Our 2011 Hyundai Elantra is the best car for you if you want something like the Corolla driving experience, but without paying Corolla prices. The Elantra has a dual personality. The sedan is calm and collected. It steers with a pleasant lightness and corners with good balance. It’s sportier than the Corolla, but probably not considered as athletic as a Civic or Mazda 3 sedan. Those cars cost more, however. And no compact sedan priced similarly to the Elantra feels more solid on the road. Elantra’s gimmick-free layout is a nice alternative to many of today’s over-designed dashboards. It suffers no multidimensional surfaces, no deeply tunneled gauges, not too many switches. Rather, it has an upright instrument panel that situates simple, round gauges directly before the driver. Audio and climate controls are generously sized, obviously described, and placed within easy reach. You can focus on the road instead of trying to figure out how to run stuff inside. Doors open uncommonly wide to a cabin with terrific head room and plenty of shoulder clearance. Tall rooflines allow for chair-like seating that enhances already-excellent outward visibility. Rear passengers sit nicely upright, too, with knees bent at a natural angle and lots of space for their feet. The rear center armrest is hinged partway up the backrest to form an ergonomically perfect platform for your elbow. Comfort with a capital C. And finally, the Hyundai Elantra is the top-ranked compact car for overall initial quality according to the J.D. Power survey. We award this car top marks for powertrain, design, and features, and we think you will, too.