HYUNDAI ELANTRA SE REVIEW MANUAL

HYUNDAI ELANTRA SE REVIEW MANUAL

While the base transmission is a refined manual gearbox, the tester arrived with HyundaiвЂ™s six-speed automatic with a manual mode. Now, that is an important consideration because to get the best out of the engine it does need to be revved. The engine also manages to remain quiet and refined even when itвЂ™s worked in the upper reaches of the rev range. This is enough to motivate 1,342 kilograms with the expected authority. The GT is powered by a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. The good news is that the GTвЂ™s sightlines are pretty clean, so it was not as big a wart as it might have been. This is important, because during the test, I never could get the mirrors adjusted far enough out to suit me. The latter makes establishing the correct driving position a simple venture. Again, the SE Tech includes heated leather seating and an eight-way power driverвЂ™s seat. The materials are also a cut above the entry-level norm. In both cases, the screen boasts high-end clarity. It brings a raft of upgrades, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a better 180-watt audio package and a seven-inch touchscreen that houses the navigation system and the view from the back-up camera. Up front, the GT comes together nicely, especially the SE Tech version tested. This is the sort of thinking one expects from the likes of BMW, but itвЂ™s a bonus in HyundaiвЂ™s case. The advantage is that hiding it behind the badge keeps the lens clean, which means it is always functional regardless of the weather. When reverse is selected, the Hyundai logo on the liftgate opens to reveal a back-up camera. The GT hatch comes with a needed rear washer/wiper and a clever surprise. Yes, there are some flimsy loops that are supposed hold them when the seats are folded flat, but the reality is they do not work. Perhaps more annoying is the question of what to do with the headrests. Only then do seats fold to form said flat load floor. First, the headrests must be removed and the seat bases lifted. When in the prone position, the seats do deliver a flat floor, but there is a nit - getting the lot flat is a bit of a chore. In this case, the GT brings 23 cubic feet of cargo space with the 60/40-split/folding seats in the upright position and 51 cu. It also benefits from the versatility that only a hatchback can supply. In fact, while the available legroom shrinks slightly up front, there is actually more rear seat space - better legroom and more headroom. Neither, however, really puts a crimp in the versatility. To begin, the wheelbase is 50 millimetres shorter, while the length has been cut by 230 mm. Rather than being a hatched take on an established sedan, the GT is markedly different from its four-door sibling. The addition of the GT to the Elantra lineup addresses the one of biggest holes in HyundaiвЂ™s portfolio. The compact hatchback has been making serious inroads of late - Ford, Kia, Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen all now offer a five-door hatches.

Hyundai elantra se review