2011 Hyundai Elantra

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra’s interior is impressive. It can come equipped with sought after features like navigation, Bluetooth, a rear view camera and heated leather rear seats on the Limited trim, which is a first for an affordable small car.

Some reviewers think the interior plastics are a tad cheap, but because the Elantra is reasonably priced, well-equipped and good looking, the industry is willing to overlook this imperfection.

• "Inside and out, there's not a cheap part and not a single bad angle. It looks elegant, expensive, and well-built." -- Automobile Magazine
• "While its outside is categorized as a compact, the Elantra's interior dimensions are midsize." -- AutoWeek
• "There was a time when roughly finished cabins were more common in this class, but refined interiors are becoming the norm and the Elantra's cabin holds up well against the best of them. It uses mostly high-grade materials that have interesting patterns, and fit-and-finish is good." -- Cars.com
• "With the exterior nicely trimmed out, we found the interior equally refined. Sure there is the requisite amount of plastic inside, but what’s there looks and generally feels very good." -- Left Lane News

Seating

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is especially roomy in the front, even for passengers and drivers who are six feet tall. When it comes to the back seat, however, reviewers' opinions are more diverse. There’s plenty of legroom, but depending on how tall you are, you might find that headroom is limited.

• "Besides giving the cabin a unique look, the slender center control panel opens up more room for your knees compared to many conventional designs. You don't feel cramped in the front, and headroom is still pretty good in models with a sunroof." -- Cars.com
• "There is room aplenty inside for six-foot-plus drivers with six-foot-plus passengers in back." -- AutoWeek
• "Despite the deep cowl, the interior feels breezy and spacious. Headroom up front is plentiful for 6-footers and the steering wheel is a bit smaller in diameter than usual, which enhances the sense of space up front." -- Edmunds
• "While space is generally good all around, taller passengers won't be happy with the rear seat headroom." -- Motor Trend

Interior Features

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra’s most talked-about interior feature is the heated leather seats that come with the Limited trim. On the Limited trim, you can also get the Preferred Equipment Package that has 16-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel audio controls and Bluetooth. There’s also the Navigation Package, which includes a navigation system with a seven-inch screen and a rearview camera, but if you want navigation on the GLS trim, you also have to buy the Preferred Equipment Package. The Premium Package is only available with the Limited trim and adds a navigation system, a rear view camera and push-button start. 

The GLS Elantra’s standard features aren’t quite as impressive. This trim comes with a basic audio system, XM Satellite Radio, power door locks and windows, keyless entry and a tilt steering wheel. The Elantra does not come with air conditioning, but it can be added in the GLS Popular Equipment Package.

Reviewers do have a few complaints. One is that interior quality suffers a bit -- there are some hard plastics. They also find the center console’s ergonomics  rather hard to master.

• "The climate controls are not only easy to use, but far better looking than anything else in this class (and the vent fan is surprisingly quiet.) The infotainment interface is merely okay unless you order navigation-some of the functions require multiple steps to access." -- Automobile Magazine
• "There's a lot of empty space on that stack, and while the climate control is simple and straightforward, the standard radio ergonomics aren't the best." -- Motor Trend
• "Storage areas are nearly everywhere on the car, including the doors, and center armrests, and we were pleasantly surprised to see that the interior designers thoughtful enough to provide a second power port and pocket area near the right front footwell, so the front passenger can have a place to charge his cellphone while the driver can have a radar detector or other device plugged into the port on his side." -- Left Lane News

Cargo

The 2011 Elantra has 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space, which makes it one of the largest in the class. In comparison, the Honda Civic trunk is 12.0 cubic feet, while the Chevrolet Cruze and the Kia Forte have 15.4 and 14.7 cubic feet, respectively.

• "This compact rear suspension allows for ample cargo volume of 14.8 cubic feet. Its short-length rear deck makes for a deep cargo area, and the wide deck lid is supported by gooseneck hinges." -- Edmunds