DURING its early incarnations, some considered the Elantra as the ugly duckling of Hyundai’s line of cars. Dismissed as drab and unimpressive, it remained in the shadows of its more famous siblings like the Tucson, Starex, Santa Fe and even the Accent.

But for 2011, Hyundai decided to spruce the duckling up in a “major-major” way, fully redesigning it. The result, I might say, is that the duckling has turned into a beautiful swan. Shedding off its old feathers, the Elantra now sports a classy new styling, one that is sure to turn heads, as it did during my weekend driving it around town.

The all-new Elantra does not only look good but it also performs quite wonderfully. It sports a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine controlled by either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The engine churns out 150 ps of power at 6,500 rpm and pulls 18.2 kg-m of torque at 4,700 rpm.

While the all-new Elantra is classified as a compact car, the cabin space is large enough to merit a midsize car’s designation—a development across the board for most auto manufacturers who espouse comfort and space even in their thrift cars. Living up to the Hyundai way of doing things, the interior is packed with high-end features like keyless ignition/entry, a rearview camera and heated rear seats that are not even offered on some legitimate midsize cars, let alone compact ones.

And with the Elantra having to compete with a flock of other lovely swans in the market like the Cruze, Mazda 3 and the completely redesigned Ford Focus and Honda Civic, I figure the new Elantra’s combination of styling, fuel efficiency, high-quality interior and Hyundai’s reputation for affordable price tags could very well help the Elantra stand tall in the flock. Priced at P938,000, this factor could be the main clincher in a universe of choices for a new car.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is offered in two variants. I tried out the GLS model, which comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, keyless entry, a 60:40 split-folding rear seat, trip computer, full power accessories, a tilt-only steering wheel and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio with iPod/USB audio interface. It also includes Bluetooth, illuminated vanity mirrors and sun visor extensions, a sliding armrest on the center console and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

As for safety, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra’s features include traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, active front head restraints and dual front SRS airbags.

The Elantra’s interior features a curved center stack and stylized climate controls that provide a bit of extra flair while still being easy to use. The design is attractive and the materials have that rich and luxurious look to them.

Despite the deep cowl, the interior feels breezy and spacious. Headroom in front is tall while the steering wheel is a bit smaller in diameter than usual, which enhances the sense of space up front. The backseat is fine for kids and even most adults, taller and longer beings will find its abundant legroom and shortage of headroom a blessing.

Driving it around town, the new 1.8-liter engine performs very well and has plenty of pop for daily use. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and willingly downshifts. The cabin is a relatively quiet place, with little wind noise to speak of, though there is enough road and engine noise to remind you that the Elantra is still a compact economy car rather than the expensive premier car it appears to be.

For the record, this new Elantra is fun to drive. In fact, its balance between ride and handling is one of the best in the segment. And the new look, it really is all dressed up and ready to roll.