Overview Compact hatchback with sporty undertones
Pros More powerful, quieter engine
Cons Stiff ride
Value for money Good
What would I change? Add an interior remote latch for the rear hatch
When I drove the new-for-2013 Elantra GT last year, I posited that, despite its GT moniker, the hatchback lacked the requisite powerplant — turbocharged, supercharged or over-sized — to give the car the necessary street cred to be called a hot hatch. I then suggested a more accurate description of the compact-sized GT would be “sporty hatch,” with good performance from its 148-horsepower 1.8-litre four-cylinder, aggressive looks and numerous features that shame such rival hatches as the Ford Focus, the (previous-generation) Mazda3 Sport and Toyota Matrix.
I now find myself reconsidering that position — one model year later, Hyundai has stepped up the GT’s game by updating and up-rating the 1.8L engine to a significantly more powerful 2.0L four-cylinder version. Featuring gasoline direct injection (GDI), the new motor develops 173 hp and 154 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 25 hp and 23 lb.-ft. of torque from the outgoing 1.8L.
No, the fortified Elantra GT is not going to be swapping lap times with the likes of the speedy Ford Fiesta ST, but the extra zip and noticeably smoother-running engine now allows the Hyundai to pull away from a good portion of the compact hatch segment. Specifically planned or not, the 2013 Best New Small Car over $21,000 (awarded by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) is much more competitive power-wise against the likes of the new Mazda3 Sport GT (2014 Best New Small Car over $21,000) and Kia Forte5 hatches. Weighing about 1,300 kilograms, the Elantra has an attractive power-to-weight ratio — for what is still essentially lower-priced basic transportation.
Not much has changed inside the 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT GLS. The dash layout is simple but logical.
Handout, Hyundai
And, when mated with the standard six-speed manual transmission, the GT is a rather willing performer, especially in the low- and mid-ranges. Naturally, most buyers will gravitate toward the available six-speed automatic — and they will miss out on the joys of well-defined gates, crisp-shifting actuation and ideal clutch take up. At $18,349 for the base L model ($21,699 for the mid-level GLS tester), it’s a rather inexpensive giggle that still maintains its practicality.
The extra power doesn’t go to waste, either, as the GT already has ride and handling beyond the segment norm. Unlike the Elantra sedan, which is tuned more for comfort, the hatch GT has a sportier feel, having been calibrated for increased feel and responsiveness. Credit the source — the GT is based on the European-market Hyundai i30 and its improved handling characteristics. Differences in the GT platform include stiffer rear spring rates, a stiffer twist beam and Sachs dampers for improved body motion control.
Further contributing to the plot is the standard Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM) system, which provides three selectable operating modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) to tailor the car’s steering response based on driver preference and road conditions. Comfort, the lightest mode, is ideal for parking but otherwise lacks feel. Sport is noticeably heavier and is my choice for its on-centre stability during higher-speed driving. Normal, the default mode, offers a reasonable balance between the other two — although I just left the setting in Sport.
Used Car Connoisseur: Hyundai Elantra a reliable offering
Equipped with winter tires, the hatchback proved quite competent during a couple of days of heavy snowfalls. The downside is a ride that is rather firm over the chewed up pavement, though, to be honest, it was my wife who seemed more bothered by it.
Standard across the model range is a vehicle stability management system, which manages the electronic stability control and the power steering to assist in maintaining control on slick roads. Traction control and ABS are also included, as are electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.
With a new 2.0L direct-injection engine that develops 173 hp and 154 pound-feet of torque, the 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT GLS has no problem getting going in a hurry.
Handout, Hyundai
As would be expected, not much has changed in the cabin since the car’s 2013 model-year introduction. It’s a suitably sporty affair, nicely matching the GT’s “fluidic sculpture” exterior design. The dash and centre stack are logically laid out and there’s plenty of headroom and legroom for the front-seat occupants; not so much for rear-seat passengers — if they’re full-sized adults.
Storage space is plentiful, including a sunglass holder, two front and two rear cup holders, door bottle holders, cooled glove compartment, central console storage, sliding armrest, front storage tray, front seatback pockets and under-floor storage for the cargo area. The 60/40-split rear seat can be folded flat to create a usable 50.8 cubic-feet of space and the rear-seat cushions can also be folded upward. My biggest beef remains the lack of a remote rear hatch release button in the cabin. One has to use the key fob to unlock the hatch and then push a button on the door to gain access to the cargo area. That’s just uncharacteristically short-sighted on the part of Hyundai for a car that otherwise makes so much sense.
Standard features across the GT line include air conditioning, tilt and telescopic steering column, heated outside power mirrors, power windows and door locks, and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD MP3 audio system with iPod/USB/auxiliary connectivity. The GLS tester adds such extras as heated front seats, cruise control, remote keyless entry, automatic headlights, satellite radio, sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and, on the outside, fog lamps and alloy wheels.
After last year’s drive of the 2013 Elantra GT, I said that although the motor head in me wouldn’t be upset if Hyundai wanted to hop up the 1.8L engine with maybe 10% or 15% more power, the more rational side liked the GT just the way it was: sensible utility inside, eye-catching outside, with just enough sport built in to keep things interesting — at a price that didn’t deplete the bank account. Guess what? The 2014 model and its 2.0L engine has almost 17% more power and it’s still sensible, eye-catching, sporting and well priced. That is the very definition of win-win.
2014 Hyundai Elantra GT GLS
Handout, Hyundai
The Specs
Type of vehicle Front-wheel-drive compact hatchback
Engine 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder
Power 173 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 154 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P205/55R16
Price (base/as tested) $18,349/$21,699
Destination charge $1,495
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L/100 km 8.5 city, 5.8 highway
Standard features (GLS) Air conditioning, keyless entry, central power door locks, power-adjustable driver’s seat, power and heated exterior mirrors, panoramic sunroof, heated front cloth seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted audio remote control, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio and six speakers, iPod/USB/aux-in jacks, cooled glove box, trip computer, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel, Driver Selectable Steering Mode, Bluetooth, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control, traction control
