Hyundai’s Elantra continues to be a strong seller for the company thanks to its sensible blend of technology and size (the N model is also a blast to drive.) But it’s also starting to age somewhat and the competition is catching up in multiple categories.

Hyundai is now preparing to enter a new chapter with the 2027 Elantra which brings a new identity and even more tech to the compact vehicle wars.

Elantra gets taken to reform school

The 2027 Elantra made its debut this week at the 2026 Busan Auto Show in South Korea but over in that market, it’s known as the Avante. Regardless of what name it has at the moment, this iteration of the car is vastly different than the outgoing oned with the exterior styling having even more angled lines than before with the front fascia getting slender daytime running lights, H-motif headlights, flared wheel arches, and a sportier side profile. The new lines also hide the fact this version of the Elantra is longer and wider than the outgoing model.

The “Art of Steel” themes here push the Elantra into sportier territory with the rear end in particular benefitting the most from this transformation. a large spoiler stretches acorss the entire trunk lid and the rear diffuser blurs the line between it and a future N model. Like the headlights, the taillights make an H motif and stylish 18-inch wheels inject a more futuristic flavor into the Elantra’s game.

Has the Elantra’s interior finally breached Mazda’s benchmark?

While the Mazda3 has also started to show its age, one of its most enduring traits is its impressive interior. With the exception of the lousy infotainment system, the rest of its cabin has created a formidable benchmark for rivals when it comes to interior quality.

Slip in the 2027 Elantra and it appears Hyundai has finally usurped Mazda in that regard. The interior feels like it should be in a car costing twice as much, and Hyundai doubled down on high quality soft-touch materials. The company’s Pleos infotainment system software comes standard on the Elantra, and while a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system is also standard, buyers can super size it up to a massive 14.6-inch infotainment system. A digital instrument cluster and ambient lighting are also part of the package and its good to see Hyundai still kept some analog controls for drivers to use.

Performance continues to go through the motions

Since the Avante is a South Korean offering, Hyundai chose to only talk about engines its home buyers will get to see with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder serving as the base engine over there. Buyers looking for more fuel economy can go for the 1.6-liter hybrid engine that sees its power go up slightly to 155 hp.

The hybrid gets a new “Stay Mode” that allows owners to use the battery to power the air conditioning and infotainment system. An updated regenerative braking system promises improved energy capture capabilities. Look for U.S. versions to possibly get both of these engines but with some tweaks to help them comply with U.S. emissions standards.

When can we buy one?

If you’re in South Korea, the first wave of 2027 Avantes are slated to go on sale towards the end of the year. As for the Elantra, look for those to go on sale in North America sometime in 2027.

Pricing and other details will be revealed later, but look for this iteration of the Elantra to senda very strong message to rivals in a segment that’s more important than ever.