I was skeptical if I’d like the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited. That’s because I had already driven the flagship N model in manual! Is it possible that I could like the lower trim with less power and a CVT? Spoiler alert: I loved it. Starting with the exterior. The red color stood out and looked great with the gunmetal colored trim. The star-shaped 17” wheels were the perfect size to fill the wheel wells. There were multiple design lines on the side profile that created a very angular and aggressive shape to the Elantra.

Getting inside, the interior was surprisingly high quality for the price point. There were still a few finishes that were for the sake of cost cutting but it is expected in the segment. The biggest surprise for me was the shape of the steering wheel that had lower sections for you to comfortably grab on to. The infotainment system is where I still have to fight with a cable, since the Elantra doesn’t offer a wireless Apple CarPlay system. It doesn’t matter whether your cups are short or tall because the Elantra’s cup holders contain a system that allows you to accommodate varying cup heights.

Under the hood, the 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine is pushing 147 horsepower 132 lb.-ft. of torque. Compared to the manual N model that I previous reviewed, the Limited came with a CVT. Thankfully it was a CVT with simulated shifts to avoid the typical redline hold of CVTs. The power did seem adequate once you had the Elantra at around 30mph and higher. Where the Elantra shined was in the feel of the chassis and the brakes. It felt as if Hyundai started with the N model and simplified it for the lower trims but kept that “feel” that many brands look for.

After my week with the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Limited, I was impressed how it still felt incredible to drive despite it not being the flagship race trim model. I think I would go with the hybrid model to really benefit from the MPGs that I’d gain over the gas only model.