2017 Hyundai Elantra ECO Just minutes prior to our first measured drive last year. Following last year's preview and review of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco, the first measured drive results revealed it to be the most efficient non-hybrid/non-diesel available in the U.S. today. It was also very affordable and well equipped without a single pkg. option offered. 2017 Hyundai Elantra ECO Standard Equipment, Comfort, and Convenience features 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco Drivetrain The all-new 128 hp and 156 lb.-ft. torque 1.4L Kappa engine is mated to a hyper fast shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Although the 7-speed DCT ratios are not as wide as the std. 6-speed AT (5.31 vs 5.68) in the base Elantra, the taller 7th provides a lower RPM@60 mph (1,828 vs 1,914 to 1,921 depending on std. Elantra's wheel and tire sizes) which in turn provides a bit more efficiency at highway speeds. The 7-speed should in theory also provide a slightly faster acceleration vs. a 6-speed mated to the same engine. Improving efficiency further, a DCT provides a direct connection between the engine, gearbox and wheels through an external damper vs a std. ATs lockup torque converter. The gearbox consists of three shafts with a double input shaft with gear actuation handled electronically and an electric motor driven clutch. In ECO mode, the 7-speed DCT is mapped with earlier upshifts and delayed downshifts maximizing efficiency. 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco 1.4L GDI-T An integrated cylinder head and exhaust manifold improve efficiency at higher engine speeds, while an optimized straight intake port increases tumble flow for fast combustion, suppressing knock tendency to further enhance efficiency... With the recent upping of new 2017 Hyundai Elantra incentives, this one from Win Hyundai in Carson, Calif. is a bomb shell deal! New 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco - $13,632 The $13,632 price includes recent college grad ($500) - 2 years behind or 6-months ahead, military discount ($500), and Hyundai Valued Owner ($750), so add $1.75k to the price ($15,382 + TTL) if you do not qualify for any of these. In any case, this is a huge discount available on the hard to find ECO variant. As a quick refresher of the Elantra ECOs prowess, its Speed vs FE graph was not only unexpected but a spectacular result in its own right.
Thanks for these reports, Wayne. I guess if we had any sense, we'd all be buying Elantra Ecos. I'm still waiting for prices to soften and inventory to build for the Niro and Ioniq but this is how long it would take to pay off the Ioniq vs the Elantra Eco in gasoline savings with the following assumptions: I travel 13,000 miles per year The Ioniq/Niro costs $10,000 more than the Elantra Eco I get 10 more mpg overall fuel economy from the Ioniq/Niro (a stretch for the Niro) Not liking the sedan form factor of the Elantra Eco or the drum rear brakes, but from an economy standpoint the Elantra slams my other choices.
Hi Jay: I cannot say I have seen a graph like this in quite some time. 60+ years at $3.50 per gallon. Damn!!! What were your parameters on that graph? Ioniq at $25k MSRP and Elantra ECO at $15k along with 55 and 35 mpg combined efficiency delta per EPA but 10 mpg real world difference and 13k miles/year? The Ioniq SEL should be below $20k in a year or so if gasoline prices do not spike. Still a hell of a difference in price from the Elantra Eco. Wayne
Wayne, right. The graph assumes about $15k for the Elantra Eco and about $25k for the Ioniq or Niro. I'm giving the EE 48mpg overall and the Ioniq 58mpg overall since most of my driving will be highway miles. It's not a apples vs apples comparison because the Ioniq and Niro are nicer cars, but the EE may be more fun to drive. But if you're looking mostly for economy, the EE gas-turbo has a knockout punch over the Ioniq because of much lower initial cost. The hybrid can't overcome it's much higher initial cost even in a high gas price environment. The graph is even more ridiculous if you're buying with credit. I was dishing Honda all kinds of criticism for not bringing their hybrid Fit to the States and also for dropping their 2-motor hybrid Civic project in favor of the gas turbo. In hindsight, the wisdom of their decision is undeniable.
The Elantra Eco may be the least expensive car in the US period; this is assuming everyone can buy at $15k and the FE really is that good. I'm trying to think of another car that would be less expensive overall including fuel costs and I'm not coming up with anything.
Hi Jay: I was thinking along similar lines when I saw this price. I sent the link to my son, his GF, and my daugher-in-law in case they are considering new vehicles anytime soon. My son and his GF are both just over 1-year after graduating and her 08 Corolla needs to be replaced soon. My daugher-in-laws 08 Yaris has 160k and she could use an upgrade too. We own the 17 HSH so we could get the Valued Owner $750 rebate working it down to under $14k. The $500 BoostUp deal for saving $1,000 in an account for 30-days is probably still going on too! Marian would not go for an Elantra as she wants her luxury appointments but I sure would. I wish I was shopping for a personal ride myself as I would so own this tomorrow morning!!! With the 60/40 split rear seats, it would make for one hell of a long distance courier car too. Like you said, this is the least expensive car "worth owning" sans a stripped B-Segment econo-box Mirage or Versa which are not worth owning in this comparison imho. Those two cannot match the fuel savings either of course. Wayne
Hi All: My son and his GF were down from San Francisco this week for the Easter holiday. While here, I coerced them to check out one of the four Elantra Eco's available across the nearest 10 dealerships in and around San Diego. We ended up at Hyundai of Escondido for an Elantra ECO test drive. The $6k to $8k off is real as it is being advertised across the entire Elantra lineup all over Southern Calif. $3,250 in rebates + $2,500+ off MSRP discounts. To get to $8k off, you have to qualify for some of the more esoteric rebates however. Some of these include $500 for Military, $400 for recent college grad, $1k for Uber drivers, $500 for BoostUp. She qualifies for $900 of those. 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco While the 2017 Hyundai Elantra ECO sedan would be her first choice for a sedan given the std. equipment and steal of a price, she still wants to spend another $6 to $15k for a less efficient and taller CUV built on a compact platform. Wayne
Americans and their CUVs and SUVs! I feel the pull too. I liked the Niro over the Ioniq I drove recently even though the Ioniq has more stuff and a better battery warranty. I look at that shiny new Mazda CX-5 with the torquey diesel and I start to imagine all the reasons why I must have one even though I'm kinda "boo diesels" after the VW thing. Diesel is expensive too; negating the extra BTU energy of the fuel. Still want it.
Hi All: My sons GF signed up for a BoostUp account so in 30-days she will be ready to pull the trigger if she goes for an Elantra Eco Sedan. Unless the rebates are pulled and or there is a shooting war in the Korean Peninsula that is. While there are no Eco trims in the entire San Francisco Bay area, there are a few still left in the San Diego and LA Area. Here is the list of what I found from the Mexican border up to San Francisco here in California although it is shrinking fast. Escondido - 1 White w/ Beige interior Garden Grove - 1 Silver w/ Gray interior Carson - 1 Silver with Gray interior <-- Sold Long Beach - 1 Black with Beige Interior Sage in LA - (2) Black w/ Gray interior and White with Gray interior Hooman in Inglewood - 1 Silver w/ Gray interior Keyes in Woodland Hills - (2) Silver w/ Gray interior??? and White w/ Gray interior??? Keyes in Van Nuys - (11) White, Gray, Beige, and Black with ??? interiors Commerce - (2) White w/ Gray interior and Silver w/ Gray interior Parkway in Valencia - 1 White w/ Gray Interior Wayne
Hi Jay: The more I think about what Hyundai is doing to move products with $6k+ 17 Elantra's and $7k+ off 17 Sonata's this Spring, I would hold off on the Ioniq consideration at near MSRP as well. I pointed out last month that Niro's in some areas are being purchased for $3k off and this is only their third month on the market. I suspect Hyundai has some aggressive ability to go toe to toe with anyone with the Ioniq too. How about a 2017 Ioniq SEL w/ the safety tech pkg. that lists at $25,910 incl. mats and D&H for under $20k by years end? I am just guessing at this point but the possibility is not out of the question. Still a long way from $13,500 to $15k Elantra ECO's but it features a lot more in demand HW and with a mind blowing EPA to boot. Moving into the Ioniq PHEV in SEL (base) trim with a possible $27k base price to compete with the Prius Prime this fall <-- none of this has been announced and is a simple WAG on my part -- minus the $4,919 Fed Tax Credit and $1,500 state incentives here in Calif. plus other states. Add some cash on the hood and that one goes under $20k pretty darn quick just as the Prius Prime with its fully operational and standard Safety Sense P system(s) is now available for just $21k new after the tax deals and cash on the hood is today. Hard to beat the 17 Elantra lineup for value - SE with Popular Equipment, SE Value, and Eco in particular - but if you want a little more, the Ioniq has it all and if discounts arrive like they are for the Elantra and Sonata model lineups, damn! Wayne
