Hyundai Elantra Five Generations (1996-present)

Five generations covered. 3rd gen (XD/XD2, 2001-2006): 2.0L Beta I4 (135 hp), 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto. Built at Ulsan. 4th gen (HD, 2007-2010): 2.0L Beta II (138 hp), available 5-speed manual / 4-speed auto. Touring wagon variant offered. 5th gen (MD, 2011-2016): redesigned 'fluidic sculpture' styling, 1.8L Nu I4 (148 hp) base, 2.0L Nu (173 hp), 6-speed automatic. Strong sales — won 2012 North American Car of the Year. 6th gen (AD, 2017-2020): more conservative restyle. 2.0L Nu I4 (147 hp) base, 1.4L turbo I4 (128 hp) Eco, 1.6L turbo I4 (201 hp) Sport trim — first Elantra Sport with 7-speed DCT. 7th gen (CN7, 2021-present): redesigned 'parametric jewel' angular styling on K3 platform shared with Kia K4. 2.0L Smartstream I4 (147 hp / 132 lb-ft, IVT continuously variable transmission), 1.6L turbo hybrid I4 + electric motor (139 hp combined, 6-speed DCT), and the halo Elantra N with 2.0L turbo Theta II / G4KH I4 (276 hp / 289 lb-ft), 6-speed manual or 8-speed wet DCT, FWD with mechanical LSD, Pirelli P Zero tires, Brembo brakes, N-tuned suspension, exhaust crackle map. 2024 facelift: refreshed front fascia (more cohesive parametric grille), revised LED lighting, updated 10.25-inch infotainment + 10.25-inch digital cluster across most trims. N got revised front bumper design and Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires. Trims include: SE (cloth, 16-inch), SEL (volume), SEL Sport (visual sport pack), Hybrid Blue / Limited, Limited (top non-N — leather, sunroof, 17-inch), and N (the genuine hot sedan). Sold-in-Mexico Elantra GT hatchback (i30-related) US-spec was dropped after 2020 — succeeded by Kona / Venue. The Elantra N has earned strong reviews — quicker than Civic Si, manual gearbox better than VW Jetta GLI, and feels more genuinely tuned-for-fun than its rivals.