2020 Hyundai Elantra MPG
EPA ratings for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra run from 26–33 mpg in town to 33–41 on the highway, or 29–36 combined, depending on which of its 5 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 36 mpg combined. At the other end, the 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive manages 29 mpg combined, 7 mpg less. That is 1 mpg better than the best gasoline 2019 version (35 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra | 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 33 | 41 | 36 | Regular · 250 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra SE | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 41 | 35 | Regular · 259 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 264 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular · 301 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | Regular · 310 g CO₂/mi |
2020 Hyundai Elantra fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra costs about $1,810 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (36 mpg combined), or roughly 12 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (29 mpg combined) comes to about $2,250 a year, $440 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2020 Hyundai Elantra specs
The EPA lists 3 engine choices for the 2020 Hyundai Elantra: 2.0 L 4-cyl, 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo and 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo. It came with automatic, continuously variable (CVT) and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 1.4 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
| 1.6 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2020 Hyundai Elantra problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 254 owner complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Elantra.
Engine is the most-reported area (31% of component mentions), followed by power train (14%) and exterior lighting (8%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 36 complaints a year: more than the 2019 (31 a year) and the 2021 (27 a year).
That ranks 5th of 17 Hyundai Elantra model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 254, 21 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 12 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 109 | 31% |
| Power train | 47 | 14% |
| Exterior lighting | 28 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 7% |
| Steering | 20 | 6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 3% |
| Structure | 7 | 2% |
| Air bags | 5 | 1% |
| Lane departure | 5 | 1% |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Suspension | 3 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | <1% |
| Diesel fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | <1% |
| Seats | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly shut off without warning. …
Reporting on 2020 Hyundai Elantra. I have owned since 2023, my car is currently at a Hyundai certified dealership for it's 3rd transmission in the three years I have owned it. …
The high beam lights don’t work. Doesn’t make changes to high. Relay, bulbs and breakers appear to be ok.
2020 Hyundai Elantra recalls
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has been the subject of 3 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 21V301000 from April 2021, concerns engine.
19V721000 · October 9, 2019 · Suspension
Problem: The lower control arm ball joint fasteners may have been insufficiently tightened allowing the ball joint to detach from the lower control arm.
Risk: A detached ball joint can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the ball joint fasteners, free of charge.
19V720000 · October 9, 2019 · Wheels
Problem: The right-side rear wheel lug nuts may have been insufficiently tightened, allowing the wheel to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A wheel detaching from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, tighten the lug nuts, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Elantra years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V301000 | April 28, 2021 | Engine | 2019–2020 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2020 Hyundai Elantra; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Hyundai Elantras can be compared fairly. Among other 2020 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2020 Honda Civic (36 mpg), 2020 Toyota Camry (34 mpg) and 2020 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35 | 769 | 76 | 4 |
| 2018 | 35 | 284 | 31 | 0 |
| 2019 | 35 | 252 | 31 | 1 |
| 2020 | 36 | 254 | 36 | 3 |
| 2021 | 54 | 162 | 27 | 7 |
| 2022 | 54 | 159 | 31 | 8 |
| 2023 | 54 | 170 | 42 | 4 |
Every Hyundai Elantra model year compared →
Similar 2020 models
FAQ
Is the 2020 Elantra a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2020 Hyundai Elantra has 36 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (5th most of 17 model years), 3 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 36 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2020 Elantra problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (109), power train (47) and exterior lighting (28). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2020 Elantra have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Elantra get?
The EPA rates the versions at 29–36 mpg combined (26–33 city, 33–41 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Elantra per year?
About $1,810 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,250 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).