Styling: The Elantra Sport is a handsome, sharp looker, sporting aggressively sculpted headlights and fog lamps, stylish 17 inch alloy wheels with black accents, and traditional Elantra taillights. Hyundai's calls their new design regime "fluidic sculpture", and here it really helps take the refreshed Sport model to a higher level. The low roofline and aggressively slanted A-pillars add to that sleek look, but those A-pillars can hurt the view out when cornering. Clever features such as day time running lights and door mirror integrated indicators also add functionality to the design of the Elantra.
Performance: The standard Elantra sports a 1.8 liter, dual CVVT 4 cylinder engine. This engine is good for 145 horsepower, and 130 pound feet of torque. This is considerably more than competitors such as the Toyota Corolla. This engine is hooked up to Hyundai's 6-speed automatic transmission that feeds power to the front wheels. This setup helps the Elantra deliver 28mpg city and 38mpg highway. However, the Sport model comes equipped with a 2.0 liter GDi engine. This engine pumps out 28 more horsepower than the 1.8, and 24 more torques, leaving the final figures at 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. This engine is also hooked up to a 6-speed auto, but is also available in 6-speed manual for the more enthused gear head. Unfortunately, all this power comes at a price, and that price is a fuel economy rating that is knocked down significantly to 24mpg city and 35mpg highway. That is what a standard Hyundai Sonata gets! Overall, the Elantra has a plethora of powertrain options that will satisfy everyone from the economy minded commuter to the backroads blaster.
be available at this price point. Audio, cruise control, and Bluetooth controls have been thrown on the Elantra's leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, and they are positioned well for easy usage. Most of the controls for the audio are easy to use, except the 4.3 inch screen can seem a little too small for some audio functions such as presets, but it still works well and isn't too much of a pain. Choose the appropriate song and the six speaker stereo will pleasure your ears with clear, crisp sound, and plenty of bass for any rap music you desire to blast. The standard backup camera is good to make sure you don't run over neighbors walking down the sidewalk, or into the pesky mailbox that always seems to get in the way. Another bonus feature is the proximity key, featuring keyless entry and push button start. You also have the option to unlock or lock the doors by pushing a button on the driver side door handle. The seats in the Sport are completely cloth, no leather inserts or full leather seats are available. Despite this, the front seats are firm but comfortable, and the drivers seat comes equipped with power adjustment, including adjustable lumbar support. The driving position is optimal for a tall driver like myself, with well positioned pedals and gauges, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat isn't the best place to sit, but those back there are treated to seats that are fairly comfortable, and decent legroom, something sought after in this class of vehicle. In the Limited model, heated rear seats are available, a feature seen in luxury cars. However, the rear seats in the Sport might get tiresome after a long car trip. Headroom in the back can be a little tight for those who were blessed with a height of 6'2 or higher, but it isn't intolerable. Worried about luggage space for your annual family road trip? The 14.8 cubic feet of space available in the Elantra Sport's trunk should be enough to swallow up all your luggage with room to spare. Summing up, the Elantra Sport's interior is a pleasant place to be, with a nice dash with easy controls, a booming stereo, and seats that are comfy enough for daily driving. However, features such as leather, climate control, and a bigger touch screen should be available at this price point.
Driving Experience: To be honest, I wasn't expecting the Elantra Sport to be a fun or engaging car to drive, but I was horribly wrong. To start, the 2.0 liter engine is bristling with power. Unfortunately, the 6-speed automatic transmission holds on to the higher gears for fuel economy and can be reluctant to downshift, even when eco mode is disengaged. This means that I had to really step on the gas to get it to downshift and unleash the torrent of power from the engine. Once in the right gear, the Elantra Sport can really fly, pulling away from other motorists with ease. It accelerates effortlessly and it never feels like you need to rev the engine too much to get up to speed. On the backroads, the Sport's steering is a joy. It is well weighted and provides good feedback, especially while cornering. While driving the Sport, I felt a genuine connection to the road that some competitors don't deliver. The Sport's big engine also helps to accelerate the car out of bends, and adds to the engaging driving experience. The sport pedals with rubber grip inserts also made driving the Sport quickly a breeze. The ride is very well controlled, ironing out most road imperfections and maintaining composure on bumpier road surfaces. Wind noise is not apparent and road noise is a whisper, even at highway speeds. In conclusion, driving the Elantra Sport proved to be a pleasure, combining proper handling and relaxing comfort together into one package.
So What Do We Think? When I stepped out of the Elantra Sport at the end of my test drive, I found myself conflicted. I really liked the way it drove, its comfortable and quiet ride, and its overall quality. However, I was missing features such as leather seat inserts, climate control, sunroof, and a larger multifunction screen, equipment I would expect to be standard on a car with a sticker price of $22,400 including shipping. Wether the fuel economy losses due to the 2.0 liter engine is worth it is a matter of personal opinion. If you are looking for more equipment, check out the Elantra Limited. It stickers for $21,700 "excluding shipping and handling", and includes features such as leather seats, heated rear seats, sunroof, climate control, and Hyundai's Blue Link system, which allows you to control various car functions from your phone. The Elantra Limited offers up the most features at a price you can't ignore, and the Sport provides everything you need in a daily driver, including that thumping engine that is ready to go when you are. Overall, the Elantra Sport is an stylish, sporty, and very practical small car. However, options like the Elantra Limited provide more equipment and better fuel economy, if you're willing to pay an extra $1,450 over the Sport. And don't forget to check out the new Elantra Value Edition, sporting equipment such as a sunroof, keyless entry, heated seats, and a tilt/telescopic wheel for the low price of $19,700, excluding shipping and handling which generally adds an additional $800. Thank you for reading and best of luck in your car buying ventures!
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