2020 Hyundai Elantra GT

Overview

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra GT is a tidy and efficient package with clean, elegant design, but the GT suffix promises a bit more sportiness than it can deliver. It is not a particularly quick car. Instead, the base car with its mandatory six-speed automatic transmission is more in the mold of the highly lauded Volkswagen Golf—which, in our opinion, is one of the best hatchbacks you can buy. The base GT offers excellent fuel economy, class-leading cargo space, and a high level of standard equipment for the money. Its interior is sensibly designed and incorporates one of the most intuitive infotainment systems on the market—all Elantra GTs come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Step up to the Elantra GT N Line, though, and things get a little saucier. The N Line, so named to align with the company's new performance offerings, gets a more powerful turbocharged engine, summer tires, and a choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

What's New for 2020?

Unlike the Elantra four-door sedan, the 2020 Elantra GT hatchback is unchanged for the model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The base Elantra GT competes with some of the best hatchbacks on the market, including the Volkswagen Golf, the Honda Civic, and the Mazda 3. The Hyundai can't quite match the level of responsiveness or solidity of those industry stalwarts. The N Line is a more desirable proposition. It is quicker and more powerful than the standard versions of the Golf, Civic, and 3, but less expensive than most of the higher-performance versions of those competitors including the GTI and the Civic Si. If you want a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, a premium audio system, and ventilated seats, you'll need to first pony up for the optional dual-clutch automatic transmission. Those items—along with additional niceties—are part of a technology package that is not offered on N Lines with the manual transmission. And those safety systems aren't available at all on base GTs.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

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

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. 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.

Infotainment and Connectivity

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.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

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. The company also now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance that bests mainstream rivals such as Toyota.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance covers 3 years or 36,000 miles