can't say for a few cones I may have love-tapped too hard). And on the street, the Elantra is just as comfortable and easy to handle. It's quiet but still engaging, regardless of the drive mode.
Is the 2022 Hyundai Elantra a Good Car?
The 2022 Elantra is an excellent car. Featuring a high degree of style inside and out, the more expensive versions of the vehicle are also high-tech. There is plenty of interior space for four adults, and the trunk holds up to 14.2 cu. ft. of luggage. You might find an Elantra roomy enough in terms of headroom and legroom to skip the upgrade to the larger Hyundai Sonata.
Like all Hyundais, the Elantra comes with a fantastic new-car warranty, complimentary maintenance for three years, and, in many models, a complimentary three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. Plus, the Elantra gets up to 54 mpg in combined driving (Hybrid Blue) and earns a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS – only with full LED headlights). In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Elantra's crash protection a five-star rating, the highest one available.
Furthermore, in the new-for-2022 Elantra N specification, the car adds blistering performance to its resume.
Hyundai Elantra Competitors for 2022
Though the 2022 Elantra is an appealing choice in a compact car, it's not the only game in town. Rivals include the Honda Civic, Kia Forte, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Jetta.
Hyundai Elantra Features
Highlights
Though Hyundai makes the Elantra N Line, Elantra Hybrid, and Elantra N in Korea, it builds other versions of the car in its Montgomery, Alabama factory. Regardless of the model you choose, the 2022 Elantra is an impressive compact car.
2022 Hyundai Elantra Safety Features
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist — Standard forward-collision warning system with automatic emergency braking
- Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist — Standard blind-spot monitoring system
- Safe Exit Warning — Standard feature warns occupants when it might not be safe to exit the vehicle
- Junction Turning Detection — Available feature monitors for unsafe turn conditions at intersections and can automatically brake the Elantra*
- Highway Drive Assist — Available hands-on semi-autonomous technology combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance*
2022 Hyundai Elantra Technology
- Infotainment system — Standard 8-inch and an available 10.25-inch touchscreen
- Smartphone integration — Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity in models with the 8-inch touchscreen display
- Blue Link — Available connected services system; includes a complimentary three-year subscription
- Digital instrumentation — Available 10.25-inch display*
- Digital Key — Available technology that turns your smartphone into the Elantra's key (Android only)*
2022 Hyundai Elantra Specs
- 2.0L four-cylinder, continuously variable transmission (CVT), 147 hp and 132 lb.-ft. of torque (SE, SEL, Limited)
- 1.6L four-cylinder, electric motor, battery pack, 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), 137 hp*1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder, 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT, 201 hp and 195 lb.-ft. (N Line)*
- 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, 6-speed manual or 8-speed DCT, 276 hp and 289 lb.-ft. (N)
- Front-wheel drive*
- EPA fuel economy ratings — 35-37 mpg (SE, SEL, Limited), 50-54 mpg (Hybrid), 28-31 (N Line); 23-25 mpg (N)
2022 Hyundai Elantra Interior
- Leather seats — Available feature*
- Heated front seats — Available feature*
- Ventilated front seats — Available feature*
- Ambient interior lighting — Available feature*
- Premium sound system — Available Bose audio system with eight speakers*
*Availability is subject to specific trim level selections
