2018 Hyundai Elantra

The 2017-2020 Hyundai Elantra is the AD generation and replaced the flowing styling of its predecessor with a more conservative, upright design. Engines were the 2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder, a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit in the Eco trim, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine in the Sport. Transmissions included a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, and a seven-speed dual-clutch on turbocharged models, driving the front wheels. A significant facelift for 2019 revised the front and rear styling and made driver-assistance features more widely available.

This generation improved structural rigidity and interior quality over the MD, and the Elantra Sport with the 1.6-liter turbo and an independent rear suspension was a genuinely capable small performance sedan. Equipment levels remained a strong point relative to price. The CN7 generation that followed in 2021 returned to dramatic styling.

For used buyers, the AD Elantra is a solid and well-equipped used compact. The engine bearing concerns affecting Hyundai's four-cylinders of this era extend into early years of this generation, and confirming that applicable recalls and the knock sensor detection software update were completed is worthwhile. The seven-speed dual-clutch on turbocharged models can feel hesitant in low-speed traffic, which is a characteristic to evaluate on a test drive rather than a defect. Post-2019 cars benefit from the added safety equipment.