Starts at $21,875
Rank
Pros
Cons
What's New for 2025?
The Elantra carries over unchanged this year, aside from some equipment and trim-level shuffling for the Elantra Hybrid.
2025 Elantra Selector
FAST FACTS
"The diverse Elantra lineup features four model variants with distinct purposes. The standard Elantra's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine lacks oomph, but if you're cool with that, there's not much else to kvetch about — you get features galore, a spacious interior and even a fairly roomy trunk. Want better fuel economy? There's an Elantra Hybrid for that with 50-mpg potential. How about more speed? Try the Elantra N-Line with its 201-horsepower turbo four, or crank it all the way up with the 276-hp Elantra N, which puts the Honda Civic Si's performance to shame."—Ranked #5 out of 7 Compact Sedans
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Hyundai Elantra that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The entry-level Elantra is competitive with small-sedan stalwarts like the Civic across the board. If you just need basic transportation and wouldn't mind some stylistic flair to go with it, this could be the one.
If you want to maximize your MPG with the Elantra, this is how you do it. The cheapest Elantra Hybrid is also the most efficient, as this configuration is technically called the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue — not to be confused with the Elantra Hybrid Limited, which starts a few grand higher and trades a few MPG (dropping to 50 mpg combined) for bigger wheels and more luxuries.
The Elantra N Line — not to be confused with the full-send Elantra N — is the medium-hot Elantra, designed to do battle with the Honda Civic Si and sporting a similar turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Unlike the manual-only Honda, the Elantra N Line only comes with an automatic (technically a dual-clutch automated manual).
The Elantra N with the stick shift is slightly slower than its automatic twin, but it still goes toe-to-toe with the mighty Civic Type R when you look at the acceleration numbers. The manual-only Civic Si isn't even in the conversation.
With its sub-5-second dash to 60 mph and impressive 106-mph trap speed, the Elantra N leapfrogs the Civic Si and stares down the mighty and much more expensive Civic Type R.
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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