Unless you've been hiding somewhere, you know that the days of Hyundai being the butt of jokes are over. Many of Hyundai's products go toe-to-toe (or bumper-to-bumper?) with the best. Hyundai's most recent entrant in its Elantra line, the 2010 Elantra Blue, is a case in point. For starters, the J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study crowned it the compact car with the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles. But while you might expect nothing more than a functional "econobox" for $14,145 MSRP, the 2010 Elantra Blue doesn't ask drivers to compromise much on features, fuel economy, or drivability.

The Elantra's exterior is a bit tepid, but you needn't cower when walking from your front door to the driveway. Once inside the vehicle, it gets better. The six-way adjustable driver's seat is upholstered in a premium cloth to match the two-toned dash, which wraps around the driver and passenger with a cockpit-like feel. Controls are very simple and fall to hand easily. Seats are well bolstered and comfortable for a long ride: after a few hours of continuous driving, I was still ache-free.

Designers also added lots of upscale touches to this downmarket vehicle, so while you'll find the usual plastic on the dash, you'll also see gauges backlit in a cool blue and a tire pressure monitoring system. Active front head restraints, remote keyless entry with trunk release, power locks and windows, heated dual power outside mirrors, and rear seat heater ducts are also standard equipment.

My personal favorite feature? The ten storage compartments in the interior, including an in-dash storage box (why doesn't every car have this?), front door bottle and map holders, and rear seat map pockets. My two pairs of glasses? Stowed. My cell phone and charger? Tucked away. Giant water bottle? Not taking up space in the center console! Finally, a small car that accommodates all my stuff. The interior is also roomier in every dimension than competitors Civic and Corolla, with a total interior volume of 112.1 cubic feet - the most in its class. For bulkier items, Elantra's 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space can handle most cargo duties; the 60/40 rear split back seat allows for even more space in a pinch.

The three vehicles in the Elantra line sport a 2.0L, 16-valve DOHC engine (with Continuous Variable Valve Timing) that produces 138 hp and 136 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,600 rpm. While it's no race car, the Elantra's Blue's ride feels secure and capable on the road, with enough power when you need it and a quiet ride until pushed hard. Just don't expect the zippiness you might find in, say, a Mazda3. Because the Blue is the base model and is optimized for fuel economy, it's available only with a 5-speed manual shifter. The shifter and clutch were easy to work with, though I did sometimes wish for a sixth gear on the freeway.

I took the Elantra Blue on a little excursion, and once past the freeways, I ventured into the twisty Hollywood Hills. Here you'll find colorful and contrasting architectural styles (California at its most freely creative). I rolled up on this ornate mansion (left) - a castle of sorts - and had to stop for a photo. Though I couldn't identify its style (I skipped the art history class in college), it featured an unusual selection of gargoyles - unicorn, anyone? - and a fancy, mosaic-adorned garage for its BMW. Ah, it's good to be king.

For those of us without royal salaries, the Blue helps save money on gas. The EPA estimates the Blue's fuel economy at 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway - a single mile more per gallon on the highway than the Elantra GLS or SE. That puts it at the top of the class for both compacts and midsize cars (excluding hybrids). It's also certified as an Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (ULEV) and has an interior pollen/particle/dust air filter, so both eco- and health-conscious consumers have something to smile about.

The Elantra is priced very competitively so long as you don't add options. But air conditioning is part of an optional $1,700 bundle with cruise control and an audio upgrade (XM/CD/MP3/iPod/USB). For some consumers, that extra $1,700 is offset by the value of Hyundai's best-in-class warranty: 5 years/60K miles bumper-to-bumper and 10 years/100K miles on the powertrain. But while the Elantra has six airbags and good crash test scores, safety-conscious comparison shoppers will find the Blue's lack of standard or optional stability control, well, lacking. Especially since all 2012 model year vehicles will be required by the government to have stability control as a standard feature, and most automakers have already jumped onboard that train.

In all, the 2010 Elantra Blue can save you some green, and in many small ways it's a step up from competitive vehicles that have been around the block for a while. It's a mixed bag, to be sure, but it offers some nice surprises inside.

Joanne Helperin Consumer Marketing Director, Blog Editor

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