This post is in collaboration with Hyundai. All thoughts are my own. 

This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to visit San Diego and experience the launch of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. I had such a great time learning about this new car and all the features that have been added.

We started the day learning about the car, then headed out onto the road to try it out for ourselves!

Technology is everywhere you look in the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. The front of the car features wind curtains which help guide the air through the car, thus reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency. The LED headlights rotate with you around corners and even the daytime running lights are made with LEDs.

LEDs are not just limited to the headlights, the door handles illuminate whenever you approach the vehicle. I love this idea because sometimes for many months of the year, I’m walking up to a dark vehicle after work and that little bit of light is helpful. If you are approaching the car and want to put something into the trunk, it will automatically open for you when you get there, no need to dig for keys (this would be quite handy after a shopping spree, or even getting groceries).

Not only does the center console feature a large touch screen, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra also integrates Apple Car Play and Android Auto for even more functionality. From here, you can also change the driving mode to either eco or sport. Sport mode is definitely fun to use while driving. :)

One of my favorite things about the center screen is that it has a split screen so that you can see both navigation and the audio. I like to see what is playing on the radio as I flip through my presets driving down the road so even if I’m using navigation I can still see what is on the radio.

Whenever I try out a car, one of the things that I always look for is how much can I control with my thumbs while driving. I like to do as much as possible on the steering wheel and not need to reach over to the center console. With voice control, phone, and radio access, I’m set for my commutes to and from work!

Right in the dashboard there are loads of information and driver settings. One of the new features is Lane Keep Assist. If the car notices that you are starting to drift out of the lane it will both alert you and give you a little guidance with the steering wheel. I noticed that the lane alert would sound only on the side of the car that needs correcting. The Lane Keep Assist even has settings where you can either turn it off, or turn the guidance down a little.

When using the navigation, the next turn will show up on this screen as well (when the navigation screen is selected).

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra is definitely impressive and offers many ahead of it’s class features such as emergency breaking with pedestrian detection, hands free smart trunk release, and Clari-Fi music restoration technology.

Which of these features would you love in your next vehicle?