2021 Hyundai Elantra MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra gets up to 37 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 54 mpg as a hybrid, across 6 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Hyundai Elantra · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

37MPG combined

33 city 43 highway

$1,700 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score8/10

2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · auto start-stop

Best hybrid version

54MPG combined

53 city 56 highway

$1,150 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score10/10

1.6L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual · Blue

Best version saves $5,250 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,150 to $2,200 a year. New for 2021: a hybrid version.

More complaints than a typical Elantra year

The 2021 drew 102 owner complaints in its first three years, against 101 for a typical Elantra year.

Years to avoid: 2013; best years: 2016 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Elantra year ranked The 2021 Elantra's recalls and problems

Every 2021 Elantra version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
Hybrid
1.6L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual · Blue Best EPA listing: Elantra Hybrid Blue	54 mpg	53 / 56	$1,150
1.6L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual EPA listing: Elantra Hybrid	50 mpg	49 / 52	$1,250
Gas
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · auto start-stop EPA listing: Elantra	37 mpg	33 / 43	$1,700
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · no start-stop EPA listing: Elantra	35 mpg	31 / 41	$1,800
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual EPA listing: Elantra	31 mpg	28 / 36	$2,000
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Elantra	28 mpg	25 / 34	$2,200

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.6L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual · Blue	$1,111	$93	$5,556
1.6L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · 6-speed automated manual	$1,200	$100	$6,000
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · auto start-stop	$1,622	$135	$8,108
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · no start-stop	$1,714	$143	$8,571
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 7-speed automated manual	$1,935	$161	$9,677
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,143	$179	$10,714

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Hyundai Elantra MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 29 to 37 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2021. Hybrid: 54 mpg (2021 to 2026).

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2021: gas 37 mpg · hybrid 54 mpg

Show as a table

Hyundai Elantra best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	29	–
2011	32	–
2012	32	–
2013	32	–
2014	31	–
2015	31	–
2016	31	–
2017	35	–
2018	35	–
2019	35	–
2020	36	–
2021	37	54
2022	37	54
2023	37	54
2024	36	54
2025	36	54
2026	35	54

Every Elantra year's ratings in one table

How the 2021 Elantra compares

2021 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	56 mpg	–	$1,100
Hyundai Elantra This page Best: hybrid	54 mpg	37 mpg	$1,150
Toyota Corolla Best: hybrid	52 mpg	35 mpg	$1,200
Honda Civic Best: gas	36 mpg	36 mpg	$1,750
Kia Forte Best: gas	35 mpg	35 mpg	$1,800
Volkswagen Jetta Best: gas	34 mpg	34 mpg	$1,850
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Mazda3 Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000

Hyundai Elantra vs Honda CivicMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2021 Elantra recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 162 owner complaints for the 2021 Elantra.

Owners most often describe backup camera problems (13 complaints, 8%), then unintended acceleration (10). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2021 Elantra recalls and problems

Questions

How much fuel does the 2021 Elantra hybrid save?

Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,150 a year to fuel against $1,700 for the gas model: $550 a year, or $2,750 over five years.

Does the 2021 Hyundai Elantra need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Hyundai Elantra version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Elantra's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 37 mpg, up 1 from 36.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.