The Hyundai Elantra is currently in its seventh generation and was last redesigned for the 2021 model year. It sits in the compact sedan segment, with its primary competitors being the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, the Nissan Sentra, the Mazda3, the Kia K4, and the Volkswagen Jetta. The 2026 Hyundai Elantra has five trims: SE, SEL Sport, SEL Sport Premium, Limited, and N Line.
2026 Hyundai Elantra Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra received a mid-cycle refresh in 2024 with a new grille, LED daytime running lights, and upgraded tech, so there are no big changes for 2026. The SEL Sport Premium trim replaces the SEL Convenience and the SEL Sport gets standard 17-inch gloss-black wheels.
Design
When the seventh-generation Elantra launched in 2021, it ushered in Hyundai’s “Parametric Dynamics” design with angular lines and sharp contours on the side panels. The base SE gets 15-inch wheels, and the SEL and Limited trims get 17-inch wheels. The sporty N Line tops out with 18-inch wheels. There are no appearance packages, but there are two $500 premium paint colors: Ultimate Red and Serenity White.
Powertrain
The 2026 Elantra is front-wheel-drive only but there are two powertrain options. The primary engine is a 2.0-liter inline-four that delivers 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The N Line gets a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder turbo that delivers 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque and is the only model in the lineup that gets the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Most models with the base engine get 40 mpg on the highway, but the SE gets 31 mpg in the city and all other trims get 30 mpg. The more powerful N Line gets 28 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg in the city.
Interior
The Elantra is a five-passenger sedan and has the best rear legroom in its class. Though it doesn’t have the largest trunk in the segment, it remains competitive with 14.2 cubic feet of space. Premium cloth seats are standard on the SE and SEL trims, but the Limited offers leatherette seats, and the N Line has leatherette-cloth combination sport seats. Heated front seats and a power tilt-and-slide sunroof are standard starting at the SEL Premium trim.
Technology
The SE and SEL Elantra models come standard with an 8-inch infotainment screen that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Curiously, buyers get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto when they upgrade to the 10.25-inch screen in the Limited and N Line trims. Other standard tech features include two front and two rear USB-C ports, speed-sensitive volume control, and a six-speaker audio system. Available features include a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a wireless phone charger, connected car services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, dual automatic climate controls, a hands-free automatic trunk release, a smart key, and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system.
