Ace of Base: 2018 Hyundai Elantra SE

Surprises are rare in the car world, given that most companies leak like a screen door on a submarine (or endlessly tease a new model *ahem, Challenger, ahem*), but it occasionally does happen. Last night in Park City, Utah, Hyundai took the wraps off a mid-cycle refresh for its Elantra, an event that was unexpected by all hands.

The 2019 model’s styling will surely be commented upon by a news author here on the site later today. Until then, it is worth revisiting the current model in an effort to understand how it continues to hoover up sales to the tune of about 200,000 cars annually.

The base Elantra, in SE trim, has an equipment list longer than a Michael Cohen guilty plea. Air conditioning is standard, a feature your author considers a new-car essential. It would appear from the comments that many of the B&B feel the same. A tilt/telescope wheel and height adjustable driver seat are on tap but, oddly, selecting the no-charge manual transmission causes Bluetooth capability to vanish from the spec sheet. Perhaps the company doesn’t think we can talk and shift gears at the same time.

A 2.0-liter inline-four lies under the hood, making 147 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is available on the SE, the only trim where one can spec that shifter, save for the expensive Sport model (which carries a different engine).

On the current car, a natty set of tail lights that look like triple afterburners have been traded for lines-n-slashes in 2019. All eight colors are offered gratis, refreshing when so many manufacturers limit choice to the greyscale on base models.

Don’t worry about flat-black side mirrors belying your frugality. The base Elantra has that covered – literally – with body-colored caps. Power windows (with one- touch service for the driver) and a 60/40 split rear folding seat appear on the SE, but cruise control does not.

The base model does deploy rear drums – a minor disappointment. It attempts to make up for this thumb-in-the-eye to safety by offering side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers as standard, along with the expected inflatables up front. The driver gets a knee airbag, too. Fifteen-inch steelies are found at each corner, shod in reasonable 195/65/15 rubber.

Hyundai’s warranty reassures a lot of new buyers, guaranteeing five full years of roadside assistance, no matter how much you drive, while the powertrain is covered for twice that time frame.

Incentives generally go unmentioned in this series, but it is definitely worth noting that certain markets can find $4,600 leasing cash on the hood of a base Elantra. With an MSRP of $16,950, that’s nearly 30 percent off. Now there’s a surprise.

[Images: Hyundai]

Not every base model has aced it. The ones which have? They stoke the fires of our flinty cheapskate hearts. Any others you can think of, B&B? Let us know in the comments and feel free to eviscerate today’s selection.

The model above is priced in Freedom dollars and shown with American options and trim. Destination charges can go pound sand. As always, your dealer may sell for less.