2019 Hyundai Elantra GT Review, Pricing, and Specs (2024)

Overview

The elegantly styled 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT has the dubious task of unseating esteemed hatchback rivals, especially since two of them are on our 10Best Cars list. Don't get us wrong. Hyundai's compact hatchback has many redeeming qualities that include a smooth ride and a fuel-efficient base engine. Unfortunately, it also has disappointing acceleration and driver-assistance technology is only offered on the most expensive model. While it's athletic enough to entertain most buyers, the sportier Hyundai Elantra GT N Line provides the added power and enhanced agility that we prefer. Inside, the Elantra GT is filled with attractive materials that are nicely pieced together. Its excellent infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, but the touchscreen's garish bezel disrupts the otherwise sharp aesthetic.

What's New for 2019?

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT carries over essentially unchanged. The optional GT Style package adds a panoramic sunroof and leather seats. However, a manual transmission is no longer available. The Elantra GT's hotter sibling, which is now called the N Line instead of the Elantra GT Sport, still can be had with the six-speed manual gearbox. Its mild cosmetic updates are joined by legitimate performance enhancements, including revised tuning for the suspension and steering. The new N Line can also be had with stickier summer tires for increased grip.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Although we appreciate the base model's pragmatic nature and handsome appearance, it's missing the lively responses and ancillary features that define our favorite alternatives (of which there are many). Instead, we'd recommend the Elantra GT N Line with the standard six-speed manual transmission. Those who want desirable features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, ventilated front seats, and wireless charging will have to choose the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Together these upgrades increase the cost by nearly $5000, which surpasses what we consider to be one of the best hatchbacks, the 10Best-winning Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Likes: Engine is responsive at low revs, pleasant ride quality
Dislikes: Too slow to raise your heart rate, base engine doesn't offer a manual transmission.

The Elantra GT is a front-wheel-drive hatchback, motivated by either a 161-hp four-cylinder engine or a 201-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The base engine pairs exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the zestier version receives a standard six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic. The regular GT won't offend laid-back drivers, but its nonturbocharged engine is less compelling than those of most competitors. The version we tested had the slowest acceleration times among similar rivals. We did like its lively throttle response at low revs, and the automatic transmission operated smoothly and inconspicuously. However, its responsiveness tops out at higher engine speeds, where coarse engine noise also plagues the cabin. While we haven't driven the recently renamed Elantra GT N Line, we have tested the previously named GT Sport. It went from zero to 60 mph in a class-competitive 6.6 seconds with the manual transmission, but the similarly equipped Volkswagen Golf GTI did it in 5.9 seconds. Still, the Hyundai's shifter was easy to manipulate, and the clutch pedal worked in a smooth and linear fashion.

Every GT we drove exhibited a remarkable ride as we drove it over the wide variety of road surfaces that canvas southeast Michigan. It never felt unsettled on bumpy sections, passengers were well-isolated from harsh impacts, and the lack of shakes and rattles bode well for build quality. The GT had competent handling below the absolute limit and a balanced chassis that avoided feeling lifeless. Its light steering was accurate but lacked the feedback of rivals such as the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf. The Hyundai's brake pedal was oddly inconsistent in its response to our inputs, with a firmer feel in stop-and-go city traffic and less bite on the highway.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Despite underwhelming EPA estimates, the regular Elantra GT demonstrated impressive real-world fuel economy in our testing. The government numbers estimate it earns 25 mpg city and 32 highway. The turbocharged Elantra GT N Line has the same ratings with the optional automatic transmission, but the standard manual gearbox drops both ratings by 2 mpg each. The regular GT exceeded its government estimate by 5 mpg on our 200-mile highway test route, a margin few cars are able to achieve. Likewise, this observed 37 mpg tied with top competitors such as the Chevrolet Cruze and the Honda Civic. The Hyundai's turbocharged engine exceeded its EPA estimate by 1 mpg in our highway fuel-economy test, but its 31 mpg is 5 mpg less than both the Honda Civic Si and the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

Likes: Attractive and well-built cabin, responsive standard touchscreen, generous cargo volume.
Dislikes: Tight rear-seat legroom, heated seats included in expensive options package, no mobile hotspot.

Inside, the Elantra GT has sophisticated styling that is highlighted by tight panel fits and nice-quality materials. The standard version has cloth surfaces that are available in black or beige. The interior's soft-touch plastics and silver trim pieces offset the lower parts of the cabin, which are sheathed in the sorts of hard plastic that are unavoidable at this price point. While a high-quality cabin is standard, any and all luxury items cost considerably more because they're combined into a pricey package. Unfortunately, the back seat is tighter than competitors and several notable features are absent.

Every GT has a responsive 8.0-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system's glossy-black bezel disrupts the otherwise clean interior design, it has user-friendly controls.

The Elantra GT does what hatchbacks do best—carry more stuff than similarly sized sedans. It held five carry-on suitcases behind the back seat in our tests, and it has the biggest cargo-area volume among similar competitors. The Hyundai also has competitive interior cubby storage, including useful front-door pockets and a large center-console bin.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Elantra GT was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (its second-best rating), but it only earned a four-star rating (out of five possible) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unfortunately, the regular GT is only available with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The sportier Elantra GT N Line is available with more advanced driver-assistance technologies, but they require a pricey package along with the optional automatic transmission. They are:

• Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available automatic high-beam headlights
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Every Hyundai has 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection, which is among the best plans in the country. However, the Volkswagen Golf has the longest limited warranty, and the Chevrolet Cruze is one of the few alternatives that offers complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance