The 2012 Hyundai Elantra Gets Even Better
The award-winning Elantra continues to combat high gas prices in 2012 by adding an ActiveECO System that modifies engine and transmission control to smooth out throttle response and increase real-world fuel economy by up to seven percent. In addition, the 2012 Elantra has added several new convenience features to enhance passenger comfort.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2012 ELANTRA
- Dual-shell horn for improved sound
- New steering calibration for better on-center feel
- Fog lights added to GLS Preferred Package
- Passenger-side sun visor extension added to GLS Preferred Package
- Optional roadside assistance kit
- New color choices: Shimmering White, Midnight Black and Indigo Night

2012 Elantra |
2012 Civic |
2011 Corolla |
2011 Sentra |
2012 Focus |
2011 Mazda3 |
2011 Cruze |
|
| Engine | 1.8L I4 |
1.8L I4 |
1.8L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
1.8L I4 |
| HP | 148 @ 6500 |
140 @ 6500 |
132 @ 6000 |
140 @ 5100 |
160 @ 6500 |
148 @ 6500 |
136 @ 6300 |
| Specific output (HP/Liter) | 82.2 |
77.8 |
73.3 |
70.0 |
80.0 |
74.0 |
75.6 |
| Torque | 131 @ 4700 |
128 @ 4300 |
128 @ 4400 |
147 @ 4800 |
146 @ 4450 |
135 @ 4500 |
125 @ 3800 |
| Trans. | 6MT or AT |
5MT or 5AT |
5MT or 4AT |
6M or CVT |
5MT or 6AT |
5M or 5AT |
6MT or 6AT |
| MPG (A/T) | 29/40 |
28/39 |
26/34 |
27/34 |
28/38 |
24/33 |
22/35 |
| MPG (M/T) | 29/40 |
28/36 |
28/35 |
24/31 |
26/36 |
25/33 |
26/36 |
2012 Elantra |
2012 Civic |
2011 Corolla |
2011 Cruze |
2011 Sentra |
2012 Focus |
|
| Passenger volume (cu. ft.) | 95.6 |
94.6 |
92.1 |
94.6 |
97.4 |
90.7 |
| Cargo volume (cu. ft.) |
14.8 |
12.5 |
12.3 |
15.4 |
13.1 |
13.2 |
| Total interior volume (cu. ft.) | 110.4 |
102.9 |
104.3 |
110.0 |
110.5 |
103.9 |
| EPA size classification | Mid-size |
Compact |
Compact |
Mid-size |
Mid-size |
Compact |
| Vehicle | Curb Weight (lbs.) M/T |
Horsepower |
Power-to-weight ratio |
| Hyundai Elantra | 2,661 |
148 |
18.0 |
| Ford Focus | 2,907 |
160 |
18.2 |
| Honda Civic | 2,608 |
140 |
18.6 |
| Mazda 3 | 2,859 |
148 |
19.3 |
| Nissan Sentra | 2,875 |
140 |
20.5 |
| Toyota Corolla | 2,734 |
132 |
20.7 |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 3,031 |
136 |
22.3 |

| Storage area | Elantra |
Corolla |
Mazda 3 |
| Front console tray | 1500 cc |
700 cc |
400 cc |
| Glove box capacity | 9000 cc |
9000 cc |
5400 cc |
| Console storage capacity | 6000 cc |
4000 cc |
4800 cc |
| Console side tray | 400 cc |
200 cc |
N/A |
| Total | 16,900 cc |
13,900 cc |
10,600 cc |
| NVH* | Elantra |
Corolla |
| Idle vibration (Wheel) | 106 |
107 |
| Idle vibration (Floor) | 95 |
96 |
| Idle Noise | 39 |
40 |
| Road Noise | 74 |
75 |
| Interior Noise (Wind Tunnel - dBA @68mph) |
63.7 |
65.3 |

MPG (city/highway) |
MSRP |
|
| Hyundai Elantra M/T | 29/40 |
$15,195 |
| Additional Costs | $0 |
MPG (city/highway) |
MSRP |
|
| Ford Focus | 26/36 |
$17,295 |
| Ford Focus SE Sedan Super Fuel Economy Package | 28/40 |
$19,785 |
| Additional Costs | $2,490 |
MPG (city/highway) |
MSRP |
|
| Chevrolet Cruze | 26/36 |
$17,275 |
| Chevrolet Cruze Eco M/T | 28/42 |
$19,175 |
| Additional Costs | $1,900 |
MPG (city/highway) |
MSRP |
|
| Honda Civic | 28/36 |
$16,555 |
| Honda Civic HF A/T | 29/41 |
$20,205 |
| Additional Costs | $3,650 |
| 2012 Elantra Specifications | ||
| GLS | Limited | |
| Engine | ||
| Type | DOHC D-CVVT (Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing) | DOHC D-CVVT (Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing) |
| Materials | Aluminum block and head | Aluminum block and head |
| Displacement | 1.8L / 1,797 cc | 1.8L / 1,797 cc |
| Horsepower | 148 @ 6,500 rpm (ULEV) / 145 @ 6,300 rpm (PZEV) | 148 @ 6,500 rpm (ULEV) / 145 @ 6,300 rpm (PZEV) |
| Torque | 131 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm (ULEV) / 130 @ 4,700rpm (PZEV) | 131 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm (ULEV) / 130 @ 4,700rpm (PZEV) |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Bore & Stroke | 81.0 x87.2 (mm) | 81.0 x87.2 (mm) |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Transmission | ||
| Gear Ratios | MT/AT | AT |
| 6-Speed Manual | ||
| First | 3.308 | - |
| Second | 1.962 | - |
| Third | 1.257 | - |
| Fourth | 0.976 | - |
| Fifth | 0.778 | - |
| Sixth | 0.633 | - |
| Reverse | 3.583 | - |
| Final Drive | 4.333 | - |
| 6-speed electronic automatic with overdrive lock-up torque converter, gate type, electronic shift lock system, SHIFTRONIC™ manual shift mode | ||
| First | 4.400 | 4.400 |
| Second | 2.726 | 2.726 |
| Third | 1.834 | 1.834 |
| Fourth | 1.392 | 1.392 |
| Fifth | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| Sixth | 0.774 | 0.774 |
| Reverse | 3.440 | 3.440 |
| Final Drive | 3.065 | 3.065 |
| Suspension | ||
| Front | Independent, MacPherson struts with coil springs, hydraulic twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers, and 23mm stabilizer bar | Independent, MacPherson struts with coil springs, hydraulic twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers, and 23mm stabilizer bar |
| Rear | Torsion axle with gas-filled, hydraulic monotube shock absorbers and coil springs | Torsion axle with gas-filled, hydraulic monotube shock absorbers and coil springs |
| Steering | ||
| Type | Rack-and-pinion type, power assisted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) | Rack-and-pinion type, power assisted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) |
| Overall Ratio | 14.2:1 | 14.2:1 |
| Turns, lock to lock | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Turning circle (curb to curb) | 34.78 ft. | 34.78 ft. |
| Brakes/ Tires/ Wheels | ||
| Front | 11.0 in. ventilated discs | 11.0 in. ventilated discs |
| Rear | 10.3 in. solid discs | 10.3 in. solid discs |
| ABS | 4-wheels, 4-channels, 4-sensors with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | 4-wheels, 4-channels, 4-sensors with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) |
| Tires | P195/65TR15, P205/55HR16 | P215/45HR17 |
| Wheels | 15-in. steel with wheel cover / 16-in. steel and alloy | 17-in. alloy |
| Exterior Dimensions | ||
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in. | 106.3 in. |
| Overall length | 178.3 in. | 178.3 in. |
| Overall width | 69.9 in. | 69.9 in. |
| Overall height | 56.5 in. | 56.5 in. |
| Tread width (front/rear) - 15" | 61.5 in. / 62.0 in. | - |
| Tread width (front/rear) - 16 | 61.0 in. / 61.5 in. | - |
| Tread Width (front/rear) - 17" | - | 61.1 in. / 61.6 in. |
| Minimum Ground Clearance | 5.5 in. | 5.5 in. |
| Coefficient of drag (Cd) | 0.28 | 0.28 |
| Interior Dimensions | ||
| Head room | ||
| Front | 40.0 in. | 40.0 in. |
| Rear | 37.1 in. | 37.1 in. |
| Leg room | ||
| Front | 43.6 in. | 43.6 in. |
| Rear | 33.1 in. | 33.1 in. |
| Shoulder room | ||
| Front | 55.9 in. | 55.9 in. |
| Rear | 54.8 in. | 54.8 in. |
| Hip room | ||
| Front | 53.5 in. | 53.5 in. |
| Rear | 52.7 in. | 52.7 in. |
| EPA Volume | ||
| Passenger Volume | 95.6 cubic ft. | 95.6 cubic ft. |
| Cargo (Trunk) Volume | 14.8 cubic ft. | 14.8 cubic ft. |
| Total Volume | 110.4 cubic ft. | 110.4 cubic ft. |
| Capacities | ||
| Fuel | 12.8 gallons | 12.8 gallons |
| Curb Weight | ||
| 6-speed manual | 2,661 - 2,820 | - |
| 6-speed automatic | 2,701 - 2,877 | 2,701 - 2,877 |
| EPA Fuel Economy | ||
| City | 29 mpg | 29 mpg |
| Highway | 40 mpg | 40 mpg |
| Combined | 33 mpg | 33 mpg |
| 2012 Elantra Features | ||
GLS |
Limited |
|
| Functional Features | ||
| Body construction: | ||
| Steel unibody | STD |
STD |
| Engine: | ||
| 1.8L DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder with D-CVVT | STD |
STD |
| Steering: | ||
| Rack-and-pinion type steering gear | STD |
STD |
| Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), power assisted | STD |
STD |
| Suspension: | ||
| Front: Independent, MacPherson struts with coil springs, hydraulic twin-tube gas-filled shock absorbers and 23mm stabilizer bar | STD |
STD |
| Rear: Torsion axle suspension with coil springs and gas-filled hydraulic monotube shock absorbers | STD |
STD |
| Transmission/drive system: | ||
| 6-speed manual transmission | STD |
- |
| 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive lock-up torque converter, gate type, electronic shift lock system | OPT |
STD |
| SHIFTRONIC™ manual shift mode (A/T only) | OPT |
STD |
| Front wheel drive | STD |
STD |
| Exterior Features | ||
| Center High-Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL/rear package tray) | STD |
STD |
| Front fog lights | OPT |
STD |
| Daytime running lights | STD |
STD |
| Automatic headlights | - |
Included with Navigation |
| Headlights with escort function and Headlight welcome function | STD |
STD |
| Dual heated bodycolor power outside mirrors | STD |
STD |
| Dual heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicator | - |
STD |
| Bumper, bodycolor | STD |
STD |
| Grille, chrome accent | STD |
- |
| Grille, black chrome | - |
STD |
| Door handles, bodycolor | STD |
STD |
| Windshield shade band | OPT |
STD |
| Tinted glass | STD |
STD |
| Solar glass | OPT |
STD |
| Front 2-speed intermittent windshield wipers with mist function | STD |
STD |
| Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof, safety one-touch | - |
STD |
| Wheels & Tires | ||
| 15-in. steel wheel and P195/65R15T tires | STD |
- |
| 16-in. steel wheel and P205/55R16H tires | OPT |
- |
| 16-in. alloy wheel and P205/55R16H tires | OPT |
- |
| 17-in. alloy wheel and P215/45R17H tires | - |
STD |
| Interior Features | ||
| Roof trim, high density non-woven | STD |
STD |
| Door trim, cloth inserts | OPT |
- |
| Door trim, leatherette inserts | - |
STD |
| Door handles, metal paint | STD |
STD |
| Door armrest, integrated | STD |
STD |
| Door map pockets with bottle holders, front and rear | STD |
STD |
| Sunvisors with vanity mirrors with cover | STD |
STD |
| Driver sunvisor extension | OPT |
STD |
| Illuminated vanity mirrors | OPT |
STD |
| Shift knob, urethane | STD |
- |
| Shift knob, leather | - |
STD |
| Parking brake handle | STD |
STD |
| Floor covering, needle punch carpeting | STD |
STD |
| Door scuff, step plate | STD |
STD |
| Air conditioning | OPT |
STD |
| Air Conditioning Prep Package | STD |
- |
| Heater with rear seat heater ducts | STD |
STD |
| Cabin air filter | STD |
STD |
| Rear window defroster | STD |
STD |
| Urethane steering wheel | STD |
- |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | - |
STD |
| Tilt steering wheel | STD |
STD |
| Telescopic steering wheel | OPT |
STD |
| Steering wheel audio controls | OPT |
STD |
| Cruise control | OPT |
STD |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition | OPT |
STD |
| Interior Illumination | ||
| Central dome light with delay | STD |
STD |
| Front map lights with sunglass holder | STD |
STD |
| Cargo area light | STD |
STD |
| Illuminated ignition key cylinder surround | OPT |
STD |
| I/P switch illumination (hazard) | STD |
STD |
| Convenience Features | ||
| Cruise control, steering wheel mounted | OPT |
STD |
| Trip computer (distance to empty, average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed and elapsed time) | STD |
STD |
| Power windows with driver's auto-down, all window switches illuminated | STD |
STD |
| Power windows with driver's auto-up | - |
STD |
| Power door locks | STD |
STD |
| Remote keyless entry system with alarm, panic and trunk open | STD |
STD |
| Remote fuel filler door, hood, and trunk releases | STD |
STD |
| Trunk inner cover | STD |
STD |
| Lower console storage box with cover | STD |
STD |
| Center console, fixed armrest storage box | STD |
- |
| Center console, sliding armrest | OPT |
STD |
| Dual cupholders, front center console-mounted | STD |
STD |
| Rear center armrest with cupholders | STD |
STD |
| 12-volt outlet (2) | STD |
STD |
| Assist grips (3) | STD |
STD |
| Rear coat hanger (1) | STD |
STD |
| Glove compartment with dampers | STD |
STD |
| Inside rearview mirror, manual day/night | STD |
STD |
| Proximity key entry with electronic push button start | - |
OPT |
| Seats | ||
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | STD |
- |
| Leather seating surfaces | - |
STD |
| Heated front seats | - |
STD |
| Driver seat with 6-way adjustment with height adjustment | STD |
STD |
| Front passenger slide/recline | STD |
STD |
| Front passenger seatback pocket | STD |
STD |
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback with adjustable head restraints | STD |
STD |
| Rear seat folding release in trunk | STD |
STD |
| Rear center armrest with cupholders | STD |
STD |
| Heated rear seats | - |
STD |
| Safety & Security | ||
| Driver and front passenger advanced airbags | STD |
STD |
| Occupant Classification System (OCS) | STD |
STD |
| Driver and front passenger side-impact airbags (2) | STD |
STD |
| Front and rear passengers side air curtains (2) | STD |
STD |
| Event data recorder | STD |
STD |
| Adjustable front-seat shoulder belt anchors | STD |
STD |
| Front seatbelt pretensioners | STD |
STD |
| Lower Anchors and Upper Tether Anchors (LATCH) | STD |
STD |
| Power window lock-out button | STD |
STD |
| Child safety locks (rear) | STD |
STD |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with 4-wheel disc brakes and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | STD |
STD |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) | STD |
STD |
| Brake Assist | STD |
STD |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | STD |
STD |
| Energy-absorbing steering column | STD |
STD |
| Front and rear crumple zones | STD |
STD |
| 5-MPH bumpers | STD |
STD |
| Front and Rear Door Bodyside reinforcements | STD |
STD |
| Shift interlock system | STD |
STD |
| Steering wheel locks when key is removed | STD |
OPT |
| Anti-theft system integrated with remote keyless entry and panic alert | STD |
STD |
| Immobilizer | - |
OPT |
| Emergency Trunk Release | STD |
STD |
| Instrumentation | ||
| Meters/gauges: Speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, digital odometer, trip odometer, digital clock and external temperature | STD |
STD |
| Indicators: turn signal/hazard, high beam and EcoShift indicator | STD |
- |
| Indicators: Digital PRND, turn signal/hazard, and high beam | - |
STD |
| Indicator: Cruise control | OPT |
STD |
| Indicator: Eco indicator (A/T) | OPT |
STD |
| Indicator: Front foglight | - |
STD |
| Warning lights: Oil pressure, battery charge, door ajar, airbag, seatbelt, low fuel, trunk lid open, brake, check engine, ABS, TPMS, ESC and water temperature | STD |
STD |
| Warning chimes: Key-in-ignition with door ajar and seatbelt | STD |
STD |
| Adjustable illumination level | STD |
STD |
| Audio System | ||
| Autonet 172-Watt AM/FM/XM® Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers (two front-door-mounted speakers, two tweeters and two rear speakers) | STD |
STD |
| 360-Watt 7-in. navigation system with high resolution touchscreen with rearview camera and picture slide show, AM/FM/XM ® Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system and premium audio with external amp | OPT |
OPT |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition | OPT |
STD |
| Auxiliary input jack and iPod®/USB port | STD |
STD |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | STD |
STD |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | STD |
STD |
| Roof-mounted XM® antenna, bodycolor | STD |
STD |
| GLS Comfort Equipment Package includes air conditioning, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel, solar glass, windshield sunshade band, 16-in. steel wheels with full wheel covers and P205/55R16 tires | OPT |
- |
| GLS Preferred Equipment Package requires Comfort Equipment Package and includes 16-in. alloy wheels, front fog lights, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition, cloth insert door trim, sliding center armrest, illuminated vanity mirrors with driver extension and illuminated ignition | OPT |
- |
| Limited Technology Package includes navigation system with 7-in. screen, rearview camera, 360-Watt premium audio with digital external amp and automatic headlamps, proximity key entry with electronic push button start with immobilizer | - |
OPT |