With so many safety features being offered on cars now, it’s hard to keep up with which vehicles have what. It’s also not easy to find premium safety features like automatic braking on lower-priced vehicles, but that’s changing. U.S. News reports that The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offers automatic braking standard, along with other sought-after safety features, U.S. News reports. 

Why automatic braking is so important

If you haven’t bought a new car in a while, you might wonder what automatic braking is or if it even matters. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “Automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems detect an impending forward crash with another vehicle in time to avoid or mitigate the crash. These systems first alert the driver to take corrective action to avoid the crash. If the driver’s response is not sufficient to avoid the crash, the AEB system may automatically apply the brakes to assist in preventing or reducing the severity of a crash.”

Though it might sound a lot like an anti-lock braking system, the two are not the same. ABS works to prevent the wheels from locking up so you can maintain control of the vehicle. 

While automatic braking is not a requirement for vehicles, it’s still a nice feature to have. It could mean the difference between wrecking or arriving home safely. Though it’s not standard on many vehicles, more models are adding it to their standard feature list, and the Hyundai Elantra is one of them.

What comes standard on the Hyundai Elantra?

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offers a surprising number of standard features for a relatively low starting price. It includes forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitoring, a rearview camera, and automatic braking.

The engine is nothing to brag about, though. The Hyundai Elantra comes equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 147 hp. It’s paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. 

This isn’t the engine for drivers looking for speed. It does what it’s designed to do, and that’s about it. For those who remember the Elantra with a 6-speed manual transmission, that’s a thing of the past. 

Good fuel mileage generally makes up for the lack of power. The 2020 Hyundai Elantra SE gets 31 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. That’s not bad for a gas-guzzler, and a mere 10 years ago, that number would’ve been amazing.

There’s plenty to keep music lovers jamming on the way to work. The Elantra SE comes with a five-inch display, a USB port, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker sound system. Customers who want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will have to upgrade to a higher trim level.

Though the lack of Apple CarPlay may put a damper on many drivers’ mood, the trunk might make up for it. It’s roomy for a compact car, so you can fit plenty of luggage in there for a road trip. It offers 14.4 cubic feet of trunk space, topped only by the Nissan Sentra.

Is the Hyundai Elantra a good investment?

The Hyundai Elantra starts at a mere $19,300, making it one of the least expensive new vehicles. The question is whether it offers enough to justify buying a cheap vehicle or if consumers would be better off saving their money for something more reliable.

It’s a valid question, and one that should be answered before hitting the car lot. In this case, the answer is yes. The 2020 Hyundai Elantra is definitely worth the price.

It comes with a comfortable ride, boasts many standard features, and has excellent fuel economy. That being said, some other vehicles have more to offer, and the Elantra isn’t exactly exciting to drive. But for someone who isn’t worried about speed or power, the Hyundai Elantra is a great choice.