2022 Hyundai Elantra

Standard naturally-aspirated 2.0L four for the volume SE/SEL/Limited trims; unchanged from 2021, the carry-over year of this generation (launched MY2021).

Matches the 147-hp 2.0L Smartstream MPI engine spec, unchanged for 2022.

No single authoritative instrumented test found for MY2022 specifically; averaged across multiple third-party test figures for the unchanged 147-hp 2.0L/IVT powertrain.

Reviewers consistently describe the base 2.0L as adequate but unremarkable — noticeable hesitation off the line, more willing once past 4,000 rpm, generally smooth otherwise with no coarse or harsh behavior.

Hyundai's IVT (belt-type CVT) doesn't hunt for gears and shifts smoothly around town, but exhibits typical CVT drone/engine flare under harder acceleration — a middling but inoffensive experience.

The Elantra has never offered all-wheel drive on any trim in any generation, including 2022 — FWD only across the entire lineup (base, N Line, Hybrid, N).

For 2022 the lineup spans four distinct powertrains: the base 147-hp 2.0L (SE/SEL/Limited), the 201-hp 1.6L turbo N Line (7-speed DCT), the 139-hp combined Hybrid (Blue/Limited, 1.6L + electric motor), and the newly-launched 276-hp Elantra N performance variant — unusually broad for the compact-sedan segment.

EPA-rated combined figure for the 2.0L/IVT powertrain on SEL/Limited, the higher-volume feature trims.

EPA city figure for the 2.0L/IVT powertrain.

EPA highway figure for the 2.0L/IVT powertrain.

Derived from the 12.4-gallon fuel tank and EPA combined rating; matches fueleconomy.gov's published range figure directly.

EPA's published annual fuel cost estimate for the 2.0L/IVT powertrain at standard 15,000 mi/yr assumptions.

The base 2.0L (and Hybrid, N Line) all run on regular unleaded; only the high-performance Elantra N variant requires premium, and that is not the scored gas-class volume trim.

NHTSA's full 2022 Elantra test carries a 5-star overall rating, the ceiling of the sedan band.

All six IIHS crashworthiness tests (both small-overlap front, moderate-overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraints) scored Good, earning a Top Safety Pick — but not TSP+ — because the award applies only with the Limited trim's LED headlights; the SE/SEL/N-Line volume trims' halogen projectors rated Poor.

Hyundai SmartSense standardizes forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot collision-avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, lane-keeping/lane-following assist and driver attention warning across every trim including base SE — but adaptive cruise control, the other core item this criterion weighs, is optional on the volume SEL trim and standard only on Limited.

IIHS front crash prevention testing rated the standard system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle avoidance and Advanced for daytime pedestrian detection (the optional system reached Superior on pedestrian scenarios too); nighttime pedestrian performance for the standard system specifically was not separately confirmed.

Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, both with active braking intervention (not alert-only), are standard across every 2022 Elantra trim including base SE.

Lane Following Assist is standard fleet-wide and keeps the car centered when lane markings are clear, but owner-forum reports of the system tracking too far to one side indicate it isn't as polished as class leaders.

On the volume SEL trim, adaptive (Smart) cruise control is an optional add-on rather than standard equipment, and Highway Driving Assist is reserved for the Limited/N trims — so as configured the representative Elantra ships with basic cruise control only.

The Elantra has no hands-free highway driving system at any trim level — Highway Driving Assist is a hands-on lane-centering/adaptive-cruise combination, not a supervised hands-free feature like BlueCruise or Super Cruise.

IIHS rated the halogen projector headlights on the SE/SEL/N-Line volume trims Poor for visibility on curves; only the Limited's LED headlights rated Good, and Limited is not the volume configuration.

Owners and forum reports cite reduced left-turn visibility from thicker A-pillars (a byproduct of roof-strength requirements) and a lack of side-mirror turn-signal repeaters on base trims — average sightlines with some acknowledged blind zones, not compensated by any surround-view camera at this trim level.

IIHS rates the Elantra's LATCH system Acceptable (second-highest tier) — two full sets of lower anchors plus a rear-center tether are present and usable, but the lower anchors sit deep in the seat cushions nearest the doors, requiring some digging to connect.

Standard 5-passenger seating on all 2022 Elantra trims (SE/SEL/N Line/Limited gas volume configuration).

Front headroom without sunroof; sunroof-equipped trims (N Line/Limited) lose roughly 2 in.

Front legroom for the CN7-generation Elantra, unchanged for 2022.

Second-row headroom on the volume trim without a panoramic sunroof.

Second-row legroom, unchanged from the 2021 redesign; reviewers note class-competitive rear space.

Trunk volume for the sedan body style (SE through Limited); Hybrid variants lose some space to the battery pack but the gas volume trim carries the full 14.2 cu ft.

Console, door bins and a covered center bin are competitive for the class but nothing stands out as class-leading; no wireless-charging bin or unusual configurability on the volume trim.

Well-bolstered front seats fit most body types, but reviewers flag a flat cushion and limited long-trip support versus segment leaders.

Composed, absorbent ride over most surfaces with quick settling after bumps; sharp impacts still come through noticeably on the standard suspension tune.

Average noise isolation for a mainstream compact sedan — no acoustic glass or active noise cancellation on the volume trim, with noticeable wind/road noise at highway speed.

Heated front seats, heated steering wheel and wireless charging are bundled in an optional Convenience Package on SEL rather than standard; no rear climate vents or seat heating on any trim.

2022 Elantra SE base MSRP is well under the compact-sedan norm, reflecting Hyundai's value-first pricing for the entry trim.

SEL is the best-selling Elantra trim, adding dual-zone climate and hands-free trunk over SE while staying near the bottom of the segment's price range.

Edmunds' True Cost to Own projection for the 2022 Elantra puts combined 5-year maintenance and repair cost in the middle of the compact-sedan band — not class-leading but unremarkable for a mainstream Hyundai.

Independent residual trackers show the Elantra holding value better than the broader compact-sedan norm, helped by strong post-pandemic used-car pricing for the redesigned 7th-generation model.

Hyundai's bumper-to-bumper coverage is at the top of the mainstream-brand range, well above the 3-year norm from most rivals.

Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty for the original owner is best-in-class among mainstream brands, roughly double the industry standard.

Hyundai includes 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations) plus 24/7 roadside assistance for the life of the new-vehicle warranty and a Bluelink connected-services trial — a solid but not class-topping package.

$21,100 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (60% retained, or about $12,660) leaves about $8,440 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,561 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $15,001 in total.

The 7th-gen (2021+) Elantra moved to the Smartstream 2.0L MPI engine (G4NJ/G4NL), a clean break from the prior generation's Nu MPI engine that triggered a piston-ring oil-consumption recall — early ownership data on the newer engine shows no comparable pattern. Consumer Reports rates recent Elantra model years around average predicted reliability rather than top-tier.

Hyundai brand placed 3rd overall (of 32 brands) in the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study at 148 problems per 100 vehicles, 44 points better than the industry average and the brand's best-ever VDS finish — putting it in the top tier among mass-market brands alongside sibling Kia and Genesis.

The 2022 Elantra carries an above-average recall count for its generation (roughly a dozen campaigns per NHTSA), including a safety-critical passenger seat-belt pretensioner recall (2022 model year, ~140 units) where the device could explode and project metal fragments, with injuries reported, plus a rearview-camera display fault and a driver airbag emblem defect. None of these are the systemic powertrain/fire defects that plagued the prior Theta/Nu GDI generation, but the volume and severity of the pretensioner campaign keep this off the clean-record tier.

The Smartstream 2.0L MPI four-cylinder (G4NJ/G4NL) paired with either the Smartstream IVT (base) or 6-speed automatic is a newer design for this generation with no red-flag failure pattern reported to date, but it lacks the long, high-mileage track record of a proven family — owner reports through 2026 show normal wear rather than the oil-consumption/knock issues tied to the previous-generation Nu engine.

Reviewers found the cabin appropriate for the price on upper trims (the Limited's leather and low-gloss textured plastics were praised) but criticized lower trims for a surprising amount of hard, cheap-feeling plastic and thin seat padding — squarely in the 'competitive with expected hard plastics in low-touch zones' band rather than class-leading.

Assembly is generally solid with no widespread rattle/squeak complaints in owner forums, but reviewers flagged scattered rough-edge finishing details (an interior grab handle noted as roughly finished with sharp edges) and rated overall cabin finish a step behind class benchmark Toyota Corolla.

Hyundai's US network numbered more than 800 dealerships as of early 2022, giving nationwide coverage comparable to other high-volume mass-market brands — adequate to dense coverage, though Hyundai's dealer service-satisfaction scores have historically trailed the top Japanese brands.

As one of the best-selling compact sedans in the US, the Elantra has a huge aftermarket and abundant dealer parts supply; RepairPal pegs the average annual repair cost at $452 (well below the compact-car average) with owners visiting a shop for unscheduled repairs only 0.3 times a year on average.

SE/SEL volume trims carry the standard 8-inch touchscreen; the 10.25-inch unit is trim-gated to N Line and Limited.

Hyundai's infotainment software is generally praised for quick response and logical menus even on the base 8-inch unit, with physical shortcut buttons retained alongside the touchscreen.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the 8-inch screen across SE/SEL/N Line; only the larger 10.25-inch Limited screen requires a wired connection.

Base Bluelink voice recognition handles simple commands but most owners default to phone-projected navigation rather than the native system; no standalone premium nav suite on the volume trim.

Standard 6-speaker system is adequate but unremarkable; the Bose premium audio upgrade is reserved for the Limited trim, above the volume SE/SEL configuration.

Volume trims retain analog gauges with a small 4.2-inch color TFT driver info display; the full 10.25-inch configurable digital cluster is limited to the Limited trim.

Bluelink delivers over-the-air map and multimedia software updates (3 years included, subscription after) but there is no whole-vehicle feature OTA in the way EV-native brands offer.

Bluelink app offers remote start, lock/unlock and vehicle locate, but full remote functionality requires an active Bluelink Remote Package subscription beyond any trial period.

Standard USB-A ports front and rear cover basic device charging, but wireless phone charging is bundled only in the optional SEL Convenience Package (standard on Limited) rather than offered broadly.

SEL and above get proximity smart-key entry with push-button start; remote start is available via Bluelink subscription. SE retains a traditional key, but SEL is the higher-volume mainstream trim.

A standard rearview camera covers basic parking, and Blind-Spot View Monitor is available on the Limited trim, but the Elantra does not offer a full 360-degree surround-view system in this generation.

No head-up display is offered on any 2022 Elantra trim, gas or hybrid.

Standard LATCH anchors and a 38-inch rear legroom figure make car-seat installation and loading manageable, but the compact sedan's rear door opening and low trunk pass-through are more limiting than a crossover.

Hyundai SmartSense (Forward Collision-Avoidance w/ pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Blind-Spot Warning) is standard across every 2022 Elantra trim including the base SE, and the model earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick — strong for a mainstream compact's affordable trims, though it fell short of Top Safety Pick+ due to standard headlight performance.

Rear seat space is class-competitive but there are no rear climate vents or rear USB charging on the volume trim, and the 14.2 cu ft trunk fills quickly with family gear for a multi-day trip.

Light, predictable steering, a smooth CVT and good outward visibility make the Elantra an easy, low-fatigue daily driver in traffic.

EPA-rated 33/43/37 mpg city/highway/combined on the base 2.0L/IVT powertrain gives genuinely cheap per-mile running costs for a gas-only compact sedan, plus inexpensive routine maintenance.

Compact sedan footprint and a roughly 35-foot curb-to-curb turning circle make it easy to park and thread through city traffic; a standard backup camera helps but there is no 360-degree camera on the volume trim.

No tow rating and a modest 14.2 cu ft trunk make the Elantra unsuited to any real work duty — it is a passenger sedan with no cargo-hauling provisions.

The naturally aspirated 2.0L engine and CVT have a reputation for reliability, but the vehicle is not designed, marketed, or used in fleet/work contexts, so there is little relevant durability data under abuse.

A sedan trunk offers no tie-downs, onboard power outlets, or upfit ecosystem — essentially no jobsite-relevant provisions.

37 combined mpg and a roughly 12.4-gallon tank give solid range between fuel stops (~450 miles), and standard SmartSense ADAS (lane keeping, adaptive elements on some trims) eases highway fatigue, though seat comfort was flagged as a limiter on long stints.

FWD-only with sedan ride height, the Elantra has no AWD option, no meaningful ground clearance, and no roof rack provisions — it is pavement-bound.

60/40 split-folding rear seats extend the 14.2 cu ft trunk for longer items, but there are no roof rails, hitch option, or under-floor storage to handle bulky gear.

The base 2.0L Elantra handles corners predictably and isn't easily upset by bumps, but it is secure rather than engaging — the sportier chassis tuning is reserved for the turbocharged N Line/N, which are not the scored gas volume-trim powertrain.

Electric power steering is accurate enough for daily use but numb, typical of Hyundai's mainstream tuning versus the more deliberately weighted N Line setup.

Standard front disc/rear drum or disc setup provides adequate, unremarkable stopping power with no reported fade issues, but nothing distinguishes it from segment norms.

The naturally aspirated 2.0L four paired with the IVT (CVT) delivers smooth, if unhurried, power delivery without the shift-shock of a conventional automatic.

The 2.0L engine is reasonably quiet at cruise but drones audibly under hard acceleration, a common CVT characteristic.

Curb-to-curb turning diameter for the standard-wheel SE/SEL configuration; N Line/N with larger wheels/summer tires may vary slightly.

Good seat/wheel adjustment range and a clean, logically laid-out dash with retained physical controls make for comfortable, easy ingress/egress and sightlines typical of a compact sedan.

The base gas Elantra is competent but appliance-like; enthusiast attention in this generation goes to the turbocharged N Line and N variants, which sit outside the scored gas volume-trim powertrain.

Even the base SE trim comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and the full Hyundai SmartSense suite (forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, driver attention warning, high-beam assist) — safety tech that Civic and Corolla partially gate behind higher trims.

Across SE through Limited, N Line and Hybrid, the Elantra pairs low entry pricing with generous standard content and a genuinely broad range of powertrains, giving it a reputation as one of the segment's better bang-for-buck picks.

The 2022 lineup spans budget SE, family-oriented SEL/Limited, sport-styled N Line, efficiency-focused Hybrid, and — new for 2022 — the high-performance Elantra N, an unusually wide spread for a compact sedan.

2022 US sales of 117,177 units were a recovery from the pandemic-low 2020 figure but still well behind segment leaders like Civic and Corolla, placing the Elantra as a steady mid-pack seller during a chip-shortage-constrained year for the whole industry.

Hyundai's brand image had climbed steadily through the early 2020s on the strength of design and warranty reputation, but it remains a mainstream value brand rather than an aspirational one.

2022 fell in the middle of the industry-wide chip shortage, when compact-sedan inventory was tight and Elantras commonly sold at or near sticker with minimal factory incentives, sometimes with dealer market adjustments.

The 7th-generation Elantra (CN7) launched for MY2021 with a fully new platform and design language, so 2022 — its second model year, with the N Line and new Elantra N variants added — is squarely within its freshest window.

The 7th-generation Elantra earned Car and Driver 10Best and North American Car of the Year honors at its 2021 launch; the carryover 2022 model continued to be well-reviewed for value and standard safety tech but didn't repeat those top-line awards, landing as a strong-but-not-table-topping comparison-test entry.