2021 Hyundai Elantra debuts with fierce styling, new hybrid option

Hyundai has been on a launch spree lately with cars like the 2020 Sonata and a bunch of crossovers making their way into the lineup. Now, Hyundai has flicked the covers off the 2021 Hyundai Elantra sedan. In a very crowded segment filled with Japanese giants like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic etc, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra hopes to gain some attention as it brings a combination of edgy styling, latest technology and a hybrid powertrain.

The moment Hyundai took the wraps off the new Elantra, debates started firing up. The design is polarising for sure, but the edgy styling now gives the Elantra a distinct appeal, which otherwise looked like an overgrown Accent for many generations.  The stubby looks of the current car have been replaced with a sharp design that follows the language of the larger Sonata. The overall length of the car has grown by 50 mm while the wheelbase sees a growth of 1-inch. Though the car adopts a 4-door coupe style, the seats have been lowered to retain the same headroom as the current car.

Get in the 2021 Elantra, and you will be greeted by a completely new interior. The centre console is more driver-oriented, wrapping around the driver seat. There are two 10.3-inch screens, one for the digital instrument cluster and other for the infotainment system. The infotainment system now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and can connect two phones via Bluetooth at the same time. Even the base models are equipped with wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay, albeit with a smaller 8-inch screen. The Digital Key feature from Sonata trickles down to the Elantra, allowing the driver to control many functions of the car via her/his smartphone.

Apart from these, the 2021 Elantra also gets a list of other safety features as well. It includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and driver attention monitoring system as standard. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are offered as options.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra is the very first Elantra hybrid. The hybrid uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired to an electric motor for a combined output of 139 hp and 264 Nm. Hyundai anticipates that the Elantra Hybrid will return a fuel efficiency of 4.7 litres/100 km.

The regular Elantra is also available with the same old 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT. Power and torque outputs remain the same at 147 hp and 179 Nm. Hyundai has also confirmed the arrival of a warm N-Line variant soon, but hasn’t revealed any details.

Expect the new model to reach UAE, KSA and GCC shores by the end of the pandemic.