When the name Hyundai is mentioned, traditionally your thoughts won’t go toward thinking about an upscale vehicle.

But in today’s competitive automotive landscape, even non-luxury brands are stepping up their game, and doing so on vehicles of all sizes, too.

I was pleasantly surprised when I first got my first look at the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, a compact sedan that offers more than you would expect for a vehicle in this size and price tag.

Read on for more details on where the Elantra comes up big and where it could be improved.

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With some refreshing changes made on the exterior design for 2019, the Elantra looks sharp both from the front and rear, including some exciting headlight and taillight designs.

Most compact sedans are not much to look at, but the Elantra breaks that mold and becomes a standout in the class.

The term “hot hatch”, aka a high-performance version of a mass-produced hatchback— has been part of the automotive lexicon for almost four decades. And while there may be a variety of competition today — including the Honda Civic Si and Subaru WRX — that was not always the case.

One brand that helped bring about the era of the hot hatch is Volkswagen, in particular with its GTI model. I recently spent some time in a 2019 VW Golf GTI Rabbit, and I’m back with a full report.

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The GTI is a vehicle that's not trying to please all consumers, and knows its audience. It’s aimed at driving enthusiasts who like a little growl in their car, while also maintaining some sense of practicality that typical sports cars lack.

And despite being aimed at enthusiasts, that doesn’t mean it won’t have things that the non-enthusiast will like. For example, it’s well-designed, roomy and comfortably seats five passengers, so it can function very well as a daily driver and trips to soccer practice.

And it looks pretty awesome too, especially the Rabbit edition — which features 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels with all-season tires, a rear spoiler and black side mirror caps.

The exterior on my test vehicle had an attractive but simple Pure White paint scheme, and the overall look of the GTI is more classy and simple than some of its hot hatch competition — who can be a bit more outlandish in their designs.

Inside, the unique look continues with a sharp-looking red, black and white plaid seat design and other Rabbit Edition accents, including red stitched floor mats.

It’s no secret that the market for sedans is on the decline, as the public’s demand for SUVs and crossovers has soared, and some automakers are decreasing their sedan offerings.

But the sedans that are available are still duking it out for control of that remaining market share, and within that fight there are many tactics that can be taken. One of those tactics is to offer an upscale design and high-tech offerings to help draw customers.

One sedan offering that takes this path is the 2019 Kia Optima, a midsize sedan that puts in a strong effort and competes well in the segment. I recently spent some time in an Optima, and I’m back with a full report.

As trends continue toward SUVs and larger vehicles, there remains a vehicle class that is still doing its best to stick around, and it’s on the opposite end of the spectrum — the subcompact car.
While its ranks are thinning (i.e. Ford Fiesta is saying goodbye), there are still plenty of automakers dedicated to keeping the littlest vehicles in their lineups around and fighting for whatever piece of the overall market they can maintain.

One longtime competitor in this segment is the Toyota Yaris, which battles a bevy of opponents — including Chevy’s Sonic and Spark, Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, MINI Cooper and the Kia Rio. After spending some time in a 2019 Yaris, I’m back with a full report of how this miniature ride measures up. 

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Let’s get the one glaring fact out of the way. Being a subcompact sedan, you’re not going to get much use, if any, out of the back seat in terms of passengers. It’s best to think of the back seat as a glorified storage area, and call this one a two-seater. I suppose it’s possible to sit there, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are very tiny.

Toyota’s funky exterior designs are pretty divisive; most people will love the look of the Yaris, or think the polar opposite. I’ll leave that judgment up to the eye of the beholder.

The Yaris (or any subcompact, really) is not a vehicle I’d recommend for anyone who is overly tall.

It's hard to get excited about sedans lately. Most of them are just the type of car you buy for your child who is new to driving, so they can't do anything too crazy.

Thankfully for those people looking for a sedan aimed at drivers who love to drive and want a vehicle that provides a more fulfilling experience, there's the Mazda3. I recently spent time in the fully redesigned 2019 Mazda3 and I'm back with a full report. 

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The Mazda3 is arguably the best looking compact sedan sitting on car lots today, from its beautiful grille design up front, to curvy sides that seem to shape-shift, and a low-to-the ground design.

Mazdas tend to look best in red, in my humble opinion, and my test vehicle featured the stunning Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint scheme. It also featured 18-inch wheels and LED headlights and tail lights.

Mazda has long impressed with its interiors, and the 2019 Mazda3 is no exception. The contrasting white and black interior design instantly pleases the eye, and the seating is plush and comfortable, even on longer rides. If you opt for the Preferred or Premium trim level, you will get leather-wrapped sport seats. I would also argue that the interior is at a level seen on many luxury vehicles, which few non-luxury rides can claim.

The only complaint I have about the interior of the Mazda3 is the back seat, which is close to unusable when tall people are up front. This is a problem typical of compact sedans, and not unique to Mazda, but it’s worth noting that unless your driver and passenger are very short, this is essentially a two-seater. On the plus side, trunk space is somewhat impressive for the segment.