This marks the second time the Elantra clinches this prestigious automotive title.
The Hyundai Elantra has recently been crowned the 2021 North American Car of the Year (NACOTY). Announced during a virtual event, this mid-sized South Korean sedan clinched this prestigious award over the other two finalists in contention, which were the Nissan Sentra and the Genesis G80.
Launched globally in the early part of 2020, this particular win in 2021 marks the second time the Elantra has won the North American Car of the Year award, having previously won it in 2012 too. To add to that, this particular Hyundai sedan is only the third car to have won this award more than once, with the other two cars to lay claim to being multi-award winners being the Chevrolet Corvette and the Honda Civic.
On sale now too in Malaysia, the local Elantra is available in only one well-equipped, fully-imported variant. Powered by a naturally aspirated 123 PS/154 Nm 1.6 litre four-cylinder mated to an Intelligent Variable Transmission CVT, this sharp-looking Hyundai sedan could be yours for RM 158,888 (inclusive of sales tax).
Currently in their 28th year running, the NACOTY awards are the longest ‘longest-running new-vehicle awards not associated with a single publication, website, radio or television station’. Consisting of a diverse jury of 50 automotive journalists from various outlets in both the United States and Canada, cars are judged on ‘segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar’.
Aside from the North American Car of the Year award, the jury also has the honour to crown the North American Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year. Both of which have been clinched by Ford this year, with the F-150 bagging the 2021 North American Truck of the Year award, while the Mustang Mach-E was named the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.
PRESS RELEASE: The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was named winner of the 2021 North American Car of the Year award today by the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) automotive media jury. This is the second time the Hyundai sedan has won Car of the Year (2012). Only two cars have won the award more than once (Chevrolet Corvette and Honda Civic) and this marks Hyundai’s third Car of the Year category win. The winner was announced during a virtual event.
“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 Company, president and CEO, 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.”
The jurors tested and evaluated more than 40 new vehicles before voting the top three cars, utility vehicles and trucks to be 2021 finalists. The Nissan Sentra and Genesis G80 were the other car finalists.
Now in their 28th year, the NACTOY awards are selected through a series of three separate votes by a diverse jury of automotive journalists from numerous outlets in the United States and Canada. Jurors evaluate the finalists based on segment leadership, innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.
Founded in 1994, these awards are the longest-running new-vehicle awards not associated with a single publication, website, radio or television station. Because of the jurors’ independence, these awards are among the most respected in the industry.
