2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

MSRP $14,145 - $17,845

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra is a compact sedan with good value and has many safety features.  It is lower priced than many cars in its class. Its trim levels are the Blue, GLS and the better-equipped SE.

The Elantra also comes in a hatchback Touring model.

The 2010 Hyundai introduces the Blue trim of the Elantra. It's the lowest-priced trim, with the least standard equipment, and it gets an estimated 35 mpg on the highway. Hyundai also modified the car's exterior with a new waterfall grille and the interior with optional chrome accents.

For 2010, the Elantra gets a new waterfall grille and rear chrome trim.

• Standard 15-inch steel wheels
• Optional 16-inch alloy wheels
• Standard heated power mirrors
• Standard body-colored mirrors and door handles
• Optional moonroof

The Hyundai Elantra seats five and features a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Other features include:

• Cloth or leather upholstery
• Optional heated seats
• Standard keyless entry, power windows and locks
• Optional air conditioning and cruise control
• Optional CD stereo with iPod integration

The Elantra is powered by a four-cylinder engine teamed with a manual transmission. An automatic is optional on all trim levels.

• 138-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 136 pounds-feet of torque
• Standard five-speed manual transmission
• Optional four-speed automatic transmission

Safety features include:

• Standard front, side-impact and side curtain airbags
• Standard active head restraints
• Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
• Optional electronic stability system

Elantra Touring

Hyundai's hatchback version of the Elantra compact car battles it out with cars such as the Dodge Caliber, Toyota Matrix, Mazda3 hatchback and Nissan Versa. In the Elantra Touring's second model year, it receives a new GLS base trim.

Power still comes from the same four-cylinder engine, but for an economy car it isn't completely anemic. Hyundai tuned the suspension and steering for better handling versus the Elantra sedan. Other features include:

• Standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
• Standard air conditioning
• Standard electronic stability system
• Standard USB input, MP3 jack
• Optional power moonroof
• Optional roof rails
• Optional fog lights