The revamped 2017 Elantra marks the sixth generation of Hyundai’s compact sedan, and it returns in prime form to battle against other best-selling rivals like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra. As with the rest of Hyundai’s lineup, the Elantra boasts stylish looks, premium amenities and a class-leading warranty that includes 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. The standard 2017 Hyundai Elantra has a good blend of refinement, eager driving manners and efficiency, while a forthcoming Eco model promises even greater fuel economy. A late-arriving Sport model gives the Elantra something it lacked in standard and Eco trims — brisk performance and nimble handling. All Elantras offer sophisticated design and surprising features at a great value.
Used 2017 Hyundai Elantra Pricing
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2017 Hyundai Elantra models when purchasing from a dealership.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
SE Sedan 4D | $18,985 | $10,128 | ||
SE Value Edition Sedan 4D | $21,085 | $13,456 | ||
Eco Sedan 4D | $21,485 | $10,277 | ||
Limited Sedan 4D | $23,185 | $12,563 | ||
Sport Sedan 4D | $23,585 | $12,156 |
For reference, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra originally had a starting sticker price of $18,985, with the range-topping Elantra Sport Sedan 4D starting at $23,585.
Driving the Used 2017 Hyundai Elantra
The 2017 Elantra does an admirable job blending comfort, efficiency and even some agility, particularly in the new Sport model, with more power, a firmer suspension, and bigger brakes. . The standard Elantra’s new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine feels stronger than its 147 horsepower may lead you to believe, and its available 6-speed automatic transmission is a willing partner. The Sport’s 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four inspires more urgency to acceleration. Romping around the hills outside of San Diego during an extensive evaluation, we enjoyed the sport mode that firmed the Elantra’s steering feel and held shifts longer. On a more recent blitz from Las Vegas through Death Valley, we were very impressed with the Sport’s high-speed stability. While not as athletic as a Mazda3, the Elantra holds its own against other compact sedans for general commuting and city driving, while the Elantra Sport adds a level of performance and agility previously absent in this car.
Interior Comfort
Hyundai points out that the Elantra’s interior is a size higher than its class. It’s a compact car, but its 110.2 cubic feet of interior room makes it a midsize vehicle, according to the EPA. That’s not quite as roomy as the also-all-new Honda Civic and revised Nissan Sentra, but it still means a small car needn’t be a "penalty box." We especially appreciate the driver-centric dash, and the fact that the audio and climate controls are buttons and knobs vs. multi-step touch-based systems. We also like the more supportive seats and D-shaped, leather-wrapped steering wheel in the Sport model.
Exterior Styling
Like Hyundai’s latest Tucson compact SUV and Sonata sedan, the new Elantra looks more conservative than its predecessor, but also more sophisticated than its price suggests. It’s not gaudy, either, though we admit the large hexagonal grille is borderline gaping. The Elantra further stands out with an athletic stance, front-wheel air curtains, and a spoiler built into the trunk lid. All of the foregoing is accentuated in the Sport model, which also rolls on 18-inch wheels. The 2017 Elantra is only marginally larger than the outgoing model, growing 0.8 inches in length to 179.9 inches, and an inch in width to 70.9.
Favorite Features
POWER PACKAGE POWER TRUNK, WITH A TRICK
The Elantra Sport is a complete package — suspension, chassis, brakes — but the key is its 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo four and 6-speed manual transmission, borrowed from the midsize Hyundai Sonata. Transmission options also include a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, but the manual is the better choice.
The 2017 Elantra is the first mainstream compact sedan to offer a power-operated trunk, a feature made even more convenient thanks to its hands-free operation. With the key fob in your pocket or purse, all you have to do is walk behind the car, wait a few seconds, and the trunk will open.
Standard Features
Even the most basic 2017 Elantra includes air conditioning, power windows and door locks, a 6-way driver’s seat with height adjustment, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and AM/FM/CD audio with USB and auxiliary jacks. If you go with an Elantra SE, do yourself a favor and get the Popular Equipment package. For only $800, it adds a slew of features like a 7-inch touchscreen display, backup camera, Bluetooth, cruise control, hood insulation for a quieter ride, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. All you lose in the deal is the CD player. All new Elantras come with a generous 10-year/100,000-mile warranty for the powertrain and five years of roadside assistance.
Factory Options
Aside from the automatic transmission ($1,000), most major options for the new Elantra are bundled into packages or the higher Limited trim. The Elantra Limited includes a leather interior, power driver’s seat with lumbar support, hands-free power trunk, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, and push-button start. Adding the Tech package to that trim includes navigation with an 8-inch screen, Infinity audio, heated rear seats, and a power sunroof. Go for the Ultimate package, and you’ll get automatic emergency braking, smart cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, the driver’s seat memory system and high-intensity headlights that turn in the direction of the steering.
Engine & Transmission
The 2017 Elantra offers a choice of three 4-cylinder engines, all new to the model. The standard powerplant is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that’s slightly more powerful and efficient than the outgoing 1.8-liter engine. It is mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. A 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic propels the Elantra Eco trim. As you probably guessed from the name, the Eco is the most efficient of the three, raising this version of the Elantra up to the magic 40-mpg highway mark. The new Elantra Sport brings 201 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque to the party, with EPA ratings of 22/30 mpg (city/highway) with the 6-speed manual transmission, 26/33 with the 7-speed automatic. 2.0-liter inline-4 (2017 Elantra SE and Limited) 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 (2017 Elantra Sport)
147 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
132 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/36 mpg (manual), 29/38 mpg (automatic), 28/37 mpg (Limited and SE models with Tech Package).
1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 (2017 Elantra Eco)
128 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
156 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400-3,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 32/40 mpg
201 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
191 lb-ft of torque @ 1500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg (manual, 26/33 mpg (automatic)
KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
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