8 Things You'll Love About the 2023 Hyundai Elantra

A grey 2023 Hyundai Elantra for sale is shown from the front driving on a city street.

Canadians are passionate about their vehicles, often adopting smaller, more versatile models that defy convention and surprise us with their versatility and efficiency. Hyundai has long offered affordable compact cars designed to punch far above their weight, and the Elantra is no exception. If you are searching for a Hyundai Elantra for sale here at River City Hyundai, you are already on the path to finding a high-value sedan.

The Elantra has been a staple in the Hyundai lineup since the early 1990s, evolving from a bland sedan into a stunning and sophisticated compact car over the years. The 2023 Elantra builds on that legacy, giving Canadian drivers a genuine taste of what Hyundai does best––deliver exceptional value without compromise. Here are eight things you'll love about the 2023 Elantra, from its distinct style and capable powertrain to its cutting-edge technology.

#1 - Affordability and Value

The 2023 Elantra remains true to its roots, with an affordable starting price of $22,956 for the base Essential trim.[a] Even as the base model, the Essential is well-equipped and offers exceptional value. It's powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and has advanced driver-assist tools like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. It also has heated front seats and an expansive 20 cm touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Trims like the Preferred, Luxury, and N Line Ultimate build on these features, with modest increases in price that make finding the perfect Elantra a feat even the budget-savvy buyer can enjoy.

#2 - Powertrains and Efficiency

The 2023 Elantra is engaging and fun to drive because Hyundai doesn't cut corners with its powertrains. The standard 2.0L engine delivers plenty of power to the compact sedan, churning out 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. The sporty Elantra N Line Ultimate swaps the 2.0L for a 1.6L turbocharged engine that propels the car with an impressive 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque for an exceptional experience behind the wheel.

Drivers looking to blend the Elantra's gas-powered performance with the efficiency of an electric car can do so with the available hybrid powertrain. Hyundai pairs a 1.6L gasoline engine with a 32 kW electric motor and 1.32 kWh lithium-ion battery. The combination is impressive and delivers 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque for outstanding off-the-line acceleration.

Even with its engaging driving demeanour, the 2023 Elantra doesn't excessively consume fuel. Instead, its powertrains balance power delivery with efficiency. For example, the Elantra Hybrid is rated for 4.8 L/100 km in the city and 4.5 L/100 km on the highway. The standard 2.0L engine is rated at 7.1 L/100 km in the city and 5.5 L/100km on the highway, while the N-Line powerplant gets 8.4 L/100 km in the city and 6.6 L/100 km on the highway.

A person is shown using the infotainment screen in a 2023 Hyundai Elantra.

#3 - Interior Detailing and Amenities

The 2023 Elantra exudes sophistication inside and out, with Hyundai prioritizing your comfort so that you can genuinely enjoy every drive. For example, the car comes standard with heated front seats that optimize your comfort throughout Canada's cold winters. As you make your way through the higher trims, the Elantra adds more amenities, like an eight-way power driver's seat with two-way lumbar support, dual-zone automatic temperature control, and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel. The N Line Ultimate strikes the perfect balance between luxury and performance by adding black leather sport seats with red accents that give the Elantra a more athletic aesthetic.

#4 - Connectivity Features

As a driver, you're responsible for staying focused on the road and aware of your surroundings. However, this is often difficult when our smartphones are alerting us to new notifications, or we're answering an incoming call while navigating a new area. Fortunately, the 2023 Elantra is there to help, making it easy to stay connected and informed with its expansive digital displays.

The 2023 Elantra features a standard 20 cm touchscreen display, which you can upgrade to a class-leading 26 cm full-colour infotainment display with navigation. The expansive display offers split-view capability, allowing you to use multiple apps simultaneously. Moreover, you can seamlessly connect your smartphone using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and find your favourite apps in an intuitive layout. With your music, podcasts, and audiobooks at your fingertips, the Elantra can transform your driving experience––especially with its available Bose premium sound system delivering a concert-like listening experience to every seat in the cabin.

#5 - Hands-Free Convenience

Hyundai is renowned for its keen attention to detail, which is apparent whenever you look at the options on the lot of Hyundai dealers, and especially apparent in models like the 2023 Elantra. This compact sedan is designed to improve your time on the road and offers features that distinguish the Elantra in the segment. For example, proximity keyless entry with push-button ignition eliminates the need to have your keys in hand to unlock the doors or start the car. Meanwhile, the hands-free Smart Trunk makes accessing the rear cargo area easier when your hands are full by opening automatically when you stand nearby.

#6 - The SUPERSTRUCTURE Platform

Hyundai prioritizes your safety from the ground up by building the 2023 Elantra using the state-of-the-art SUPERSTRUCTURE platform. This platform incorporates Hyundai's exclusive Advanced High-Strength Steel to give the Elantra its rigid body. Additionally, the structure is designed to absorb the energy from a collision and redirect it away from the cabin and passengers to provide optimal protection when the unthinkable occurs.

A grey 2023 Hyundai Elantra N-Line is shown from the side parked on a city street.

#7 - Hyundai SmartSense

Knowledge is power, and the 2023 Elantra does everything possible to keep you informed and aware of your surroundings. Hyundai achieves as much with its SmartSense driver-assist features, which use radar, cameras, and sonar to serve as virtual spotters around the compact car. For example, the suite includes standard High Beam Assist to automatically brighten and dim the headlights based on ambient light and oncoming traffic. Other standard features like Forward-Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection keep an eye ahead of your Elantra, alerting you to vehicles and pedestrians in your path. If you fail to respond, it can apply the brakes to prevent a collision or minimize impact. You can enhance this system with Cyclist and Junction-Turning Detection, which heightens your awareness at intersections and makes turning left easier.

The Elantra's driver-assist features extend to lane-keeping technologies, like Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keeping Assist, and Lane Following Assist. Similarly, advanced tools like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist minimize the risk of collisions when driving the Elantra in reverse. Along with these tools, the Elantra offers a Driver Attention Warning that can alert you to inattentiveness, a Rear Occupant Alert to remind you of younger passengers in the backseat, and a Safe Exit Warning to help passengers avoid oncoming traffic.

#8 - Adaptive Cruise Control and Highway Driving Assist

Two of the Elantra's most attractive features have everything to do with how the sedan transforms your experience on the highway. First, the Elantra's Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go is exceptional because it automatically adjusts the Elantra's cruising speed based on the traffic ahead. Since it also works at slower speeds, the technology can help you navigate rush-hour traffic, stopping the Elantra and resuming the appropriate cruising speed when safe.

Second, the Elantra's Highway Driving Assist feature builds on Lane Following Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go. By working with GPS and highway data, this technology automatically adjusts the Elantra's speed based on changing speed limits and curves in the road so that you have less to worry about from behind the wheel.


[a]/MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.