This is it – Hyundai Sime Darby Malaysia (HSDM) has officially started its teaser campaign for the seventh-generation Elantra sedan, signalling its intent to field the all-new C-segment sedan here. It will be a tough fight, going against direct rivals like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda 3.
There are no details to go with the teaser – no specifications, estimated launch date, nor ballpark price figures have been circulating just yet. It’s not even clear if the Elantra will be locally assembled or fully imported, and whether or not it will be launched during the sales tax-free period.
So, let’s talk about the Elantra. As you can tell from the face, the seventh-gen sedan wears Hyundai’s new Sensuous Sportiness design language, and it’s the second car to wear the look after the recently-launched Sonata. The end result is a look that is distinctly different from the usual suspects, but whether or not it appeals to the masses is a different story altogether.
The new Elantra is bigger than its predecessor in every way, with wheelbase stretched by 20 mm (2,720 mm), the body wider by 25 mm (1,826 mm), and height lowered by 20 mm (1,415 mm). It’s also nearly 56 mm longer in terms of overall length, now measuring 4,676 mm. That makes it longer than the Corolla, Mazda 3, and Honda Civic, although it’s worth noting that the Elantra sits as low as the Civic.
Design-wise, Hyundai says the car looks almost like “geometric crystals.” Like the Sonata, it features sharp lines and deep creases, including the massive Cascading Grille with “Parametric jewel-pattern.” The grille connects the LED headlights (with LED DRLs), and the lower apron design is more prominent compared to the outgoing model.
The doors feature the controversial Z-shaped impression, while the rear gets LED combination tail lights with an adjoining strip – just like the Sonata. There’s an integrated spoiler as well, and wheel sizes range from 15 to 17 inches.
Inside, the cabin is said to be more spacious than before, and it features a two-spoke steering wheel and digital instrument meter. Hyundai calls this the “Immersive Cocoon” interior layout, designed specifically to envelop the driver like an airplane cockpit. If you’ve seen the Sonata, you roughly know what to expect.
Depending on the variant, the Elantra can be had with twin 10.25-inch displays, one for the instrumentation and the other for the infotainment. The latter is angled slightly towards the driver, and offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support (first for its segment, Hyundai claims). There’s also a smaller eight-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but we know which one Malaysians prefer.
Other goodies include a 64-colour LED mood lighting system, a cornering grab handle for the front passenger, voice-recognition system, and options such as a Qi wireless smartphone charging tray, Blue Link Connected Car System, and eight-speaker Bose premium sound system with Super65 wide-range speakers in the front doors and a woofer at the back.
For the powertrain, base models are powered with the 2.0L MPI Atkinson Cycle engine, generating 147 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 179 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. An Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT; essentially a CVT), which drives the front wheels, is standard.
There’s also the Elantra Hybrid sold in other markets. This gets a smaller 1.6 litre GDI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine that’s augmented with a 32 kW electric motor. Total output is 139 hp and 264 Nm of torque, while a six-speed dual-clutch auto is standard. A 1.32 kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery, positioned under the rear seats, powers the motor.
Above that is the Elantra N Line (pictured below) with a 1.6 litre turbocharged GDI petrol engine that produces 201 hp and 264 Nm of torque. Customers get to choose from a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, with drive sent exclusively to the front wheels. The range will be crowned by the Elantra N that’s set to be unveiled soon.
Safety-wise, the car can be had with Hyundai SmartSense. Features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), High Beam Assist (HBA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and rear view camera with dynamic guidelines.
Optional systems include Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Highway Driving Assist (HDA; helps keep the car centred within lane), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), as well as Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist (PCA) with pedestrian and obstacle detection.
So there you have it, a quick recap of the all-new Hyundai Elantra. What do you think of it? Do you like the way it looks? Comment, below.
GALLERY: 2021 Hyundai Elantra
GALLERY: 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line
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Nice
Nice in K-drama only. Not so when parking nearby Pasar pagi,
Too many lines…
Beauty design. Hope this time, bring in safety aids for new elantra together come with ckd
Bring it on
DoA as soon as it arrives.
Now 2021 Hyundai Elantra. Back in 2001, Hyundai Elantra way inferior then our homegrown Proton Waja…true lejenn.
Elantra still inferior to lejen Waja. Look at how ugly Elantra is today compared to Elantra 2001.
What happend to waja now?
Filled up by X50 now, superhot with 27,000+ bookings.
PS More important question, what happened to Elantra now?
Bring in Elantra N-Line!
Should have brought in since the 1.6 tgdi is available before
Impressive
It can only follow the big brother’s footstep to be a showroom car..low volume high price strategy. NEXT….
Good
Hyundai all the way
Let’s Rock
Lets Not.
Wow.. like the design.. but still don’t dare to commit years of loan over korean car compared to Japanese marque or Proton.
Breaking news!! The price is RM160K++! 40K cheaper than the Sonata!
as ugly as the new civic, but civic will still sell because of the name
The 2.0 MPI 147ps 179nm likely sell around RM115k as predecessor at RM 115k, but this is considered low output among all 2.0NA. If bring in 1.6T but sell at 130k how many of us willing to pay for Hyundai Elantra rather than Honda Civic 1.5T.
There are people praise the current Elantra is good looking car and good spec. But since it launched in June 2017 I have NEVER seen once on the road myself in Klang Valley while I travelling around as outdoor sales. I own a Korean car it is good product but acceptance is just too low in Malaysia.
Poor sales of previous gen elantra due to poor marketing by Hyundai Malaysia. Ask any non car guy and most of them probably didn’t know of it existence. If N-line come to Malaysia at RM130k, is a good price in my opinion since it is going to be a CBU.
exactly,my 2014 sonata yf still as good as new, no major problem, it is a reliable product.. try out civic ketam (just compared sound insulation) , i still prefer hyundai
This is true, Hyundais are relatively common in other SEA countries, they are absolutely everywhere in Vietnam. Malaysian’s perception of Hyundai and Kia is “Aiyoo cannot la korean car very bad reliability”
And yet they are still at the top of reliability surveys only bested by very few brands like Toyota or Mazda.
It is trying too hard… As usual, 1st glance is nice… another few glance, WTF are they thinking.
the new honda civic 11th gen looks better as it is sleeker and more elegant.
Wishing Hyundai to include Hyundai SmartSense in new elantra because other competitor already had active safety feature. Don’t be like big brother sonata which not have SmartSense at all which is shame. Also wishing to see N and N Line version here in Malaysia soon.
Hyundai cars still laku in malaysia ?
It’s already in Malaysia and it’s better in person than picture
Given how recent Hyundai vehicles are doing well internationally, I was expecting Hyundai Malaysia to give a good fight versus the Japanese brands. However, the price and level of refinement in the recently released Sonata gives no such hope for a revival of the Hyundai brand in Malaysia. So I will not hold my breath to wait for the Elantra. Will not be surprised if the model comes with less refinement than the Civic. The new Honda Accord and Toyota Camry can hardly be seen on the roads in Malaysia nowadays so good luck to Hyundai.
I buy one. Book now sst free
The local car market is very ruined by our own mentality. That’s why we get less option and less models. But in Singapore, ppl would biy what values best. You can see Mazda 3 and hyundai elantra/kia k3 on the roads of sg more than civic or corolla
omg what an ugly car