Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) officially launched the 2021 Hyundai Elantra in Malaysia today. The new C-segment sedan is certainly more eye-catching than its competition thanks to its aggressive styling, and since the seventh generation Elantra is fully imported (CBU) from South Korea, it costs quite a bit more too.

As we’ve previously reported, only a single variant of the new Elantra is offered for the Malaysian market. Retailing at RM158,888 (excluding insurance), this price is actually with tax exemption applied, so expect the C-segment sedan to cost even more come next year.

For that kind of money, the latest Elantra does come with some nice bells and whistles. Aside from its unique looks, it also features Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of active safety features, which include Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with stop and go function, and Lane Following Assist (LFA).

As for what’s under the hood, the Elantra is powered by a 1.6L SmartStream four-cylinder MPI engine that offers 123PS and 154Nm of torque paired with Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), the Korean company’s version of a CVT gearbox. It is said to offer “superior efficiency and simulates gear shifts” like a conventional automatic transmission.

Other specifications of the new Elantra include 17-inch alloy wheels, two choices of interior colour scheme (black or light grey), leather seats, six airbags, and four colour options: Intense Blue, Amazon Grey, Electric Shadow, and Polar White.

To recap, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra is now on sale in Malaysia for RM158,888. This being a CBU from South Korea, it obviously doesn’t offer as good value for money as other C-segment sedans, such as the locally assembled (CKD) Honda Civic. Nonetheless, the new Elantra is easily one of the most eye-catching sedans in the market now, though its aggressive styling may not be to everyone’s taste.