The Elantra crossed the 1 million mark in 2005, followed by 2 million sales in 2013 and 3 million in 2018, averaging more than 100,000 units annually over nearly a quarter-century. (Image courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor’s compact sedan Elantra has surpassed 4 million cumulative sales in the United States, a rare achievement for a passenger car in a market dominated by sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
The milestone, reached in December 2025, makes the Elantra the first Korean-made vehicle to exceed 4 million sales in the U.S., according to Hyundai Motor. Since its American debut in 1991, the model has recorded total sales of more than 4.01 million units.
The Elantra crossed the 1 million mark in 2005, followed by 2 million sales in 2013 and 3 million in 2018, averaging more than 100,000 units annually over nearly a quarter-century. During the 2010s, annual sales peaked above 200,000 units, reflecting Hyundai’s growing foothold in the U.S. passenger-car market.
While demand has softened since 2020 amid shifting consumer preferences toward SUVs, the launch of the seventh-generation Elantra helped the model retain its relevance. Since 2022, the Elantra has accounted for more than half of Hyundai’s total sedan sales in the United States, effectively making it the company’s core passenger vehicle in the market.
The model’s success has outpaced Hyundai’s other long-running nameplates, including the Sonata and the Santa Fe, in cumulative U.S. sales.
Hyundai’s Elantra
Industry analysts attribute the Elantra’s endurance to its broad lineup — including gasoline, hybrid and high-performance N variants — as well as its competitive pricing. With a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the mid-$22,000 range, the Elantra is often priced below key rivals such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
The sedan has also earned repeated industry recognition, winning North American Car of the Year honors in 2012 and 2021 and receiving the highest safety rating, Top Safety Pick Plus, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last year.
As Hyundai marks 40 years since entering the U.S. market in 1986, the automaker plans to introduce a fully redesigned Elantra later this year.
“Reaching 4 million units underscores the Elantra’s role as a cornerstone of Hyundai’s U.S. strategy,” a company official said. “We will continue to strengthen the model’s competitiveness to sustain its appeal in the American market.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
