Hyundai Elantra 2027 Revealed with a Completely New Design Inside and Out

The next-generation Elantra is larger than its predecessor and incorporates Hyundai's latest infotainment technology.

Korean brands are known for making radical changes to their car designs when launching new models, and the new Elantra is no exception. The eighth generation of this compact sedan—sold as the Avante in South Korea—was unveiled at the 2026 Busan Motor Show. The car looks completely different from its predecessor, not only in its exterior but also in its interior, which shares almost no similarities with the current model.

The new Elantra has an Iron Man-esque look, featuring prominent wheel arches and integrated door handles. Even without considering the technical specifications, the car's increased size is noticeable thanks to the addition of a rear side window. This triangular window, located behind the rear doors, adds a distinctive touch to the side profile and highlights the car's significant increase in dimensions. The car is 4,765 mm (187.6 inches) long, an increase of 55 mm (2.16 inches) over the previous model. Of this increase, 30 mm (1.18 inches) has been allocated to the wheelbase, providing a more spacious cabin. The wheelbase is now 2,750 mm (108.2 inches).

Hyundai goes so far as to claim that the new Elantra offers interior space comparable to mid-size sedans like the Sonata. In addition to the increased length, the new generation is also 30 mm (1.18 inches) wider, now measuring 1,855 mm (73 inches), and the roofline has risen slightly to 1,425 mm (56 inches). It remains to be seen whether this increase translates to more headroom inside the cabin. However, the roofline appears flatter, which may provide more headroom for rear passengers.

The new Hyundai Elantra is getting bigger.

The new generation Elantra adopts Hyundai’s “Art of Steel” design language, characterized by sharp angles and lines. The headlights and taillights form an “H” pattern, and the prominent rear spoiler (in a ducktail style) spans the entire width of the rear fascia. The 18-inch two-tone wheels feature a five-spoke design that echoes the sharp angular lines of the car’s body.

The interior feels more like a higher-class vehicle and is equipped with Hyundai’s next-generation Pleos infotainment system, which is based on Android. A 12.9-inch touchscreen comes standard, with the option to upgrade to a larger 14.6-inch screen; thankfully, this upgrade hasn’t eliminated all the traditional physical controls. While there are fewer buttons than before, it’s nice to see some traditional control buttons below the screen.

A small, horizontal digital instrument cluster is mounted directly on the dashboard, within the driver's field of vision. The Hyundai logo has disappeared from the steering wheel, replaced by four dots representing the Morse code for the letter "H"—a design touch previously seen on other models.

An Interior That Elevates the Standard of Luxury

Elsewhere, ambient lighting is featured on the door panels and dashboard, along with two large cupholders in front of the center armrest, and traditional buttons on both the steering wheel and driver's door. The passenger-side dashboard has a soft-touch, padded pattern, giving the impression of sitting in a much more luxurious car than the standard Elantra.

Hyundai plans to sell the Avante (the local name for the Elantra) in South Korea with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine producing 147 horsepower, an increase of 25 horsepower over the previous model. A more efficient 1.6-liter hybrid option is also available, with a slight increase in power to 155 hp. This latter option features the company’s latest regenerative braking technology and a new function called “Stay Mode.” This feature allows passengers to use battery power to operate the air conditioning and infotainment system, just like in fully electric vehicles. The new Avante will go on sale in the domestic market during the third quarter of the year, and the global version, the Elantra, is likely to follow in 2027.

Motor1’s take: Hyundai is known for its bold designs, and the eighth-generation Elantra certainly lives up to expectations. Regardless of the brand name, the launch of any new sedan is always welcome news, and we’re certainly pleased to see that this segment of mainstream vehicles hasn’t been neglected.

There’s even more reason to be excited about the future, as a high-performance “N” version with a larger engine has already been announced. However, we will likely have to wait a few years before it reaches the markets, as the priority will be to release the standard versions first.