Whether you want a traditional gas engine, a 54mpg hybrid or a turbo with a 6-speed, the new Elantra has got it covered.  With spacious passenger volume and a trunk that’s bigger than that of a Mercedes S-Class, this is an affordable, frugal, do it all kind of sedan that Hyundai decided needed edgier styling.  And boy did they deliver on that front.  Now, I’m not sure it’s going to age very gracefully because the body is so overly styled with crazy creases and a very prominent grille, but if you’re allergic to boring in the inexpensive, not-so compact car segment this is your cure.  Much like Hyundai did with the new Sonata, they’ve reversed course on reigning in the design and instead opted to make a visual splash and that it most certainly does. For $26,000, you are not going to beat what this Elantra Limited is offering.  It’s highly stylized, pleasing to drive and packed with high-end features and top notch infotainment.  And because this system is fed information from the cloud you’re navigation is always up to date and the Blue Link system can answer common questions through speech much like you would ask Siri.  When is Mother’s Day?  But for times when you’re using the Smart Card you have to place in down here on the wireless charger in order for it to start the car.  And this area down here is kind of congested already because you still have to use your Lightning Cable on this particular model so the ergonomics get a little muddy.
At night, the ambient light choices add a dash of Mercedes to your sub-$30,000 car – another reason you might want the Limited.  Loaded with advanced safety features and creature comforts – though no heated steering wheel, this is the kind of car that would have cost $40,000 not long ago.  Now, you can lease this exact car for $212 per month.  Pretty impressive but it has 2 things working against it: 1) it’s not an SUV and 2) it’s not electric so the Elantra’s relevance is waning.  

2020 Hyundai Accent First Look By Auto Critic Steve Hammes. At $16,125 including destination the Hyundai Accent is one of the most affordable new sedans on the market and for the 2020 model year it’s also much more fuel efficient. 

When equipped with the optional continuously variable transmission, MPGs in combined driving jump from 32 to 36 over the previous car’s 6-speed automatic.  Smartstream is the name Hyundai has given to this new powertrain, which still uses a 1.6-liter 4-cylidner engine but one that curiously reverts back to port injection from direct injection to produce a little less power but also saving the typical owner $150 per year at the pump. 

Paired to Hyundai’s in-house developed CVT they call an Intelligent Variable Transmission or to the standard 6-speed manual available only on the base model, output is rated at 120 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. 

I’ve driven other models with the company’s IVT and it’s extremely well done with more of a traditional automatic feel. 

Duking it out with the likes of the all-new 2020 Nissan Versa and the Mitsubishi Mirage G4, the Accent includes a standard Rearview camera and a 5” color touchscreen while higher trims like the Accent SEL and Limited can be optioned with goodies like heated seats, push button start, auto climate control, a bigger display audio system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay and the segment’s first Hands-Free Smart Trunk Release. 

And on the safety front, the Limited trim, which is priced at just over $20,000, even comes with Forward Collision-avoidance Assist.

Many still don’t know the Genesis brand despite the fact that they’ve been selling 2 different nameplates for a couple of years now – both top notch luxury sedans, one of which comes in a delectable Sport trim. But this car is the one designed for you drivers out there – it’s their sportiest and most affordable – the all-new G70.

The Genesis brand launched late in 2016 and it’s still learning to fly, having left the Hyundai nest for its own retail space but in limited numbers. The nearest dealership to me is over 45 miles away.  And in an SUV world they don’t offer a single one.  In recent years, luxury automakers measured their coolness by their compact sports sedans.  That’s no longer the case but having a car that starts at under $40,000 is important and the G70 could be the car that gets the metal moving.  Why?  Because it’s rear-wheel drive, still offers a stick and most of all, has an exclusive allure that has captured the attention of car enthusiasts.