Hyundai has long been known for producing low-priced automobiles, ergo a reputation for cheapness has always followed. Their name was almost a joke to my schoolmates and I in the early 2000s, in no small part because of its phonetic similarity to Honda, the contrast of which we found hilarious given what we thought of the respective companies. Our assessment was that Honda had earned, through years of producing quality vehicles, a level of prestige which we felt the relatively anonymous Hyundai brand lacked. Consequently, we considered it an insult that their name would so closely resemble that of the more prestigious company. It seems silly now, but it seemed that everyone was prone to cynically critiquing the brand for everything from its name to the quality of its vehicles, an infinite loop of logic which cemented the idea in our minds. Although the company blossomed into a respected car manufacturer in recent years, despite the opinions of a few naive schoolchildren, cars like the Elantra are still derided for being inferior alternatives to their Asian competitors. Our rental customers often request vehicles like the Corolla and Sentra after examining the options from the mid-size class, forgoing the Elantra altogether. It’s hard to sell someone on a brand that has been, deservedly or not, billed as second-rate.

It is fair to note that Hyundai’s reputation is not wholly undeserved. Their offerings from a decade back were often shaky masses of metal and plastic hardly fit for highway travel. That’s how I remember the old Accents and Elantras at least, of which we had plenty during my early years pushing rental cars. It’s also fair to mention that most other cars in their class were of similar quality. Post-bailout Chevrolet Aveos and Ford Focus’ could hardly be considered luxurious in comparison, as they were furnished with similarly cheap, plastic-laden interiors as the Hyundais. Really, the defining difference was history. Hyundai’s history in the United States could fit on the back of a Chili’s napkin, while Ford and Chevy have lived in American minds for generations. Consequently, it was not too surprising when the Elantra’s genuinely delightful 2011 facelift went mostly unnoticed.

Even though the car received its fair share of praise from automotive journalists, I’m not sure if the general public ever really caught on. Reviewers praised the car’s revamped styling, which was about a large a transformation as I’ve seen across a one-year gap, as well as its lengthy list of safety features and solid build quality. While enthusiasts and those in the market to purchase a car may be privy to such information, the average rental customer could hardly be expected to be up to date with such things. So in the mind of most of our customers, the revamped Elantra still carried the burden of the Hyundai name, despite a phenomenal leap in quality when compared to their previous offerings.

Nonetheless, the 2011 Elantra marked a turning point for Hyundai, who subsequently experienced an uptick in success. Since then, the company’s newly minted Genesis brand has attained a level of notoriety for its range of luxury car offerings. In addition, Hyundai’s range of small SUVs, while not immensely popular in the US, have seen their sales increase every year since their own facelifts around 2012. The Elantra has likewise seen a bump in popularity and regularly ranks among the top selling cars in the country. A lack of redesign since 2011 however, left the car languishing among its sleek-looking competitors.

Thus, the stage was set for a big refresh in 2019. While it wasn’t as drastic as its previous facelift, the exterior has been noticeably remodeled. I am not entirely fond of its bulbous, egg-like front-end nor the obnoxiously large branding on the rear, however I have to admit that the Elantra’s new looks are distinctly its own. The transformation was effective at modernizing the car’s appearance, while also being different enough to set it apart from the waves of Corollas and Focus’ littering the road beside it. And with Ford halting production of the Focus, I anticipate that our rental fleet will be adding ever more Elantras to fill the void.

I expect they will do a fine job replacing the Focus. In fact, the Elantra should hold up pretty well when compared to the other cars in its class. It manages surpass the Focus in terms of driving refinement, while introducing a bevy of standard features that match or better its other competitors. One element which typifies both aspects is the manner in which the car handles different driving modes. Similar to most modern cars, it provides three different driving profiles from which one can select: normal, eco and sport. What differs though is the degree to which the driving characteristics are altered. If one selects sport mode, for instance, the car’s steering characteristics and engine response are altered in addition to how the car handles switching gears, which is about as far as its competitors allow. Sure, plenty of performance cars allow one to adjust the steering and performance characteristics independently, but it is rare for a car in this class to have that level of functionality. The Elantra feels unique because of it. Other than that, it isn’t much quicker or more nimble than a Corolla or Focus, but that modest level of customization makes it more fun to drive. There is a bit of fun to be had slamming through gears on the autostick and testing the sport steering around some sharp curves. It’s good that the car is fun to drive, because it isn’t always as nice to sit in as other compacts.

Sure, the Elantra’s interior is noticeable lacking in some areas; although, to its benefit, Hyundai has equipped the car with all the same technical doo dads as the other guys. The car comes with  bluetooth audio, a backup camera and even a USB charging port. Some people are still wowed by its modestly sized touchscreen radio which, to its credit, actually performs quite well. The radio’s touchscreen quickly responds to commands and its menus are easy to navigate. Through Apple CarPlay and Android Audio one can easily connect and operate their cellphones via the car’s touchscreen. Every new Elantra I’ve seen thus far has also been equipped with an impressive number of modern features targeted at aiding the driver, such as: lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. These systems, along with a smooth highway ride and 40+ MPG gas mileage, make the car an efficient commuter vehicle. However, it isn’t always the most comfortable car to ride in.

The seats are bolstered well, but the cloth doesn’t pass the “feel test” versus what I’ve seen in its competitors. Other cars in the class seemingly have a multitude of trim options which have a great effect on the materials in which interior will be constructed. I’ve seen Corollas with varying levels of leather leather trimmed seats, steering wheels and door panels that increase in quality with the trim level. However, I’ve only ever seen cloth-on-cloth-on-plastic in an Elantra. There is a thick veneer of hard plastics throughout the car, concentrated mostly on the console and door trim. Whereas cars like the Focus, Corolla and even the Nissan Sentra make good use of soft-touch plastics and vinyl, the Elantra’s interior is mostly composed of hard, cheap-feeling plastic. The other cars also use the stuff abundantly in their center consoles and door trim, but its use is balanced by the usage of higher quality materials in more visible areas. Though there is room for improvement, the Elantra’s interior is overall very functional and seems well put together despite being built from mainly low cost materials. I haven’t experienced any shaking or annoying rattles while driving an Elantra. Though there is room for improvement, its interior is never distractingly bad. Rather, it is illustrative of low-cost car building in the modern era.

After all, the Elantra is among the least expensive cars in its class. Like most budget cars, its primary purpose is to be a economical people-mover. Despite being limited by cost factors, Hyundai managed to incorporate a broad range of features into the car that match, or occasionally outclass, its competitors. The inclusion of modern features such as its advanced safety systems and dynamic drive-mode selection is emblematic of the level of sophistication that economically-priced cars like the Elantra can reach. It stands strong against the Corollas and Sentras with which it competes, though that seems unfathomable to some. A reputation is a hard thing to shake, but Hyundai has a fair chance at it with cars like their new Elantra.