Hyundai Elantra (CN7) review: the compact sedan that asks nothing of you
3.8/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
Buy the mid-spec trim with the 2.0-litre engine over the base 1.6 — the extra power matters more in Bahrain's summer traffic than the small fuel saving does, and the 2.0 is the volume engine so parts and used-market liquidity are better. Avoid nothing in particular; this generation has been reliable. The boot and rear legroom are the real reasons to pick it over a Civic or Corolla.
Pros
- Class-leading rear legroom and boot space
- Longer standard warranty than the Japanese default
- Conventional 6-speed automatic every workshop knows
- Comfortable, quiet ride on Bahrain's patched roads
- Lower running costs than Civic/Corolla equivalents
Cons
- Softer handling than a Civic if you actually enjoy driving
- Resale value still trails Corolla and Civic
- Base 1.6 engine feels stretched with AC and full load
- Interior plastics in lower trims feel cost-cut
- Infotainment graphics look dated next to newer rivals
Hyundai redesigned the Elantra for 2021 around a polarizing "Parametric Dynamics" exterior, and whatever you think of the creased bodywork, the interior underneath it is the most spacious in its class. Rear legroom in particular is class-leading, which matters more in a family-first market like Bahrain than a sharper turn-in would.
The 2.0-litre Smartstream four is the sensible GCC engine choice over the entry 1.6: 147 hp is enough to keep up with Budaiya Highway traffic without straining, and the conventional six-speed automatic is a known quantity that every independent workshop in the country can service without a scan tool waiting list.
Daily driving in Bahrain
The Elantra's ride is tuned soft, which pays off on Manama's patchwork of speed bumps and repaired tarmac but means it leans more than a Civic through a roundabout taken with any enthusiasm. That is the correct trade-off for what this car is actually used for here — school runs, the causeway, and long stretches of flat highway — and the cabin stays quiet enough at 120 km/h that the compromise rarely announces itself.
Ownership and resale
Hyundai's Bahrain distributor has consistently offered a longer standard warranty than the Japanese default, which narrows the gap that used to push buyers toward a Corolla or Civic on trust alone. Resale is the one place the Elantra still trails those two — it depreciates a little faster — but the gap is smaller than it was a decade ago, and the running costs during ownership are lower.
The Elantra will not convert anyone who wants a driver's car, and Hyundai never claimed it would. What it does is undercut the Civic and Corolla on space and standard equipment while asking for a comparable or lower price, which is a straightforward proposition for a straightforward car.