The 2021 Hyundai Elantra has been named the North American Car of the Year by the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year automotive media jury. This is the second time the Hyundai sedan, made in Montgomery, has won the Car of the Year title — the other was in 2012.
“Thank you to all of the jurors. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire company, our Alabama and Ulsan plant employees who build Elantra and our dealers,” said José Muñoz, global chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor Co., and president and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. “Elantra is a symbol of our blend of dynamic design, advanced technology and great fuel economy. Elantra customers are going to experience all of the hard work and dedication that went into making this class-leading car.”
Jurors tested and evaluated 40 new vehicles before voting for the top three cars, utility vehicles and trucks. The other finalists in the category with Elantra were the Nissan Sentra and Genesis G80.
The seventh-generation Elantra has a new look with a Parametric Dynamics jewel-patterned grill and H-tail lamp. On the interior of the vehicle, a new 10-inch information display cluster and infotainment center provides more amenities to drivers and passengers.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama makes the Elantra and Sonata sedans and the Santa Fe SUV. This year, the plant is expected to add the Santa Cruz to the production lineup, followed in 2022 by the Tucson SUV.
