This 50-mpg sedan punches way above its $31,000 price tag.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1 Christopher Smith 
By: Christopher Smith
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I actually liked the previous Elantra with its swooping face and big grille. Few people agreed with me, though, which is why Hyundai commissioned a refresh for the seventh-generation sedan after just two years on the market. It’s still plenty swoopy, but the grille is now proportional to the vent in the lower fascia, which gives the compact sedan a serious shark-nose vibe. I like sharks.
And then there’s the 51 miles per gallon I averaged over approximately 400 miles, according to the Elantra’s computer brain. Half of that came at 75 miles per hour on the highway, and when I finally pulled into a gas station, I still had a quarter-tank to go. If I sound impressed, it’s because I am. And I haven’t even talked about the Elantra’s posh accommodations in Limited trim, which belies its $30,000 sticker price.
| Quick Specs | 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited |
| Engine | 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid |
| Output | 139 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet |
| Economy | 49 City / 52 Highway / 50 Combined |
| Base Price / As-Tested | $26,250 / $31,280 |
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Yes, I’m aware there’s just 139 horsepower under the hood, but don’t let that figure dissuade you from giving this car a chance. The naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder makes just 104 hp on its own, with the single electric motor bringing the rest. It’s certainly not fast, and I never expected as much—but it’s not frustratingly slow, either. In short, this powertrain under-promises and over-delivers.
Credit the hybrid’s torque range, which peaks at 195 pound-feet at around 4,000 rpm. But that’s not the whole story. The electric motor generates 125 lb-ft of that twist, and it hits instantly. That’s ideal for making a left turn amid heavy city traffic going 45 mph, even with a carload of adults on board. Power is adequate in all situations, but more importantly, the delivery comes where daily commuters need it most—low and mid-range. You won’t win any drag races, but you will feel confident in most situations behind the wheel.
You’ll enjoy not fueling up on a regular basis, too. The Elantra’s hybrid layout places the electric motor between the engine and transmission. That means it can run purely on electric power, and I’m not talking about 10-mph cruising in a parking lot. If you have enough juice in the 1.3-kilowatt-hour battery, the engine will shut down at speeds of up to 75 mph. In town, it’s not hard to run silent for minutes at a time. If you’re on flat highways, the four-cylinder will shut off as often as it can.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
When I finally gassed up after 420 miles, the Elantra showed an average of 51 mpg. The pump clicked off at 8.2 gallons, equalling 51.2 mpg after some basic math. That’s a smidge better than the EPA’s combined rating of 50 mpg, and you don’t have to sacrifice all measure of acceleration to get it.
You don’t have to sacrifice an actual cogged transmission, either. The Elantra packs a smart-shifting six-speed dual-clutch automatic, whereas the Toyota Prius doesn’t have a conventional transmission. The Honda Civic Hybrid has a one-speed setup not unlike a full EV, though both are admittedly much quicker in a straight line.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1 
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Climbing behind the wheel, I’m faced with round two of under-promise/over-deliver. I’d heard criticism about the Elantra’s interior feeling cheap, but this white Limited trim with a warm two-tone motif is nothing of the sort. The fabric door inserts caught my attention right away, punctuated with contrast stitching and silver Bose speaker inserts not unlike those used in the significantly more expensive Palisade. Soft-touch materials are everywhere, and the seats—now covered in Hyundai’s H-Tex synthetic leather—are heated and ventilated in front.
There’s a distinct cockpit feel for the driver, due in part to the 10.3-inch infotainment screen and center stack being canted slightly to the left. Speaking of the stack, it’s a case study of how to offer physical controls while preserving a clean, tidy interior space. Stereo and media functions are neatly built into the dash below the climate vents. Climate settings are below that, also organized smartly and efficiently. The six-speed automatic is easily handled with a prominent shift stalk, which I love, but I’m also hopelessly old school. I’ll concede something modern like a dial or a small lever would free up valuable space in the console.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Ditching the weird center divider on the passenger side of the console would also free up some space. It contributes to the interior’s cockpit vibe, but this is a case where function is preferable over form. I shuttled several front-seat passengers during my week with the Elantra, and each felt unduly cramped by the divider. Rear seat passengers also felt a bit snug, but this is a compact sedan. Still, it’s worth noting if you’re regularly shuffling aging relatives with bad knees to the doctor.
My only other gripe with the Elantra Hybrid is the ride quality. It’s a bit noisy going down the road, which is acceptable since we’re not talking about a luxury land yacht here. But Hyundai could draw some inspiration from such machines and soften the suspension a tad. Things felt a bit too firm for my taste, at least in this application. Let the Elantra N satisfy those cravings. The Elantra Hybrid should be sedate and subdued. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time behind the wheel before stopping for fuel.
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1 
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
None of these issues would prevent me from buying one. It’s arguably the best-looking car in its class, and with a sticker price of $31,280 in range-topping Limited trim, it’s one of the cheapest. You could save $1,000 and get a less glamorous Toyota Corolla Hybrid XLE, or spend about $1,000 more on a decidedly more powerful Honda Civic Sport Touring Hybrid.
But the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited just might offer the best of all worlds, combining standout looks with exceptional fuel economy, reasonable performance, and a taste of luxury seldom seen at this price point.
Gallery: 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited Review
Christopher Smith / Motor1
Competitors
- Honda Civic Hybrid
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Toyota Prius
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Limited
Engine 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid
Motor Single Permanent-Magnet Synchronous
Battery 1.32 Kilowatt-Hour Lithium-Ion
Output 139 Horsepower / 195 Pound-Feet
Transmission Six-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic
Drive Type Front-Wheel Drive
Efficiency 49 City / 52 Highway / 50 Combined
Weight 3,069 Pounds
Seating Capacity 5
Cargo Volume 14.2 Cubic Feet
Base Price $26,250
As-Tested Price $31,280
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