Hyundai Elantra – Review: Every graduating class has one; the kid who lacks the looks, the smarts, and the personality to make it amongst the in-crowd. Therefore, it's amazing to discover that the well-dressed, well-educated, and personable center of attention at your 20-year reunion is that same forgettable kid. Two decades can represent a complete turnaround. Just ask Hyundai, once a company represented by the ironically-named Excel and now a legitimate Honda competitor. Time has been good to Hyundai, but this Korean powerhouse has worked hard to improve its products, expand its lineup, and deliver what the American car buyer desires. The results shine in models like the redesigned Elantra, a comfortable midsize sedan with features that belie its value-priced sticker.

We spent a week and roughly 600 miles behind the wheel of a 2007 Hyundai Elantra SE, which means our time, and thus this review, cover the mid-level model. To save some cash, buyers can opt for the GLS, or they can spend more and get additional features with the Limited. Our SE arrived with all the standard goodies and little else except for an $85 set of carpeted floor mats. The window sticker read $16,380; Hyundai has since raised prices by $150, so we'd see $16,530 for the same model on the lots today. Testing took place primarily along the highways and city streets of Southern California, though we did sneak away for an afternoon of fun in the local mountains.

We spent a week and roughly 600 miles behind the wheel of a 2007 Hyundai Elantra SE, which means our time, and thus this review, cover the mid-level model. To save some cash, buyers can opt for the GLS, or they can spend more and get additional features with the Limited. Our SE arrived with all the standard goodies and little else except for an $85 set of carpeted floor mats. The window sticker read $16,380; Hyundai has since raised prices by $150, so we'd see $16,530 for the same model on the lots today. Testing took place primarily along the highways and city streets of Southern California, though we did sneak away for an afternoon of fun in the local mountains.

We spent a week and roughly 600 miles behind the wheel of a 2007 Hyundai Elantra SE, which means our time, and thus this review, cover the mid-level model. To save some cash, buyers can opt for the GLS, or they can spend more and get additional features with the Limited. Our SE arrived with all the standard goodies and little else except for an $85 set of carpeted floor mats. The window sticker read $16,380; Hyundai has since raised prices by $150, so we'd see $16,530 for the same model on the lots today. Testing took place primarily along the highways and city streets of Southern California, though we did sneak away for an afternoon of fun in the local mountains.

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