Hyundais all-new 2011 Elantra topped a list of five compact cars to win the Cars.com Best Value: Price to Pump award. Elantra was part of the Cars.com Under 20/Over 35 Shootout, joining four other compact cars that seat five, get better than 35 miles per gallon and have a price tag under $20,000. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra came out on top during the editors evaluations for its exterior and interior design as well as its smooth ride.
Based on our results, every car shopper looking in this segment needs to put the 2011 Hyundai Elantra at the top of their consideration set, said Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief, Cars.com. Not only does this car get 40 mpg on the highway, the Elantra also has refined styling, solid handling, a comfortable interior and incredible affordability for all the features that buyers will get.
To determine the winner of the shootout, experts from Cars.com, USA Today and a Chicago-area family put the contenders through a variety of tests over a series of three days. Tests included a day-long drive to determine accurate, real-world mileage, back-to-back driving by all judges on the same course to determine handling and comfort, and a side-by-side comparison of the cars features and styling.
The 2011 Elantra sets the bar in the compact sedan category offering a class-above midsize car interior volume, modern design, outstanding fuel economy, and loads of comfort and convenience features, all at an attractive starting price. Elantra also continues to lead the industry in standard advanced safety technologies including a new Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system to optimally manage Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS).
The all-new Elantra, with its 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway standard fuel economy rating, is a perfect vehicle for consumers looking for an affordable solution to rising gas prices, said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. Winning the Cars.com Under 20/Over 35 Shootout against the traditional compact leaders shows that Elantra truly hits the mark in this competitive segment.
Cars.coms Best Value: Price to Pump rankings:
1. Hyundai Elantra ($17,760)
2. Chevrolet Cruze ($19,445)
3. Honda Civic ($18,655)
4. Kia Forte ($18,345)
5. Ford Focus ($19,750)