The sedan segment may be taking a beating lately thanks to buyers’ love affair with crossovers and SUVs, but that doesn’t mean that Hyundai is ready to throw in the towel. Hyundai recently introduced the revamped Sonata and now the 2021 Elantra is ready to take on the best of the compact sedan segment with an all-new look that’s hard to ignore.
The 2021 Elantra features a more stylish exterior thanks to Hyundai’s latest “Parametric Dynamics” design language. The overall look stands out far more than last year’s Elantra. The 2021 Elantra gains 2.2 inches in overall length and 0.8 inch in its wheelbase, and the overall width is increased one inch.
“Like the first generation, the seventh-generation Elantra/Avante has a bold character,” said Luc Donckerwolke, executive vice president and chief design officer, Hyundai Motor Group. “The fresh esthetic was completed through unconventional lines and a face that broke a taboo in automotive design. The new Elantra is highlighted by its stance that looks like geometric crystals and divided body surfaces to get a strong emotional response from the customers.”
Inside the 2021 Elantra features an “immersive cocoon” interior layout that Hyundai says “envelops the driver like an airplane cockpit.” The dashboard is also dominated by two 10.25-inch digital screens
The 2021 Elantra comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque. If you want something more fuel efficient the first ever Elantra Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter GDI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and a 32 kW electric motor. The 1.6-liter engine combined with the electric motor delivers a total system output of 139 horsepower and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The 2021 Elantra Hybrid is projected to have a combined EPA estimated fuel economy rating of more than 50 MPG.
