LOOKS

The 2025 Elantra hybrid catches your eye immediately with an eye-catching exterior design featuring a bold grille, sharp sidelines, a sunroof, and standout lighting design. Solid upgrades were made to the design in 2024 that have thankfully carried over to this model year.

One of the best overall designs on any compact sedan, the Elantra hybrid features wheels ranging from 16 to 17 inches, a power sunroof, heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators, LED headlights with automatic light control and high beam assist.

Some might call the look modern or forward thinking, but I’ll just call it sharp. There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like a design, but this one should be a home run for most people.

Moving inside the Elantra hybrid, I found it to be surprisingly roomy for a compact vehicle. It’s still a bit tight in the rear seats, but less so than rivals, and most adults can sit in the back and be comfortable.|

The Elantra features a 60/40 split folding rear seat, rear armrest and cup holders, dual automatic temperature control, heated front seats with Hi-Tex trim, power driver’s seat with lumbar, and ventilated front seats.

The cargo space in the Elantra hybrid’s trunk comes in at 14.2 cubic feet, which is competitive for the segment. Overall materials used on the interior are decent, but not high-end due to the vehicle’s lower price point.

There’s also adequate room for installing child car seats.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder hybrid engine and an electric motor that combine to deliver 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and this system is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Elantra hybrid features a multilink rear suspension, electronic parking brake, and comes only in front-wheel drive, with no AWD option.

Nonhybrid buyers of the Elantra will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet as the standard engine. Or they can upgrade to the N-Line engine, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet.

The Elantra hybrid delivers a smooth ride, but isn’t very fast. It is capable of moving when you need to — such as merging or passing situations — but isn't for those seeking consistent speed. It’s a hybrid that is focused on efficiency, not power.

Evidence of this is that the 0-to-60 times are over 9 seconds.

But the good news is that the Elantra hybrid handles very well and is agile and nimble on curvy roads due to its size. So while it lacks power, it’s still quite capable.

Drive modes offered on the Elantra hybrid include Eco, Sport and Smart modes.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra hybrid delivers a strong tech setup, including a mix of touchscreen and physical controls. All methods of input work well and are easy to use and master. Other brands could take a lesson from Hyundai in how they set up their tech systems — keep it simple and efficient.

Specifically, you can get a pair of 10.25-inch screens inside the Elantra, one in front of the driver hosting the digital instrument cluster, and the center touchscreen that hosts the infotainment and navigation systems.

The Elantra is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, features an 8-speaker Bose premium audio system, voice commands work effectively, plus satellite radio and a wireless phone charger are included.

Safety features are packed into the Elantra, more than you might expect on a smaller vehicle. The Elantra gives a warning if it detects the driver not paying attention, such as when you are drowsy. And it does a great job of detecting cars around the vehicle and alerting you to their presence.

Other safety features include:
— Blind-Spot Collision Warning
— Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
— Highway Drive Assist (limited self-driving system)
— Lane Keeping Assist
— Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
— Safe Exit Warning
— Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
— Automated Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

These systems work well without being overly dramatic or intrusive, which is an accomplishment. Drivers can feel very secure behind the wheel of an Elantra hybrid.


MPG

The official fuel mileage on the 2025 Hyundai Elantra hybrid that I tested was 49 city/52 highway/50 combined.

These numbers hold up well against most other compact hybrids, with the exception of being bested by the Toyota Prius. In my testing, I averaged around 44 miles per gallon, still solid numbers but lower than listed. 
 

PRICE

Pricing is competitive on the 2025 Hyundai Elantra hybrid. My test vehicle was priced at $30,810, and the  base price for the hybrid starts about $26K. If you want to go even lower, the nonhybrid Elantra starts around $23K, making it one of the most affordable new vehicles available today.

Trim levels on the Elantra hybrid model include Blue, SEL Sport, and Limited.
On the nonhybrid version, trim levels include SE, SEL Sport, SEL Convenience, Limited and N Line.

Comparing the hybrid prices on the Elantra to rivals from Toyota and Honda, the Elantra hybrid stacks up very well (for example, the Honda Civic hybrid starts around $30K).

And on top of that, you get Hyundai’s industry-best warranties with the Elantra, including:
— 5-year/60,000 mile new vehicle warranty
— 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty
— 10-year/100,000 mile hybrid system components warranty
— 10-year/100,000 mile hybrid battery warranty
— 3-year/36,000 mile complimentary maintenance
— 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance

BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra hybrid is a fuel-efficient, sharply designed and affordable compact ride that serves its purpose well.
Small car buyers would be wise to include a test drive as they explore hybrid offerings.

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