2018 Hyundai Elantra GT
By Phil Shuyler
The all-new 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT comes in 2 flavors, GT and GT Sport. On the exterior there are few differences, however the GT sport gets sprinkles on its sundae, with a 1.6L inline 4-cylinder turbo GDI engine, which produces 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The standard GT receives a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder GDI engine with 161 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, and for around $1,000, the GT can be paired with a 6-speed automatic and the GT Sport with a 7-speed dual clutch with paddle shifters. Fuel economy is in the low 30s for highway driving and mid to upper 20s for combined driving. We experienced a pleasant 29.2 mpg for the week with mixed driving.
Our test car was the 2.0L inline 4-cylinder, and we were never really lacking power. Of course those yearning for more should lean toward the Sport. The automatic transmission is quiet and smooth, with natural shift points.
Styling
In a segment where many people do not care too much about how their car looks, the Elantra GT brings some style to the table. It’s by no means flashy or sporty, but it sure is easy to like. Simple lines and a big grille up front help give it an attractive appearance. The blacked out rear spoiler and rear diffuser help break up the color from the rest of the car, and the big taillights help to reduce what can often be too much sheet metal on the hatch.
Great looking 17” wheels are standard on the GT, and 18” wheels are standard on the GT Sport. Again, something you wouldn’t think you’d be impressed with on a base car in this segment.
Interior
The inside of the Elantra GT is comfortable and packed with available features many will enjoy. The panoramic sunroof (included in the Tech Package) brings in tons of natural light, and the 7-speaker Infinity premium audio system with integrated subwoofer filled that bright space with deep rhythmic sound. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all Elantra GT and GT Sports, and an upgraded navigation system (which uses the same 8” infotainment screen) is available, but definitely not necessary.
Two-tone seats are available (and look really good), as are heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Once you dive into the menus, all Hyundai vehicles give you many ways to customize your vehicle. Through the infotainment screen and instrument cluster’s settings menu, we encourage you to check them out. GTs equipped with navigation can turn on and off traffic data, posted speed limits, change rerouting preferences, and more.
Additional features for the tech savvy include wireless phone charging and Amazon Alexa Blue Link remote starting.
Safety
To help keep you safe out there on the road, the Elantra GT has a wide variety of available safely tech including Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keep Assist, and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection. A backup camera comes standard.
Starting price for the Elantra GT is $19,350, and the GT Sport starts at $23,250. While not the cheapest wheels, it’s a car that you’ll enjoy inside and out.