One of the Biggest Changes for the 2020 Elantra line up, comes in the form of the availability of just 1 motor for the entire range. Hyundai is now offering the 2020 Elantra with just a 2.0L naturally aspirated motor that squeezes out 147 horses and 132 lbs.-ft. of torque. While the performance seems weak for a sedan of this segment, Hyundai says that they have done it specifically to aid the MPG figures of the sedan.
Speaking of transmission, you do have an upgraded CVT unit in the 2020 Elantra and is the only option on offer. The Intelligent Variable Transmission, as Hyundai likes to call it, offers minimal “rubberband” effect at motorway speeds. At city speeds or while moving through school zones, you will feel the jutter from the CVT and a little more prominence of the rubber band effect.
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Models
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Hyundai Elantra SE
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Toyota Corolla L Sedan
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Honda Civic LX Sedan*
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Mazda 3 Sport*
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Chevrolet Cruze LS*
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Volkswagen Jetta*
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MSRP
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$19,150
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$19,500
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$20,250
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$20,240
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$20,400
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$20,240
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Engine
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2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
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1.8L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
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2.0 L Inline-4
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2.0 L Inline-4
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1.4L Turbo Inline-4
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1.4L Turbo Inline-4
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| Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
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Transmission
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CVT
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CVT
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CVT
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6-Speed Automatic
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6 Speed Automatic
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8 Speed Automatic
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Power
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147hp@6,200rpm
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169hp@6,600rpm
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158hp@6,500rpm
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155hp@6,000rpm
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153hp@5,600rpm
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147hp@5,000rpm
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Torque
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132lb-ft@4,500
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151lb-ft@4,800rpm
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138lb-ft@4,200rpm
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150lb-ft@4,000rpm
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177lb-ft@2000-4000rpm
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184lb-ft@1,400rpm
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*2019 Figures used for representational purposes only
While drawing a comparison with its rivals, the Hyundai seems to fall short of most of them by some margin. The VW Jetta's power figures match this Hyundai’s but is way ahead in terms of torque, courtesy of its turbocharged unit. The new-gen Toyota Corolla manages to upset all its adversaries in terms of power figures but loses out on overall torque against the VW. The rest 3 are similar to each other in terms of power and torque and not much separates them.
How quickly does it gather pace?
The 2.0L naturally aspirated motor of the Hyundai lags behind its rivals in terms of power and torque. What further weakens its cause is the CVT transmission that couples the rubber band effect and, in return, makes it one of the slowest accelerating cars in the segment. Hyundai, however, says that all these compromises in performance aids the MPG figures of the Elantra and is an acceptable compromise.
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Models
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Hyundai Elantra Sedan
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Toyota Corolla Sedan
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Honda Civic LX Sedan*
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Mazda 3 Sport*
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Chevrolet Cruze LS*
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Volkswagen Jetta*
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0-60 MPH
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9.0 sec
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7.8 sec
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8.2 sec
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8.0 sec
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7.7 sec
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7.7 sec
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Quarter Mile
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16.8 sec
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16.3 sec
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16.3 sec
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16.2 sec
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16.3 sec
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14.05 sec
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| Top Speed |
116 MPH |
112 MPH |
118 MPH |
131 MPH |
125 MPH |
127 MPH |
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Engine
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2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
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1.8L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
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2.0 L Inline-4
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2.0 L Inline-4
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1.4L Turbo Inline-4
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1.4L Turbo Inline-4
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While the Cruze and the Jetta, turn out to be the fastest accelerating cars in this comparison, the new-gen Corolla manages to match them closely. The Mazda comes next in line after the trio and the Civic follows in next.
How does the Elantra handle and ride?
Considering Hyundai’s of the past have had this reputation of being too soft and not much sporty, Hyundai engineers have managed to somewhat mitigate and address the same issue. The New 2020 Elantra offers the same comfort as before but blends in sportiness with its stiffened suspension. The Torsion Beam Rear Suspension adds the stiffness in the suspension, that many owners were looking for, and strikes a nice balance between ride comfort and stability.
The steering has been worked on as well and it now offers way more feedback on the highways than any previous Elantra ever did. The steering is light at low speeds but still doesn’t match the feel of the Honda Civic or the Mazda 3. We, however, feel that most consumers will be satisfied with the plush ride of the Elantra in the cities as that is where its strength lies.
What about the Braking performance?
Hyundai has been constantly emphasizing the efforts it has put in improving the braking of the Elantra. We have to say that the efforts have paid off. The reduction in weight and upgrades in the brakes makes the sedan go form 70-0 in an astounding 168ft. In the real world, the brakes feel confident under normal application and don’t fizz out of juice under any circumstance. The vehicle maintains its composure at all instances and there is very little swaying away of the vehicle under the same conditions.
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Models
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Hyundai Elantra Sedan
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Toyota Corolla Sedan
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Honda Civic Sedan*
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Mazda 3 Sedan*
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Volkswagen Jetta Sedan*
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Chevrolet Cruze Sedan*
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Brake Rotors Front
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11"
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10.8"
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10.2"
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10.7"
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11.5"
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10.8"
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Brake Rotors Rear
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10.3"
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10.2"
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9.8"
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9.5"
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10.8"
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10.4"
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Curb Weight
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2844 lbs
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2840 lbs
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2742 lbs
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2899 lbs
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2870 lbs
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2959 lbs
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70-0 MPH
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168 ft
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174 ft
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180 ft
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179 ft
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191 ft
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161 ft
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When comparing this Hyundai to its rivals, you will find that the Elantra manages to beat most of them quite handsomely. The new-generation Toyota Corolla comes the closest in terms of braking performance to the Elantra. The Civic and the Mazda have similar braking performances and both fare lower than the Corolla. Surprisingly enough, The Jetta fares the worst here, despite its better dynamics.
Also read:
Does the lackadaisical attitude of the 2020 Elantra also show in the safety it offers?
Can this be Hyundai's take on an Escalade?
