Newly reworked Elantra has the look, and lots more

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- In the busy lineup of compact sedans -- including such heavyweights as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta -- the Hyundai Elantra did not necessarily stand out in its comparatively conservative skin.

That has changed for the 2021 model year.  Big time.

In fact, when the 2021 Hyundai Elantra Limited rolled up to my driveway, I wasn't sure it was an Elantra.  I'm sure the longer wheelbase, lower roofline and wider stance had something to do with that.

But there was more. There was the expansive checkerboard grille, saucy side sculpting and sporty 17-inch alloy wheels.

Hyundai calls all this "Sensuous Sportiness." OK, I'll buy that and approve the raise of the marketing guru who came up with it.

So, the seventh-generation Elantra has an attractive outer baseline for starters.  Inside, the happy news is that the Elantra remains loaded with standard amenities that have made it a must-test-drive vehicle among compact sedan shoppers.

Compact in this case does not mean stripped.  Standard fare on the tester included leather trimmed seating, heated front seats, a premium Bose audio system, a sunroof, LED headlights with high beam assist, hands-free smart trunk release, heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators and a wireless charging pad.

That's a pretty exotic list for a compact car.  And on the tester, it all came in with a reasonable sticker price of $26,600.

Power comes from a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 147 horsepower.  Some reviewers have found the power plant lacking.  I can't say that I totally disagree with that but, again, it's a capable engine in this segment.

The engine on the tester bailed me out of a couple of tight spots on the freeway, and when asked, power was always sufficient to get the job done.  Handling was exceptional for a small car, and I never felt that I was pushing the Elantra beyond its limits.  I can't say that for other compact sedans I've tested.

Another bonus: Extraordinary gas mileage at 31 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.  For those who want advanced gas savings, there's a hybrid version of the Elantra, which pushes combined fuel economy to more than 50 mpg.

Overall, this new-generation Elantra moves up in the compact class.  Think of it as the entry-level sedan with more-than-midsize appeal.