2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Review + Video

With cheap small cars being discontinued in favour of more profitable crossovers, drivers looking for affordable and efficient compact sedans don’t have many options left.

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, however, fulfills those needs very well. A well-rounded small sedan that impresses with its easy efficiency and great affordability, the Elantra Hybrid is an excellent option for a commuter car.

Fuel Economy 10 / 10

The biggest draw for a car like the Elantra Hybrid is how easy it is to achieve excellent fuel economy. The hybrid is officially rated at 4.8 L/100 km in the city, 4.5 on the highway, and 4.7 combined — right on par with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid’s combined rating and a bit more efficient than the Honda Civic Hybrid.

After about 605 km of mixed testing, the indicated efficiency was a stellar 4.2 L/100 km, a figure confirmed by a manual calculation (it seemed too good to be true, so I had to double-check). Excellent fuel economy with no plugging in, no range anxiety, no change to your lifestyle, and no real compromise? Getting the Elantra Hybrid over the non-hybrid model is almost a no-brainer.

Based on Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) estimates, the hybrid will save the average driver about $558 a year on fuel over the most efficient non-hybrid Elantra.

Power 8 / 10

The Elantra Hybrid is powered by a 1.6L four-cylinder engine hybrid system with a total output of 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. While most other hybrids use automatic continuously-variable transmissions (CVTs) because they’re typically more efficient, the Elantra Hybrid uses a six-speed dual-clutch automatic for a more conventional feel. The transmission works well most of the time, but sometimes feels like it gets stuck in a low gear before shutting the gas engine off during coasting, but it’s a minor hiccup.

The Elantra Hybrid switches between gas and electric power automatically without any driver intervention needed, and will run on electric power at parking lot speeds, when stopped, or when coasting. The Elantra Hybrid spent a lot of time with the engine shut off on the highway during this test, and I was impressed by the system's efficiency. The switch between gas and electric power happens seamlessly, and most drivers won’t be able to tell unless they’re looking at the information display.

Unlike the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, which is available with all-wheel drive, the Elantra Hybrid is front-wheel drive.

Driving Feel 9 / 10

The added torque provided by the Elantra Hybrid’s electric components helps it feel a bit more lively and confident during a passing manoeuvre or while getting up to speed on the highway. In terms of driving dynamics, there are no red flags. The Elantra Hybrid provides a smooth and compliant ride, the steering feels natural, the suspension provides a comfortable ride without feeling sloppy in corners, and the braking feels normal.

Styling 7 / 10

The Elantra offers a stylish exterior look that gives it more presence on the road than a Corolla or Civic. The grille and headlight combination looks pretty menacing for a car in this segment, and the rear end is all sorts of aggressive, but the sides could do without the angular kinks in the doors. 

The interior, however, lacks the same visual excitement as the exterior. Especially with the light grey leatherette upholstery seen here, the interior looks and feels rental-grade cheap. The light grey upholstery was already showing signs of wear despite having only a few thousand kilometres on the odometer, with dirt and even dye from denim visible.

The textured plastic found on the dashboard, centre console, and grab handle that accompanies the upholstery looks and feels cheap — it’s giving dated hospital equipment vibes. Luckily, the black interior that’s available won’t be susceptible to the same issues. 

Besides the cheap-feeling plastic trim and upholstery that’s prone to dirt and grime, the woven grey fabric used on the door trim is a nice touch that should have been used more widely throughout the cabin because it looks cool and makes the cabin feel cozier. Ambient lighting also helps breathe some life into the otherwise drab cabin.

User-Friendliness 9 / 10

The upside to the cabin is that it’s very user-friendly. With a lot of physical buttons and knobs, clearly labelled shortcuts, and a logical layout, it’s easy to complete simple tasks even while on the move. The touchscreen menus are intuitively organized so there’s not too much tapping or scrolling needed to find what you’re looking for, and there’s a useful customizable shortcut button you can program to bring up your most-used functions (like smartphone mirroring).

Features 6.5 / 10

One area where the Elantra Hybrid is starting to show its age is its features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but require a wired connection when the entire industry is moving towards wireless connectivity. A wireless charger is standard, but needing a wired connection to use smartphone mirroring makes it kind of useless. Other highlights are heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and USB-C charging ports in the rear, but the Elantra Hybrid is a bit light on features, and there isn’t much to get excited about or anything that’s pushing the envelope.

Safety 9 / 10

The Elantra Hybrid, however, includes a lot of safety and driver assistance systems as standard, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision avoidance assistance with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection, automatic high-beam control, highway driving assist, lane departure warning, driver attention warning, safe exit warning, lane-keep assist, rear occupant alert, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The safety systems work well without being annoying.

Practicality 8 / 10

The trunk is quite large and measures 402 L, and the rear seats can fold in a 60/40 pattern to hold longer items. The trunk can open hands-free if you stand near the back of the car with the key fob on you. The opening is big enough to fit a tall plastic storage bin, and the height makes it easy enough to load and unload. I wish the door pockets were bigger and that there were more options for small-item storage, which doesn’t really exist if the cup holders or wireless charger are being used. 

Comfort 8 / 10

The Elantra Hybrid has a comfortable ride and decent legroom for all occupants, but rear-seat headroom will be a bit tight for tall passengers. The seat adjustments are all manual, but it’s easy enough to find a comfortable position. 

Value 9 / 10

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is only available in one trim called Luxury (which is kind of a misnomer because there’s very little luxury to be seen) for $31,099 before freight and taxes. The only option available is a colour upcharge of $250. With fees and destination, the total as-tested price comes to $33,174 before tax, which represents great value. The Honda Civic Hybrid is a few thousand dollars more expensive, and while it’s more powerful and feels more refined, the two are pretty equally matched in terms of features, and the Elantra Hybrid is more efficient. 

The Verdict

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable and efficient compact sedan. While it’s not perfect, its efficiency and affordability are good enough for me to overlook nearly all the downsides. Sure, a nicer interior would have pushed it over the top to make it a segment leader, but considering its affordable price and superb efficiency, you really can’t go wrong with the Elantra Hybrid.