New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Reviews, MSRP, Features

New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Reviews, MSRP, Features – The Elantra rejects the stigma of the cheap vehicle and feels considerably more substantial on the highway than its predecessors may have. Although the engine power in this application isn’t very high—more on that in a moment—the mechanical parts work well for the purpose of a tiny car like this one.

As I crossed the Rainbow Bridge connecting Niagara Falls, Ontario, with the New York state city of the same name, the conditions were remarkably clear; but, they quickly deteriorated as I proceeded south on a network of surface streets and highways. But the Elantra handled it with noticeable poise, even when it came time to accelerate from a standing start on a hill blanketed in snow.

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 Reviews

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.

The inside space of this little automobile is much larger than one might assume from its name. The wheelbase is somewhat longer than the Corolla’s at 2,720 mm (107.1 in), and it shows; the inside is hence more useful space. In spite of the Honda Civic’s specification sheet stating even more space between the front and rear wheels, there is really more legroom in the back seats. This journey also gave me the chance to see how roomy the front passenger seat can be when there is no need for rear space. My 6-foot-3 body had more than enough room to spread out and dress dignifiedly in bib-style snow trousers.

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 Reviews

Engine and Performance

The Preferred trim level that is being tested here, along with the majority of the Elantra range, is powered by an automatic continuously variable gearbox (CVT) and a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. Although it’s not designed for thrills—that’s the purpose of the Elantra N performance sedan—it’s more than sufficient for this use. Although the competitor Toyota Corolla has a more well-tuned setup overall, the Elantra can be rather buzzy when accelerating quickly, but overall there is enough of power and responsiveness. The 2.0L’s official output is 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, which is little less than the Corolla’s engine of the same capacity. New 2026 Hyundai Elantra Reviews

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 Reviews

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 Reviews

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 Reviews