The Elantra in base SE trim and the SEL trim has a naturally aspirated 2.0 L 4 cylinder engine developing 147 hp @ 6200 rpm and 132 pounds-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. This engine is refined and offers sufficient grunt for everyday tasks.
The Eco trim gets a smaller turbocharged 1.4 L engine. This means it develops just 128 hp @ 5500 RPM. This, however, does not compromise real-world driving performance - thanks to a higher 156 pounds-feet of torque starting as low as 1400 rpm. In fact, it feels rather peppy to drive around in the city. The Elantra has the 1.6 L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine in "Sport" trim for those looking for more power.
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Model
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Hyundai Elantra SE
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Honda Civic LX
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Toyota Corolla L
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Mazda 3 Sport Manual
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MSRP
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$16,950
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$18,840
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$18,550
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$18,095
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Engine
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2.0 L 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
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2.0 L 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
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2.0 L 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
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2.0 L 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
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Transmission
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6 Speed Manual
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6 Speed Manual
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CVT
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6 Speed Manual
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Drivetrain
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Front-wheel-Drive
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Front-wheel-Drive
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Front-wheel-Drive
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Front-wheel-Drive
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Power
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147 bhp @ 6400 rpm
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158 bhp @ 6500
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132 bhp @ 6000 rpm
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155 bhp @ 6000 rpm
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Torque
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132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
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138 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
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128 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
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150 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
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The Honda Civic is the most powerful in comparison with 158 hp of power output. It is followed by the Mazda 3 at 155 hp. All of these vehicles in comparison have the same engine size, yet the Toyota Corolla only generates 132 hp which puts it at the bottom of the list. The Corolla is also equipped with a CVT while the rest of the vehicles have a 6-speed manual transmission.
How quick is the 0-60 mph acceleration of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
With the 147 hp 1.4L Turbocharged Inline-4, the 2018 Hyundai Elantra does 0 to 60 mph 7.8 seconds. That's second only to the Honda Civic. Those looking for more can get the Sport trim with 201 hp 1.6 L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. It's capable of hitting 60 mph from rest in 6.3 seconds.
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Models
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Hyundai Elantra SE
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Honda Civic LX
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Toyota Corolla L
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Mazda 3 Sport Manual
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0-60 MPH (sec)
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7.8 sec
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8.3 sec
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9.5 sec
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7.9 sec
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Quarter mile (sec)
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16.2 sec
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16.5 sec
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17.4 sec
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16.2 sec
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Top Speed (mph)
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130
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130
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110
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130
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The Hyundai Elantra SE is the quickest in comparison but no by a huge margin. The Mazda 3 is just on its tail with 7.9 seconds in 0-60 mph acceleration. While the Toyota Corolla L is slowest in the list in the 0-60 acceleration and Quarter-mile acceleration as well.
How are the Ride and Handling performance of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
The Elantra has a firm suspension setup which gives a planted feel at high speeds. The suspension is not harsh either and the car keeps the occupant pampered without transferring any reverberations to the car structure. The Elantra has a well-controlled, solid, and comfortable ride and the Elantra’s suspension matches the benchmark Civic when it comes to comfort and poise.
The Steering accuracy is good and you can place the car exactly where you want even at high speed. At low speed, the steering lightens up, and maneuvering tight parking spaces becomes a breeze. Hyundai has fine-tuned the suspension and steering for effortless everyday usability.
The steering, however, is devoid of any feedback and that makes the driving experience a bit numb - far behind the Civic and the Mazda. The Eco, Normal, and Sport mode only weighs the steering wheel and does not alter the steering feel. The Eco Trim has low rolling resistance tires and they further reduce the cornering ability.
How is the Braking performance of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
The base SE trim and the Eco trim gets drum brakes at the rear. All other trims have disc brakes on all four wheels. The Elantra has a linear brake pedal feel and it has one of the shortest 70-0 braking distances - 168 feet. All this feels reassuring for emergency braking conditions. However, apart from compromising handling ability, the low resistance tires on Eco trim increase braking distance too.
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Model
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Hyundai Elantra SE
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Honda Civic LX
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Toyota Corolla L
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Mazda 3 Sport Manual
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Brake pads-front(in)
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11
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11.1
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10.8
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11.0
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Brake pads Rear(in)
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10.3
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10.2
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10.2
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10.4
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Curb weight(lbs)
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2943
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2751
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2855
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2899
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70-0 MPH (ft.)
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168
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180
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183
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NA
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The braking feel is one of the few areas in which the Elantra trumps our favorite Honda Civic. The brakes are also very resistant to fade after repeated stopping, unlike the Civic. The Toyota takes the maximum distance to come to a standstill from 70 mph, while the Civic and Mazda 3 have the biggest brakes in comparison.
