2027 Hyundai Elantra revealed at 2026 Busan Mobility Show — What's new in design, dimensions, tech, and powertrains

Hyundai unveiled the eighth-generation Elantra at the 2026 Busan Mobility Show. In South Korea, the car is sold under the Avante name and will reach buyers there in the third quarter of 2026.

Global markets, including those that sell it as the Elantra, will receive the new model starting 2027. The compact sedan segment is among the most competitive in the automotive world, and Hyundai has clearly used this generation to push the Elantra toward a more premium, technology-driven proposition.

2027 Hyundai Elantra design — What has changed?

The new Hyundai Elantra adopts Hyundai's Art of Steel design philosophy, which is a departure from the more angular Parametric Dynamics language used on the seventh-generation car. The front end features ultra-slim LED daytime running lamps positioned high on the bonnet, with the actual headlamp units moved lower into the bumper, creating a split-headlamp arrangement.

Along the sides, sharply sculpted wheel arches, flush door handles, and an additional quarter glass behind the rear doors give the sedan a more elongated and premium look. The rear carries an H-shaped LED lighting signature, a wide ducktail integrated spoiler, and a diffuser-inspired lower bumper. Hyundai also redesigned the 18-inch alloy wheels for this generation. Six exterior colours and three interior themes are offered.

Grown in every dimension

The eighth-generation Hyundai Elantra is physically larger than its predecessor across all key measurements. Overall length is now 4,765 mm, an increase of 55 mm. The wheelbase stretches to 2,750 mm, up by 30 mm. Width increases by 30 mm to 1,855 mm, while height stands at 1,425 mm. Hyundai says the added length and wheelbase particularly benefit rear-seat passengers, with interior space now approaching what is typically associated with midsize sedans like the Sonata.

2027 Hyundai Elantra interior & features

The next-gen Hyundai interior is the area of most significant change. The dashboard adopts a clean, furniture-inspired layout with soft-touch materials throughout. The centrepiece is the Pleos Connect infotainment system, built on an Android platform. Buyers can choose between a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch touchscreen depending on the variant.

Gleo AI, Hyundai's generative AI voice assistant, makes its Elantra debut here. It is capable of natural language conversations, context-aware responses, and integrates with navigation and vehicle control functions. The same system recently appeared on the facelifted Grandeur.

Despite the large touchscreen, Hyundai has retained a row of physical buttons and rotary controls below the screen for climate and volume functions. The gear selector has moved to a column-mounted stalk, freeing up the centre console for storage and dual wireless charging pads. A slim digital instrument cluster sits closer to the windshield. Other cabin features include a Bang and Olufsen premium audio system, a built-in dashcam, 100W USB-C fast charging, and ambient lighting. The four-dot Hyundai emblem (first used on the Venue) replaces the traditional H logo on the steering wheel.

Eight-gen Hyundai Elantra safety suite gets a significant upgrade

The new Hyundai Elantra offers 10 airbags as standard, a meaningful improvement over the previous generation. The ADAS suite has also been expanded and includes Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control 2, which uses map data to adjust speed ahead of curves and intersections; Remote Smart Parking Assist; Memory Reversing Assist; Shift-by-Wire P-mode Emergency Braking; and Pedal Misuse Safety Assist, which is designed to reduce the risk of accidentally pressing the accelerator instead of the brake.

Petrol and hybrid powertrains

At launch in South Korea, Hyundai will offer two engine options. The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine has been updated to produce 147 hp, up approximately 26 hp over the previous version. This unit is expected to form the volume seller in most markets.

The second option is a 1.6-litre self-charging parallel hybrid system. The updated hybrid combines a revised petrol engine with a larger battery pack and a more powerful electric motor to produce a combined output of 155 hp. It also benefits from Hyundai's Smart Regenerative Braking 3.0 and a new Hybrid Hierarchical Predictive Control System that uses navigation data to optimise battery charge and discharge for better fuel economy on familiar routes.

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