First Drive Review
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Hyundai’s Focus-fighter joins the five-door derby.
Hyundai’s Elantra is a solid player in the crowded compact-car competition, but it also has faced self-imposed limitations, lacking the nifty hatchback variants offered by competitors like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, and Subaru Impreza. The recently deceased Elantra Touring wagon nibbled at this turf, but lacked the svelte looks and desirability of many of its five-door rivals.
But now more body styles are creeping into the Elantra mix. Previewed at the 2012 Chicago auto show alongside a coupe variant, the Elantra GT represents yet another snappy interpretation of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language. Yet, aside from the front fascia it bears little resemblance to the other Elantras.
The front end is set off by Mazda-esque wheel arches that seem more pronounced than those on the sedan, the roofline—punctuated by an optional double sunroof of vast dimensions—slopes back to a forward-canted hatch and wraparound LED taillights. There’s considerable structural commonality with the standard Elantra, but most of what’s visible is unique to the GT.
The GT’s dimensions differ considerably from those of its four-door sibling. The 104.3-inch wheelbase is two inches shorter than the sedan’s, and the GT’s 169.3-inch overall length is nine inches less than that of the four-door. Width—70.1 inches—is about the same, while the GT is a bit taller: 57.9 inches versus 56.5. Its dimensions are positively European, which makes sense given that the GT is sold there as the i30.
The Inside Job
The GT’s interior appointments and trim are similar to the sedan’s, which is to say attractive and high quality. Like other current Hyundais, there’s a pile of standard equipment baked into the $19,170 base price. Examples: heated mirrors, heated front seats, remote keyless entry, air conditioning that also cools the glove box, cruise control, driver-selectable steering modes, Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics, satellite radio, fog lights, a USB port and aux input, and 16-inch aluminum wheels.
There are only two option groups—the performance-oriented Style package ($2750) and the Tech package ($2350). The former adds 17-inch aluminum wheels, slightly firmer suspension tuning, the double sunroof, leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power driver’s seat, aluminum pedal cladding, and auto up-down control for the driver’s window. The Tech gear includes a nav system, a rearview camera (the lens lurks behind the logo in the middle of the rear hatch), auto headlights, dual auto climate control, and proximity-key entry and start.
Hatchbacks are all about interior versatility, and the GT measures up well in this regard. There’s a shallow storage bin under the cargo floor, and the 60/40-split rear seatbacks and rear seat bottoms flop out of the way to expand the space for stuff from 23 cubic feet to 51. Both numbers are near the top of the charts versus the GT’s competitors, and rear-seat legroom is respectable by compact standards.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door hatchback
BASE PRICE: $19,170
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 110 cu in, 1797 cc
Power: 148 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 131 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 104.3 in
Length: 169.3 in
Width: 70.1 in Height: 57.9 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 2750–3000 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 8.6–9.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 17.0–17.6 sec
FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 28/39 mpg
Continued…