2026 Hyundai Elantra Expert Review
Reviewed by Billy Rehbock
Your compact sedan needn’t disappear amidst the river of cars on the highway; the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wears an angular, aggressive design to stand out.
Although the Elantra remains a strong contender in the compact sedan segment, performing better in our Ultimate Car Rankings than the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla, it continues to play second fiddle to the Honda Civic.
Read our expert review focused on the 2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid here.
What’s New
For 2026, Hyundai carries over the Elantra, replacing the SEL Convenience trim with a new SEL Sport Premium model that rolls on 17-inch wheels finished in gloss black with dark accents. The last time the Hyundai Elantra received a major refresh was 2024 when the following updates were made:
- Refreshed front and rear fascia designs
- Standard rear side airbags
- Improved interior materials
- USB-C outlets
- Haptic feedback steering wheel
- New exterior paint and interior color choices
- Improved hardware and software on Elantra N
What We Think
Making a strong first impression with an angular exterior and attractive silhouette, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra is a strong value amid its relatively small, but competitive class. Those lured in by its standout design won’t be disappointed by the sedan’s equipment either; Hyundai equips the Elantra with a wealth of features across all trim levels.
Dynamically, the mainstream versions of the Hyundai Elantra are less refined than equivalent Honda Civic variants. Hyundai’s sedan is comfortable enough, but it’s slow and uninteresting to drive. Hybrid models keep the value proposition going strong with great fuel economy and high-tech features.
Those who yearn for more excitement behind the wheel should spring for the Elantra N, which ratchets up acceleration with a punchy turbocharged engine. Its steering is far more engaging than the standard Elantra and the sport-tuned suspension enables thrilling cornering. Expect a stiff ride from the Elantra N, however.
Interior space is a strong point, with plenty of legroom in the second row and a class-competitive trunk. Those tantalized by the pricing of lower-end versions of the Elantra should be aware that entry-level models make use of cut-rate materials, so don’t expect a premium interior on more basic versions of Hyundai’s sedan.
If it weren’t for the spectacular Honda Civic, Hyundai would have a slam-dunk class victory with the Elantra. And although we generally recommend the Civic over the Elantra, shoppers should take note that higher-end Elantra models have better tech than the rival Civic. The competition between these two compacts is just that close.
Top-Ranked Competitors:
MotorTrend Tested
Most versions of the 2026 Hyundai Elantra are equipped with a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine developing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT automatic sending power to the front wheels. The 2026 Elantra completes the 0–60 mph dash in an acceptable 8.4 seconds, quicker than the base Civic which needs 9.2 seconds.
Next up in the lineup is the 2026 Hyundai Elantra N-Line, a sportier model with more spirited acceleration and pluckier handling. The 2026 Elantra N-Line packs a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine sending 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its 0–60 mph time falls to 7.0 seconds, quicker than its closest rival, the manual-only Honda Civic Si, which needs 7.4 seconds to hit 60 mph.
The boosty 2026 Hyundai Elantra N comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 276 hp in normal driving and up to 286 hp for 10 seconds when the N Grin Boost button is pushed on the steering wheel. The turbo-four churns out 289 lb-ft of torque.
Hyundai offers the Elantra N with an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. Launching from 0-60 mph takes 5.5 seconds with the manual and just 4.7 seconds with the auto. The rival Honda Civic Type R is manual-only and needs 5.3 seconds to get off the line to 60 mph. In the corners, the Elantra N is supported by standard adaptive suspension and an electronically controlled differential.
MPGs and Range
The 2.0-liter 2026 Hyundai Elantra should carry over the 2025 model’s trim-dependent EPA rating of 30–32/39–41 mpg city/highway. Range is 422–446 miles. That’s nearly identical to the 2025 Honda Civic sedan’s fuel economy, which is rated at 31–32/39–41 mpg and 422–446 miles of range.
Hyundai’s sportier Elantra N-Line sedan is thirstier than its mainstream stablemate, with an EPA rating of 28/35 mpg and 384 miles of range. It’s better around town than the Civic Si, but the Honda has it beat in terms of highway mileage, with 27/37 mpg.
At the top of the pack in terms of performance is the Hyundai Elantra N. As expected, its fuel economy is the worst of the bunch at 22/28 mpg. That isn’t too bad for a daily driver, however, and it’s identical to the Honda Civic Type. The high-performance Honda has more range, at 298 miles per tank to the Hyundai’s 285-mile rating.
Safety Ratings and Features
Shoppers concerned with crash test viability should have their worries assuaged by the Hyundai Elantra’s impressive test results. IIHS awarded its top accolade, a Top Safety Pick+ to the 2025 Hyundai Elantra. Additionally, NHTSA grants a five-star overall rating.
Hyundai equips the 2026 Elantra with a comprehensive suite of active safety equipment including the following features:
- Front and rear automatic emergency braking
- Lane keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Side cross-traffic alert
- Automatic high-beams
Adaptive cruise control becomes available on the SEL trim as an option and standard on all trims above. Hyundai equips camera-based blind-spot monitoring on the Elantra’s highest trims.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The Hyundai Elantra beats its closest rivals in terms of second-row legroom, and just barely loses out in terms of trunk space.
Technology
Infotainment
Hyundai equips the 2026 Elantra SE and SEL Sport trims with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. You get a 10.3-inch touchscreen if you spring for any of the Elantra’s SEL Sport Premium, Limited, N-Line, or N grades.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the entire 2026 Elantra model range, but wireless functionality is only available on models outfitted with the smaller display. The lower SE and SEL Sport trims have analog gauges buoyed by a small 4.2-inch display, while the rest of the range receives a larger, 10.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster.
Hyundai makes two USB ports standard in the front row on the base SE trim. All higher trims receive two ports in the second row and a wireless charging pad up front. Phone-as-key functionality is also available on more premium Elantra variants.
Sound System
Most trims work with a six-speaker standard audio system, with an eight-speaker Bose premium arrangement equipped on higher-end trims.
Value
Standard Features
The base 2026 Hyundai Elantra SE is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a CVT automatic, and front-wheel drive. It rides on MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and rear suspension composed of a coupled torsion beam axle. The Elantra rolls on 15-inch wheels and has disc brakes at all four corners.
Inside the cabin the Hyundai Elantra Se is decked out with cloth seating with manually adjustable front seats. There’s an 8.0-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio, and wireless phone mirroring. The most basic flavor of the Elantra should start at just over $23,000.
Recommended Trim
Hyundai offers gas-only versions of the 2026 Elantra in the following trims: SE, SEL Sport, SEL Sport Premium, N-Line, Limited, and N. We suggest going for the SEL Sport Premium model, which gets a raft of upgrades over the basic Elantra SE.
Added features include black 17-inch wheels, black exterior accents, a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster of the same size, Wi-Fi hot spot functionality, power sunroof, and heated seats. Hyundai also equips an electronic parking brake, adaptive cruise control, and dual-automatic climate control. You can get into a 2026 Hyundai Elantra SEL Sport Premium for about $27,000.
The Frugal 2026 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
In addition to the Elantra’s trio of gas-only powertrains, Hyundai offers its sedan as a hybrid with a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a small battery. The 2026 Hyundai Elantra hybrid develops 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, which is routed to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Elantra Hybrid needs 8.7 second to get from 0–60 mph, slower than the mere 6.4 seconds needed by the Honda Civic Hybrid. However, the most efficient Hyundai Elantra Hybrid bests its rival in terms of fuel economy. Dubbed the Elantra Hybrid Blue, this model returns 51/58 mpg city/highway and can drive 594 miles per tank. The Civic Hybrid sedan is rated at 50/57 mpg and 519 miles of range.
At the SEL Sport and Limited trims, the Elantra Hybrid returns 49/52 mpg. Range for the Elantra Hybrid’s upper trims is pegged at a still-impressive 550 miles.
Expect pricing to start around $27,000 for the Elantra Hybrid Blue. SEL Sport variants should begin around $29,000 and the range-topping Elantra Hybrid Limited should just cross the $31,000 mark.
