- The new Elantra hybrid (Avante in South Korea) achieves a 10 percent increase in fuel efficiency.
- The hybrid returns 49.87 miles per gallon combined, up from 45.16 mpg on the outgoing model.
- The new Elantra hybrid is larger than the outgoing model with a more powerful hybrid powertrain.
In June, Hyundai unveiled the eighth-generation Elantra (Avante in South Korea), a big departure from the current car. It has an all-new design, a larger footprint, and a more powerful hybrid engine, but despite those changes, the electrified sedan will be even more efficient.
According to several Korean publications, including The Asia Business Daily, Hyundai has released global fuel economy figures for the hybrid sedan, and it achieves a 10 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid, on 17-inch wheels, is rated at 21.2 kilometers per liter (around 49.87 miles per gallon).
The previous-generation hybrid model, on 17-inch wheels, achieved 19.2 km/l (45.16 mpg combined). The new one also outperforms the old model on 16-inch rims, returning 49.63 mpg domestically.
- New Hyundai Elantra Hybrid — 21.2 KM/L (49.9 MPG)
- Current Hyundai Elantra Hybrid — 19.2 KM/L (49.6 MPG)
What Does That Mean For America?
In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency oversees fuel economy ratings for passenger cars. It currently rates the seventh-generation Elantra Hybrid with 16-inch wheels at 54 miles per gallon combined.
That drops to 50 mpg combined for 2026 models with 17-inch wheels. It is on par with the new Elantra in Korea, and that’s despite the new one making more power and weighing more. The new hybrid engine makes 155 horsepower, 16 more than the current car.
Hyundai hasn’t unveiled the new Elantra for the North American market, so some aspects could change on the US-bound model that affect the fuel economy ratings. We expect a debut soon, with only minor changes under the hood, but the Avante reveal from June gives a lot of clues.
Motor1’s Take: Even if the new Elantra doesn’t match the current car’s fuel economy rating, the increase in size and more powerful engine are worth the minor ding in efficiency. Nearly 50 miles per gallon is remarkable at a time when consumers are gobbling up hybrid vehicles at an alarming rate.
