New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior, MPG, Release Date

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior, MPG, Release Date  –  The Elantra is happier on the highway than its forebears might have been, eschewing the economy car stereotype for something that feels far more robust. Engine output isn’t especially abundant in this application – more on that shortly – but the mechanical components pair well with the mission of a small sedan like this.

Conditions were surprisingly clear as I crossed the Rainbow Bridge that connects Niagara Falls, Ont., with the New York state city of the same name, although they worsened in a hurry as I worked my way south along a series of surface streets and highways. It was no matter for the Elantra, however, with an appreciable surefootedness – even when accelerating from a standing start on a snow-covered hill.

Of course, the winter tires played a significant role here, but it goes to show how important they are this time of year. The electrically assisted power steering that’s impossibly light at low speeds was the lone disappointment, providing even less feel when cutting through the loose snow and slush that had accumulated in intersections and at the ends of driveways.

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

The situation was looking stormy as kickoff grew closer, and then the skies opened up – not in a bad way, mind you, but in a beautiful shade of blue. Even a little sunshine greeted me as I arrived at a local shopping centre where fans were asked to park instead of the stadium lots that were expected to be snarled by snow piles and plenty of traffic. Sure, some of the snowbanks were taller than the Elantra itself; and it was deeply cold, with temperatures feeling like -18 °C or so. But it’s as if the football gods were ready to reward us for (im)patiently waiting out the storm.

Considering this is a compact car, its interior dimensions are more generous than that designation might suggest. At 2,720 mm (107.1 in), the wheelbase is slightly longer than the Corolla’s and it shows, with more usable space inside as a result. In fact, there’s more rear-seat legroom than what’s listed on the Honda Civic’s spec sheet despite the latter boasting even more distance between the front and rear wheels. This trip even provided a chance to test out just how accommodating the front passenger seat can be when space behind it isn’t a consideration, with ample room for my 6-foot-3 frame to stretch out and slip into bib-style snow pants with as much dignity as possible.

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Specs

This Preferred trim being a short step up from the base Elantra, features aren’t exactly abundant, but the selection is reasonable considering its positioning. There’s an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connections, plus heated front seats that are manually adjustable (six-way driver, four-way passenger), power locks and windows, and air conditioning.

That’s all the same stuff that’s found in the cheapest version. What sets the Elantra Preferred apart is the addition of a heated steering wheel, button-based proximity door locks, and push-button start. Meanwhile, an optional Tech package ($,1950) replaces the eight-inch infotainment unit with a 10.25-inch touchscreen (both smartphone connections are wired with the larger screen), a digital instrument display that’s the same size, subscription-based satellite radio, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a sunroof.

All that and more is offered across the rest of the lineup, with extras like leather upholstery and an eight-speaker stereo offered in the Luxury and N Line Ultimate trims. Then there’s the Elantra N that’s all about performance while still offering plenty of features.  New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior

Engine and Performance

Most of the Elantra lineup, including the Preferred trim tested here, relies on a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) for motivation. It’s not built for thrills – that’s what the Elantra N sport sedan is for – but it’s more than adequate in this application. While the setup in the rival Toyota Corolla is generally more refined, with the Elantra getting particularly buzzy during bouts of heavy acceleration, there’s ample output and responsiveness for most situations. Officially, the 2.0L makes 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque – less than the Corolla’s engine that’s the same size, but not significantly so.  New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Fuel Economy

Even without its optional hybrid powertrain, the Elantra is an efficient little car. This trip to and from Buffalo that spanned a little more than 320 km in frigid temperatures returned an indicated average of 6.3 L/100 km – better than its official combined consumption rate (6.7). It remained close to that number throughout the rest of this week-long test, with a final tally of 7.0 over the course of nearly 500 km. For the sake of comparison, the gas-powered Corolla sedan has the same official rating as the Elantra (6.7), while the Civic’s is slightly worse (6.9).  New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Safety Features

While Hyundai fits certain advanced safety features to the entire Elantra lineup, desirable items like adaptive cruise control and even automatic emergency braking are reserved for the two most expensive trims. That means the entry-level Essential gets lane departure warning and keeping assistance, as well as automatic high-beam control, but that’s it.  New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Price and Release Date

In terms of positioning, this Preferred trim delivers good value even with its available upgrades. It’s where actual price is concerned that it doesn’t look quite as appealing, with a pre-tax total of a little more than $28,000 for this tester marking a major departure from the compact cars of old. Even the entry-level Essential trim starts at nearly $24,000 before tax. And in fairness, Hyundai isn’t alone here, with the cheapest Corolla ringing in at over $25,000, and the base Civic starting at a staggering $28,620 before the government’s share; but that’s not exactly comforting for a segment that was once predicated upon affordability.

It’s not as if the burden of building and selling affordable cars should be Hyundai’s alone to bear, but with the Accent long since discontinued, and the Venue crossover that ultimately replaced it getting more expensive by the year, affordability is a fleeting concept for a brand that was built on exactly that. And in fairness, the New 2026 Hyundai Elantra is priced within spitting distance of the Toyota Corolla that led the segment in sales last year, while the Honda Civic is more expensive still. But that means one of this sedan’s inherent advantages is no more.  New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Interior