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Travenus Williams stands by a Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. She was the first to buy the Elantra at the dealership, which was named the North American Car of the Year.
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Hyundai Elantra named Car of the Year, provides affordable alternative to SUVs

THE BLADE/LORI KING

Hyundai Elantra named Car of the Year, provides affordable alternative to SUVs

While recent buyer trends show consumers are leaning more and more towards larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, the Hyundai Elantra, which on Monday was named the 2021 North American Car of the Year, may give shoppers a reason to opt instead for an affordable, safe, and cleverly-designed compact car. 

Steve Taylor Jr., whose dealership, Taylor Hyundai of Perrysburg, has been open since 2008, said Wednesday that an award like Car of the Year helps to legitimize the Hyundai brand and may put it at the top of any car buyer’s wish list.

”Even though Hyundai is a fantastic brand, there are a lot of people that think of it as a newer car or that it might not be in the same category as a Honda or a Toyota that’s been around longer, but when you win awards like this it proves that the cars may be actually better than the competition,” Mr. Taylor said.

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Since 1994, the North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year has annually assembled a jury of 50 automotive journalists from numerous outlets to test and evaluate a selection of vehicles based on innovation, design, and other attributes before narrowing down their three favorites. For 2021, 43 new vehicles were considered, more than half of which were some sort of SUV.

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To take the title, the Hyundai Elantra beat out the Nissan Sentra and the Genesis G80. The Korean brand’s win marks the second time their sedan has been garnered the Car of the Year award. The Elantra also carried the title in 2012. The sedan now joins the Chevrolet Corvette and the Honda Civic as only the third car to win the award more than once.

Other winners included the Ford Mustang Mach-E for SUV of the Year and the Ford F-150 for Truck of the Year.

While Mr. Taylor acknowledged that a large number of customers come into his dealership looking to walk away in an SUV, the lower price point of the Hyundai Elantra, along with its roomy interior, sleek new design, and wealth of safety features make the sedan worth considering. 

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“The average car payment in America is creeping up to just under $600 a month, but people still want to be at that $250 or $300 payment range,” Mr. Taylor said, noting that it’s hard to stay in that range with an SUV. 

Price points for each of the Elantra’s three trims are roughly $27,000 for the Limited, $24,000 for the SEL, and about $22,000 for the SE. 

For Travenus Williams, the first owner of a 2021 bright red Hundai Elantra purchased at Mr. Taylor’s Perrysburg dealership, the price was just one of many reasons she fell in love with her new car. 

”It was almost like I was a kid in a candy store,” Ms. Williams said. “I absolutely love it.” 

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Ms. Williams, who works as the store manager for the Spring Meadows Buckeye Brainiacs Tech Hub in Holland, added that she was especially excited by the decrease in her car insurance payments. 

“I was totally shocked. It was so much cheaper because all of the safety features that come with it,” she said.

The 2021 Elantra features automatic braking, blind-spot collision avoidance, and safe exit warning as well as rear occupant alert technology. 

The interior of the Elantra is surprisingly spacious for a compact car, Ms. Williams said.

“I have three boys and one of them is in a carseat. A family of five fits in that car very comfortably,” she said.

This is Ms. Williams’ third Elantra. She said it’s her favorite vehicle, especially since she’s found herself filling up her gas tank less and less.

The Elantra SE has a combined city and highway gas mileage of 37 MPG, while the SEL and the Limited have a combined 35 MPG. 

To see just how the vehicle performs, Nick Stahl, one of the sales associates at Mr. Taylor’s dealership, took The Blade out for a test drive in an Elantra Limited.

The vehicle, adorned in a wide grille and cut-diamond surfaces, purrs to life at the push of a button while a 10.25-inch screen lights up, its face directed towards the driver. 

Mr. Stahl easily navigated the digital features on the display, showcasing the car’s navigation system.

“It’s not complicated at all,” he said. 

Hyundai drivers can also utilize the app, Hyundai Blue Link, to gain access to automatic emergency assistance, on-demand diagnostics, and a car locator. The app also allows them to start the car’s engine, adjust climate controls, or remotely activate the heated front seats and tune the radio presets.

The engine is barely audible as the car pulls to a stop outside the Taylor dealership. Mr. Stahl noted that it’s one of the dealership’s hottest sellers.

“Every time we sell them, we’re always trying to get more in,” he said. 

First Published January 13, 2021, 10:19 p.m.

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Travenus Williams stands by a Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. She was the first to buy the Elantra at the dealership, which was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
The Hyundai interior of the Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
The Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
Salesman Nick Stahl points out new features on the Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
Hyundai dealer Steve Taylor leans on a Hyundai Elantra at Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
The Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
Travenus Williams was the first to buy a Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
Reporter Ellen Buerk, left, with salesman Nick Stahl, test drives the Hyundai Elantra at Taylor Hyundai in Perrysburg on Jan. 13, 2021. The Elantra was named the North American Car of the Year.  (THE BLADE/LORI KING)  Buy Image
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