The Hyundai Elantra gets its power from a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque. The Sport trim gets a punchier engine that boosts the power to 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. Only the SE and Sport trims get the option of a traditional six-speed manual while the rest of the models come with a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s a bit more powerful than the old one but it’s still no powerhouse. You may feel it’s straining a bit with a few people and all the gear onboard.
Acceleration is not blindingly swift but once you have about 3,500 rpm onboard, you get this nice surge of mid-range torque. The six-speed automatic does serve up smooth shifts but it downshifts a bit quicker. Nevertheless, it’s a lovely transmission. Given its refined operation and superior efficiency versus a six-speed manual, the automatic’s $1000 premium is a worthwhile investment. Where ride quality is concerned, the Elantra performs just fine though over big bumps, the impacts can feel a bit harsh and at times the ride feels a bit floaty.
Model
|
2016 Hyundai Elantra
|
2016 Mazda 3
|
2016 Toyota Corolla
|
2016 Honda Civic
|
MSRP
|
$17,250
|
$17,845
|
$17,300
|
$18,640
|
Engine
|
1.8L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
|
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
|
1.8L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
|
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
|
Drivetrain
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
FWD
|
Transmission
|
6-speed manual
|
6-speed manual
|
6-speed manual
|
6-speed manual
|
Power
|
145 hp @ 6500 rpm
|
155 hp @ 6000 rpm
|
132 hp @ 6000 rpm
|
158 hp @ 6500 rpm
|
Torque
|
130 lb-ft. @ 4700 rpm
|
150 lb-ft. @ 4000 rpm
|
128 lb-ft. @ 4400 rpm
|
138 lb-ft. @ 4200 rpm
|
0-60 MPH (sec)
|
9.5
|
7.8
|
9
|
7.2
|
Quarter Mile (sec)
|
17.1
|
15.8
|
16.6
|
15.5
|
Top Speed (mph)
|
120
|
130
|
120
|
125
|
The Corolla makes the least power and torque among these four cars but is its not the cheapest offering here. That car would be the Elantra, which does so while promising decent power and torque figures. The Mazda 3 produces the most torque and does so the earliest, at 4000 rpm. The Civic is the most powerful producing 158 hp and the most expensive at $18,640.
Acceleration and Braking
The Elantra's numbers look good on paper but that is they do. The car has a rather slow acceleration, taking 9.5 seconds to gallop from 0-60 mph. The quarter-mile also kicks in at over 17 seconds. It has a decent top speed at 120 mph. The Civic is the quickest, with its 7.2 seconds 0-60 mph and a quarter-mile time of 15.5 seconds. The Corolla takes a lot of time as well, but its quicker than the Elantra with a 0-60 mph time of 9 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.6 seconds. The Mazda 3 comes in second, with its 7.8 seconds 0-60 mph time and a 15.8 seconds quarter-mile time. The Mazda 3 has the highest top speed as well, at 130 mph.
Model
|
2016 Hyundai Elantra
|
2016 Mazda 3
|
2016 Toyota Corolla
|
2016 Honda Civic
|
0-60 mph (sec)
|
9.5
|
7.8
|
9
|
7.2
|
Quarter-mile (sec)
|
17.1
|
15.8
|
16.6
|
15.5
|
Top Speed (mph)
|
20
|
130
|
120
|
125
|
Front Brake (inches)
|
11
|
11
|
10.8
|
11.1
|
Rear Brake (inches)
|
10.3
|
10.4
|
9.1 (Drum)
|
10.2
|
60-0 braking distance (feet)
|
130
|
122
|
130
|
118
|
The Civic stops right on the dime: in a 118 feet, the quickest among these four. The Mazda 3 comes in second again with stopping distance of 122 feet. The Elantra and the Corolla take 130 feet to stop. The Civic has the biggest front brake, at 11.1 inches and the Mazda 3 has the biggest rear brake at 10.4 inches. The Corolla has the smallest front and rear brakes at 10.8 inches and 9.1 inches.
Handling and Steering
The ride quality of the Elantra is firm, and it gets worse on bumpy or broken roads. The acceleration is abrupt, and the one thing that is satisfying about the experience is the gearbox, which is butter smooth and accurate. You'll be happy to know the acceleration issue can be improved but at the cost of fuel economy.
The interiors are quiet, something that will be a welcome gesture. The control from the steering is precise and the car is responsive. In turns, the firm suspension does not divulge the fun factor but works rather well. A little soft-tuning of the suspension might just improve things for the Elantra.
Also Read:
- 2021 Hyundai Accent Performance
- 2021 Hyundai Elantra Performance