If a bouncy, jaw-jarring ride is the big want, the Hyundai Elantra isn’t a vehicle to put on the consideration list. Elantra is a marvel of comfort. The compact sedan’s satiny smooth ride left a lasting impression after a week-long test drive. With a full redesign in 2021, the 2023 model is essentially unchanged. The 7th generation sedan was the first in its segment to have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity. The tested Elantra Limited’s ambient interior lighting is a visual delight with a customizable palette of 64 colors to fit the mood of the moment.

Powering the tested Elantra Limited was a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder that dispensed 147 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 132 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm. Engine mated to an intelligent variable transmission. (Other power plant options: a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, and a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder that releases 276 horsepower/289 torque.) The 107.1-inch wheelbase sedan has 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space. Tested Elantra Limited collects mpg of 30 city/40 highway and carries a base MSRP of $26,350.