2021 Hyundai Elantra Review: Watch out, Honda! | CarGurus

The new 2021 Hyundai Elantra needs to be cross-shopped against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Shop for the new 2021 Hyundai Elantra on CarGurus: cargur.us/G28zL
The Hyundai Elantra has been a good car for a long time, and the latest generation is no different. Forrest Jones takes a 2021 model through its paces to see how it compares with the dominant sedans in the segment, notably the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
For more information on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, read a full overview on CarGurus: cargur.us/G28zL
Presenter: Forrest Jones
Cinematography: Phil Shuyler
Written review: Christian Wardlaw
Subscribe to the CarGurus Channel: / cargurus
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0:00 The 2021 Hyundai Elantra
0:33 Exterior
3:08 Engine, Transmission, and Fuel Economy
4:11 Interior
5:29 Backseat Experience
6:09 Trunk and Cargo Space
6:38 Driving Impressions
8:51 Pricing
9:38 Final Thoughts

[@2004cyrus]

Excellent job reviewing this Elantra, Forrest! Thanks for bringing this to us! I love have a great style & delivery. You are a natural presenter!

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Nice to see you @CarGurus dude.. Well Done. Great Review....

[@TM-uy4jg]

Great review Forrest!

[@baldheadlogic]

Great Review Forrest.

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

I have this car At this point we love it 2021 Elantra SEL Premium

[@cadensnider7163]

I’m about to get one and this helped me a lot thank you so much 😊

[@AlexBAlixir98]

Nice Review Forrest. Thanks for reviewing the Elantra. Hyundai is really stepping it up lately. Esp the interior looks really premium. The exterior is aggressively styled but not offensive.

[@kpopkpop5235]

better check out this documentary, before you buying it. Drivers fear for safety as years-long recall fails to catch some engine failures kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJrEfnuejNCGhNk

[@lastwhtknight3002]

@@kpopkpop5235 Thank u. After watching that I will never buy a Korean car. Ever!

[@kennethgarcia3539]

Just got one today and so far i love it

[@daebak7370]

What color?

[@danielx555]

I am getting the SEL this week. This is a great video, by the way!

[@food4thoughttopenureyez172]

Hey, did your sel come with big screen display or smaller one. And also does your key remote start your car...mine is sel n does not. Reason I'm asking....

[@mad_squidward]

Love this car just purchased mine about a month and a half ago doing well so far.

[@MistaWallSt]

Do u still have yours?

[@AndrewKNI]

Hello from Northern Ireland. Great review and nice looking car. Similar style to the new Tucson, which looks amazing in the metal. The Elantra would look better is white or red :-)

[@kingston376]

Bought a new one three weeks ago, I love it!

[@milesperry7420]

Can you review the 2021 Buick envision

[@amill1563]

Perhaps the angles make it less noticeable to radar. LoL

[@aryehrosenthal2138]

Great review. What are the features of the SEL Premium Package?

[@oldshowfanatic77]

So did George quit CarGurus? Haven’t seen a review from him in almost a year.

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

I am a 60 Yr driver And I feel great driving It does have a CVT transmission

[@robertwilliam9558]

I think that color looks the best that I've seen so far. Excellent review. Thanks

[@newchannel1220]

all Hyundai theta engines cease up around 50k-90k. thats why Hyundai changes its name to "smart stream". they are exact same engines but pretending as newly designed engine. Do not trust Hyundai - KIA.

[@jeffbeckmann7767]

@@newchannel1220 good thing it has 100k powertrain warranty

[@TheAxlin]

@@newchannel1220 I'm currently driving a 2012 Kia Forte with 130k miles and has never one time given me a single mechanical problem, which makes it literally the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned in my life. Not sure what you're on about but it seems to me that you're talking out of your ass.

[@tipoomaster]

I just feel slightly bait and switched that all the reviews have the two giant screens, but you have to go all the way up to the Ultimate plus tech package to get it. Without it, the standard dials bring down the high tech look imo.

[@Kenny-hm1jb]

exactly, I rarely found people reviewing the lower trims

[@rioguttaful]

Great Review! i would definitely rent it!

[@georgesampara1074]

Hey, I'm not a college student 😂but picked up this beautiful car ( SEL with convenience package)two weeks ago. It drives 🚗 smooth and the features are absolutely fantastic. Mine comes in fluid metal color and you guys know that no one in the industry can beat Hyundai/Kia warranty. Great review and thank you for all your work. Keep at it 😊👌👍

[@philipc239]

Standard remote start is a big plus! 👍👍👍

[@amill1563]

With an all new Civic arriving shortly this will have serious competition. However I will guess a loaded Civic will come in at just over 30k.

[@classic287]

I love the look of that car. I'm definitely going to drive one When I'm ready at the first of 2022

[@orlandoobeso5135]

Wow this Elantra is really nice looking

[@tristana.8304]

you should've reviewed the limited. this one has the smaller screen.

[@garfieldbrown4329]

Thank you 😢 I am interested in purchasing an Elantra!

[@AubreyBeauford]

Man I love the way it looks exterior especially; however, due to my need for speed I'll wait for the N-Line version. Awesome review!!!

[@lastwhtknight3002]

Agreed. Plus the new Civic is FUGLY.

[@AubreyBeauford]

@@lastwhtknight3002 😅😅😅

[@lofiguy8136]

Nice color 👌

[@papercutz09]

I bought a 2021 Elantra this past Friday that had both the Convenience and Premium packages. My test drive really surprised me from what I read about CVTs. This is mostly likely different because it’s an IVT, which has a chain belt instead of a metallic belt. I’m looking forward to a great new adventure. My previous car was a 2013 Elantra GLS that served me well. 😊

[@Krystaldoll282]

I’m seriously considering buying. Not sure what a good negation would look like? I’m in California.

[@newsomething8682]

@@Krystaldoll282 same here

[@joshuaB.Nicholas]

so it’s a good car to purchase

[@brycefrazier8173]

Forrest, in the opening scene you have a typo in the model. It is not an SLE but SEL. I have driven this car and I have to say I was amazed. The only thing I don't like is the styling. It is grossly overdone (as are many other cars these days) but it is so good otherwise I can overlook that.

[@lastwhtknight3002]

Mos def my fav car reviewer is this cat. He cool.

[@subway8322]

I love civic’s , I had a lot of civic in the past 8gen 9 gen and 9gen Si 2015 , I really love Mazda cars I have Mazda 6 and cx50 but the cx50 was so expensive for what is it , pretty nice suv but technologie is so old it’s like Mazda 3 2019 … so I exchanged it vs Elantra luxury ( limited in USA ) and I love love it ! My last drive was 31 miles and my speed was ( 55 mph - 70 mph ) and I get 53mpg !! Crazy thing it’s like a hybrid for 2.0 engine it’s impressive ! I hope the reliability will be good I want to keep it for long time I love the car !

[@B9M3]

Nice, but too bad not offered in a hatchback version.

[@seanbecker2232]

I test drove it and was very pleasantly surprised with how nice I thought it was...definitely a serious option for a next car

[@coraga1726]

Test drive the Civic its way better, has independent rear suspension. Elantra is just a polished turd

[@rockwjz]

Forrest has the best voice for car reviews!

[@iseehowitis9382]

Why is the car "angry" or "aggressive" looking. It's not the one paying $20,000 for me to sit in? Lol

[@sumatralex250]

It's pretty tough to find out an edge of Honda's compared to this one. If the price is in the same range, it's well designed.

[@evilplaya6350]

Its cheaper than civic

[@stephenhendricks103]

I have a theory that Hyundai vehicles go through the entire exterior design process before they're submitted to a committee that adds bulges and creases to an already finished design. Some models suffer more than others. IMO the Sonata manages to succeed to some extent. The Palisade and the Elantra, on the other hand, are full into origami mode.

[@daebak7370]

That zorro crease on side doors is overdone

[@terrencecitywide]

No place on the windshield for the ez pass in NY

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

Blue outside Black interior

[@thundergato84]

This car or a 2021 Toyota Corolla SE? 🤔

[@jasongallagher9547]

I own a 2011 elantra . it's a great car. I will definitely buy a new one. I hate the civic. I drove a civic and was very disappointed. I love the new Elantra.

[@sassouusasoo3607]

How dare you ?lol But the resell will never beat a Honda.

[@GlennLaycock]

I got an "Preferred" (middle model); and I agree .. why wouldn't someone put LED bulbs in the silly headlamps, its not worth the savings on those old fashion halogens to have to service those bulbs. The dealer said they have to remain halogen to maintain the warranty.

[@gvrmvny4698]

Damn really. It voids warranty? I was just about to buy some LEDs and change them on my 23 Elantra

[@GlennLaycock]

@@gvrmvny4698 many people flipped them out - so who knows.

[@hanamichizakuragi5021]

Im getting one right now , compare to toyota corolla nissan sentra and civic - elentra is way to go

[@jasongallagher9547]

It's a beautiful car. The limited has customizable gauges and you can pick the color of interior led lights. I love it

[@jraheemjefcoat429]

It's not North American Car of The Year for nothing! Hyundai is really a Rocky story. I test drove the new Limited trim Elantra. And to be honest, I couldn't tell at all that it has a CVT engine. It's really well tuned. And with all the features it has, is really unheard-of for that class of car. I do wish the Limited with the 10.2 inch screen has wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. But I get Hyundai's marketing strategy. Think about it. How many cars in the same class has standard wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto? So again, kudos to Hyundai for changing the game!

[@robertsparks3584]

Went with the 8 speed Sonata. Really cost wise not that much more and a far better car.

[@stms4331]

I live in Korea and I got my full option Elantra(aka Avante) July 2021. Pros: gives u shit load of cool experiences only for $23000 worth of car. Cons: Yea but still Elantra is Elantra. Accelleration is a bit slow with low HP

[@eleanorberberick9085]

Thanks for the review. I should should maybe have watched it sooner since you think it is a gr8 vehicle for younger folks. I'm 82 and I love the looks and feel of it. :D My only issue is figuring out how to lock the car from outside without using that dang key. Any help? Thanks again for the review.

[@Camaral24]

Just push the button on the door handle! 🙂

[@amill1563]

Can you cross promote your own channel here?

[@AldoFelt]

Great work Hyundai.

[@dsinghr]

Lexus is250 looks conservative in front of this design !

[@tareqislam1434]

This car looks like VENOM. yessir venom

[@xiro311]

I still can't get past that horrible interior "cockpit" handle going down the middle.

[@diegomontoya8889]

Wait, did you say remote start on the key fob? Sorry, I own a 2020 Subaru Outback XT Touring, so I thought that technology was only reserved for supercars, since Subaru makes me use an App on my phone (which always crashes) to turn my car on from the outside... I am just in awe and wonderment.

[@sergiuupop]

yes, it can start from the key.

[@googlereviewer5497]

You can also start the new Elantra with your phone

[@WHR0306]

"for the price of this car it would have LED head lights." It's not that expensive!

[@rioguttaful]

im all for the elantra bt im trying to vere away from that cvt transmission lol

[@keef4049]

It has an ivt transmission that uses a chain instead of a belt

[@mrdirector61]

I think it's sister the forte ex, is the better looking/less polarizing of the two. And, it gets cooled seats with its heated. However, for a little more coin, I'd take a Mazda3 any day over the South Korean brands. Thanks for the thorough video. I'm jealous of your big hair!

[@ztekz]

Afraid of Hyundai and Kia’s issues with their IVTs which this Elantra uses...IVTs being replaced at 2K-5K Miles already - check out their forums! Yikes! Not sure about the DCTs but I’d stay away from that as well...

[@ssamcobalt4956]

Manual transmission

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

My car has IVt Not Cvt

[@KhanhNguyen-ob5iy]

There is no such thing as SLE trim 0:15

[@keeperzero]

I was going to buy one of these until I started hearing about all the engine problems at Hyundai has I think I'm going to wait it out it's just too much of a risk with the engine that catches on fire

[@googlereviewer5497]

That was on older models .. it comes with a 100k warranty which in unheard of for other car brands

[@cyyoung6351]

I haven’t heard about a lot of engines problems.

[@googlereviewer5497]

@@cyyoung6351 I purchased the car and I love it

[@crimsonpearl4686]

What's up with this dude's hair??!!

[@JaysonT975]

you jealous baldy? 😂😂

[@Reddylion]

Hyundai will blow ho da out of water...

[@cyyoung6351]

I like your arrogance it’s good for somebody who’s a teenager or young person yeah because they have that kind of money to drop a new car I don’t care what your age is if you like the car by it can’t wait to you get over 50 so you can start implementing some of the limitations are trying to put on other people

[@grizzybear9111]

Watch out Honda ugly is here lol, this car is the ugliest thing I've seen since the Aztec. Plus no independent rear suspension like the Civic has. I don't think the new 2022 Civic has anything to worry about.

[@cyyoung6351]

You are obviously a Honda Head this car is far from ugly.

[@jrs9264]

way too much hard plastic touch points, engine has insufficient hp and torque, cheapo torsion beam rear suspension, no rear a/c outlets, front door creases look stupid.

[@elvis6855]

Which car is better?

[@BanBiofuels]

Never use the word "aggressive" in car reviews. It's over used and meaningless. A rabid dog is aggressive. An obnoxious drunk is aggressive. A Ted Bundy style serial killer is aggressive. Cars are supposed to be fun and friendly, like a metallic horse you ride. Car reviewers who use the word aggressive should get a dictionary and discover all the wonderful words that can be used to describe a vehicle that are not "aggressive."

[@forrestsautoreviewsofficial]

No need to be aggressive.

[@cesarsanchez5131]

😂

[@kristiec19]

Golly that comment sure did make me feel some type of an aggressive way...

[@neptunewaves]

The new Hyundai's are ugly

[@cyyoung6351]

Not to me.