All-New 2021 Hyundai Elantra Receives A Sporty Makeover

Hyundai Motor America has officially unveiled the all-new, seventh-generation 2021 Hyundai Elantra in Los Angeles, California to a global online audience. The all-new Elantra sets itself apart in the compact passenger car class through its groundbreaking and class-leading connectivity features, along with its radically new fastback design.

To transform the Elantra’s looks into a sporty fastback design, Hyundai’s designers and engineers had to make it longer, lower, and wider compared to the sixth-generation model. Utilizing the brand’s latest Sensuous Sportiness design language, the Elantra’s bold front end is characterized by Hyundai’s signature cascading grille. The intricately-designed grille integrates neatly into the slim LED headlamps. The hood has also been lengthened, while the roofline tapers neatly into the trunk to achieve that sleek fastback design. Lastly, the rear fascia sees a horizontal LED strip running across the Elantra’s length, which is linked at each end by vertical LEDs to create an “H” shape.

Despite the revised exterior changes, most key interior dimensions have increased. Complementing the radical exterior redesign is an interior that’s equally modern and sporty. The dashboard neatly integrates with the doors, creating a cocooned feel that Hyundai says is similar to an airplane cockpit. Emphasizing this cockpit feel is a grab handle on the center stack for the front passenger. An 8-inch touch screen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, but higher variants will be offered with two 10.25-inch high-resolution screens, a Bose sound system, and an LED ambient lighting system with 64 color choices.

Underpinning the all-new 2021 Hyundai Elantra is the Hyundai-Kia group’s new K3 platform for compact passenger cars. This platform also allowed engineers to lower Elantra’s center of gravity for more agile handling. In the event of a collision, this platform improves safety because it uses a multi-load path structure.

Under the hood of the Elantra are two engine choices. Most variants will be powered by the same 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated Atkinson Cycle petrol engine from the outgoing Elantra. With a focus on fuel economy, the engine produces 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque. This is mated to the Hyundai-Kia group’s new CVT, marketed as an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). We’ve experienced this exact powertrain combination with the all-new Kia Seltos. If you want to know our thoughts with this powertrain, you can click the link here.

The other powertrain is a hybrid, which is not only more fuel-efficient but it is also pegged to be more engaging to drive than the 2.0-liter petrol engine. It may produce less horsepower at 139 hp, but it produces significantly more pulling power at 265 Nm. This is mated to an equally sportier 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. Exclusive to the Elantra Hybrid is a multi-link rear suspension for better handling. As a whole, the Elantra Hybrid sets itself apart from other hybrids because of its stronger focus on sportiness compared to its competitors. This hybrid powertrain delivers up to 50 US MPG (21.26 km/l).

For the North American market, the all-new Elantra comes as standard with Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driver-assist features, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane following assist (which keeps the car smack in the middle of the lane), high beam assist, and driver attention warning. As an option, SmartSense can be enhanced with the following advanced features:

• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA)
• Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
• Highway Driving Assist (HDA) is a driving convenience system that assists drivers in maintaining the center of the lane and at an appropriate speed while keeping a safe distance from the car in front.
• Safe Exit Warning (SEW) may sound an alert when a vehicle approaches from behind, letting passengers know it may not be safe to open the door to exit the vehicle.
• Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA) helps detect pedestrians and obstacles with a rearview camera and ultrasonic sensors. The system can provide warnings and apply emergency braking to assist in the avoidance of a collision.

Lastly, the all-new Hyundai Elantra is also equipped with a Digital Key–a feature that’s similar to what BMW offers in its higher-end models. The Digital Key uses a dedicated mobile app, Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to allow a new Elantra to be unlocked, started, and driven without a physical key via applicable Android smartphones.

Production of the all-new 2021 Hyundai Elantra starts this fall in Ulsan, Korea and at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and sales begin in the fourth quarter.