ELANTRA MD

About the Elantra MD

Fifth-gen Elantra, and Hyundai got aggressive with the design. The MD had sculpted body panels, angular headlights, and a look that turned heads for the first time in Elantra history. The 1.8 Nu made 148 hp, the Coupe got a 2.0 at 173 hp, and the Sport arrived later with a 2.0 turbo making 201 hp paired with a six-speed manual. That Sport was genuinely fun. The base car was good-looking transportation with a CVT-like six-speed auto that did its job without enthusiasm. Interior quality improved with available leather and a touchscreen, though some plastics were still budget-grade. The MD Elantra sold over 200,000 units annually in the US because it looked like it cost more than it did. Hyundai had figured out that design sells as much as specs.