Believe it or not, the Hyundai Elantra GT was first introduced back in 2001, when compact hatchbacks were popular and SUVs were still relatively rare.
Now in its fourth generation, we have an all-new Elantra GT in the Hyundai lineup for 2018. This time, Hyundai has drawn on the company’s European counterparts to help design the vehicle and tweak the performance, and it has paid off handsomely. Somewhat different from the Elantra Sedan, the Elantra GT is a sporty, compact hatchback with a lot to offer.
The Elantra GT is a bit of a “sleeper car,” as many people simply wouldn’t notice it when they see one on the street – partly because of the generic design – but the overall packaging and fun-to-drive factor are fantastic.
Design
While the Elantra GT doesn’t look unique in any way, it is handsome enough for the average driver with modern touches and curves. This hatchback has a sporty feel and was originally designed in Europe, even though Hyundai is a South Korean automaker. Clean lines and a brand-new cascading front grille mark the redesigned Elantra GT.
The interior is surprisingly well designed and well equipped with standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel – a highly sought-after feature during a Canadian winter. The interior appears very practical and well-laid out, with soft touch plastics and big, easy-to-use buttons.
Standard safety features include only blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and a backup camera. Upgrading to a higher trim level will afford you other such options such as 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, keyless entry, dual exhaust tips, lumbar leather seats, LED headlights among others. A giant, panoramic sunroof option is another upgrade-worthy item.
With regards to the technology, the Elantra GT comes standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a real bonus for the new generation of younger buyers who expects these features. The touchscreen is perched atop the front console rather than tucked away inside of the dash for better visibility. New for 2018 is the Hyundai “BlueLink Telematics,” which connects your car to an app on your phone. This allows you to do such things as remote starting, “find your car,” send an emergency alert in the event of a crash, and even locking and unlocking. This feature, while convenient, is currently only available on the top-level Sport Ultimate trim.
With 705 litres of cargo capacity, the Elantra GT has plenty of room for storage. It has more space than comparable vehicles like the Ford Focus, VW Golf and the Mazda3, but not as much as the Civic. Rear passengers may complain of the barely-acceptable 34.8 inches of legroom, especially compared to today’s larger CUVs and SUVs, but the overall feel is roomy regardless. The cabin is relatively quiet but can become quite noisy if driving over more rugged terrain.
Performance
The 2018 Elantra GT comes in four trim levels in Canada: GL, GLS, Sport and Sport Ultimate. The GL and GLS trims come with a standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder GDI engine that generates 162 horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque. Opting for the Sport trims will get you a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that produces 201 h.p. and 195 foot-pounds of torque. Drivers have the option of a six-speed manual or a six or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All Elantras are front-wheel drive, and therefore all-wheel drive is not available as an option.
Fuel consumption is excellent and is estimated at 9.4 (litres/100 kilometres) city and 7.2 highway for the automatic transmission, and 9.8 city and 7.3 highway for the 2.0-litre with manual transmission. With a combined dual-clutch system the fuel economy is 8.7 and 8.4.
The Elantra GT has excellent suspension and the ride is controlled and smooth. The steering, too, has a great weighted feel for a small, affordable vehicle and is comparable to top-performing German models. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself that I was driving a Hyundai and not a VW or an Audi product.
The chassis was designed and engineered in Germany, where the Elantra GT is known as the i30. A McPherson strut front suspension with 11-inch front rotors paired with a coupled torsion beam in the back make up the underbody. The GT handles better than cars like the Ford Focus or Toyota iM, but I would say that the VW Golf still performs slightly better and the Honda Civic isn’t too far behind the VW.
All in all, potential buyers will be surprised at the level of performance and feel that the GT offers, especially at this attractive price point.
Summary
With competitors like the Honda Civic, VW Golf, Mazda3 or the Ford Focus, how does the Elantra GT set itself apart? Practicality, great handling, and a surprising level of features give the GT an edge that makes it a worthwhile consideration. Even with the rising popularity of SUVs and sedans in the market, hatchbacks still have a place to shine because in many ways five-door hatchbacks like the GT offer similar practicality to the crossovers. The 2018 Elantra GT starts from a very sensible $20,449 for the base level GL trim. With excellent pricing and packaging, the all-new 2018 Elantra GT is a great car that should be included in your list of potential buys. Just go drive it and you will see.
