CHICAGO -

Earlier this week, Cars.com revealed the winning model of its Best Value: Price to Pump Award as the champion of its Under 20/Over 35 Shootout.

Coming out on top was the 2011 Hyundai Elantra because of its exterior and interior design as well as its smooth ride. Site editors evaluated five compact cars that seat five, get better than 35 miles per gallon and have a price tag below $20,000.

“With unrelenting gas prices and continued economic uncertainty, our shootout couldn’t be timelier in terms of what car shoppers are looking for,” stated Patrick Olsen, editor in chief of Cars.com.

“In fact, four of the five models that competed have been among dealers best sellers in April and May,” Olsen continued.

“Based on our results, every car shopper looking in this segment needs to put the 2011 Hyundai Elantra at the top of their consideration set,” he went on to say. “Not only does this car get 40 mpg on the highway, the Elantra also has refined styling, solid handling, a comfortable interior and incredible affordability for all the features that buyers will get.:

To determine the winner of the shootout, experts from Cars.com and USA Today, as well as a Chicago-area family put the contenders through a variety of tests over a series of three days.

Tests included a day-long drive to determine accurate real-world mileage, back-to-back driving by all judges on the same course to determine handling and comfort and a side-by-side comparison of the cars’ features and styling. 

“These shootouts are really about determining the best car in a segment,” Olsen insisted.

“Because of that, we always include a full day of testing by shoppers who evaluate the cars’ features, comfort, handling and styling,” he stressed. “This helps us to determine what really matters to drivers in a car and that feedback contributes to the crowning of our winner.”

Reacting to the honor, Scott Margason, director of product planning for Hyundai Motor America, said, “The all-new Elantra, with its 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway standard fuel economy rating, is a perfect vehicle for consumers looking for an affordable solution to rising gas prices.

“Winning the Cars.com Under 20/Over 35 Shootout against the traditional compact leaders shows that Elantra truly hits the mark in this competitive segment,” Margason added.

Cars.com’s Best Value: Price to Pump rankings:

1. Hyundai Elantra ($17,760)
2. Chevrolet Cruze ($19,445)
3. Honda Civic ($18,655)
4. Kia Forte ($18,345)
5. Ford Focus ($19,750)