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.

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.

Again, what Hyundai offers for about $16,000 is surprising. In the case of radio controls, it's not the simple layout with two dials for volume and tuning, or the clearly-labeled and large buttons for seek/scan and presets, but the illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls. No, they're hardly uncommon by today's standards, though they're not typically standard fare on inexpensive cars. What our SE lacked was access to satellite radio. That would require opting for the Elantra Limited and the $1,300 Sun and Sound Package with its 220-watts and XM. That's fine for those who want to spend more money; we were happy with the standard auxiliary jack, despite its awkward placement several inches below the radio.

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