Hyundai needed to hatch a plan, so to speak. Their Elantra is a popular choice in the small car segment, and just last year, they made the Elantra Touring, which was a throwback-style station wagon. But, in doing so, they left a void in the market without having a true hatchback version of the Elantra.
My tester for the week solves this problem. The Hyundai Elantra GT is a four-door hatchback, that replaces the Elantra Touring. Hyundai also introduces a coupe version of the Elantra this model year.
Looks and aesthetics differentiate the Elantra GT from the rest of the Elantra line. Although, the grille and front end are similar, curvaceous styling runs down the side panels toward the rounded back end. This is where the Elantra GT, obviously, becomes its own vehicle.
A 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine is shared across the entire line. My tester had a six-speed automatic transmission. The GT comes with a sportier suspension offering an agile driving experience, adding a little bit of excitement to the otherwise passive Elantra driving experience; and that isn’t a negative thing, at all. The Elantra’s engine offers steady performance. Making 148 horsepower, it has enough power to perform well on the highways and off.
Exclusive for the GT is the electric-assist power steering settings. The driver can choose how they want their steering performance; from normal, sport (tight) or comfort (loose). As someone who tests a lot of vehicles, I really appreciated this feature, as steering performance really varies from vehicle to vehicle. I generally enjoyed the sport mode best, which offered a firmer steering and aided the GT’s squatty build on tight turns. Kudos to Hyundai for offering a little bit of sportiness from this little hatchback.
Inside, the Elantra GT is similar to the sedan version. The hatch-build design sometimes eats into headroom, but the difference was negligible, even in the back seat. Driver and front passenger have plenty of legroom and the materials used in the Elantra are what you expect from an economic vehicle.
A panoramic sunroof is part of the Style package that also includes 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seating surfaces and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Tech package brings a better entertainment system on a 7-inch LCD screen, along with rear camera and navigation system.
The Elantra GT offers ample cargo room. Folding the second row seats flat is an easy process and nets 51 cubic foot of space, making the GT quite useful.
Fuel economy for the GT is exemplary with an EPA rating of 27 city and 37 highway. The smooth-shifting transmission, and efficient little engine work well together. In a week’s worth of driving, between suburban roads and highways, I averaged about 34 MPG. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and would offer slightly better fuel economy.
The Hyundai Elantra GT has a base price of $19,395. With the Style package and the Tech package, my tester had a final price of $25,365, making this little hatchback an affordable option.
With the Elantra GT, Hyundai offers up a stylized hatchback, with enough excitement and excellent fuel economy to remain competitive in the ever-popular compact segment.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor