2011 Elantra: 40MPG, $14,830 Base Price
In the space race for 40MPG highway, here’s the value leader:
A comprehensive press release can be found here. I’m not sure all the details are right, particularly the claim that the 2011 Focus has a four-speed automatic, but no effort has been spared to paint the Elantra as the far-and-away best car in its class regardless of price.
Both transmissions — a conventional slushy six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual — make it to 40MPG on the highway. There’s no dual-clutch transmission, which is surprising since Ford will have one in the Focus and Chrysler is planning (sssshhhhh) to debut one in the 200 later this year for further use in its 40MPG small car.
In recent Hyundai tradition, the pricing is aggressive but not Excel-cheap.
Production is already underway, and your dealer will have a car by Christmas. Speaking personally, I’d wait for the new Focus before putting my money down on anything in the segment, but those who elect to give the Elantra a try are unlikely to regret their choice.
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I wonder, with all of these cars that are compact and mid-size approaching 40 MPG highway, will we see the same paradox as we do with pickup trucks in North America? Will these bigger high mileage cars relegate the subcompacts and minis to redundancy, like standard size pickups have done to compact pickups? Just a thought.
It looks good in that picture but looks like crap in the youtube video posted.