This car is better than you think it would be.
I wasn't expecting much of the Elantra Sport.
Before the Sport, I had been in a couple other versions of the Elantra. They were fine cars, but they weren't memorable. Usually, a car leaves at least one lasting impression on you, but these cars weren't close.
Wait, no! There was one impression: the material on the steering wheel made this terrible sound when you'd move your hands on it, like when a wetsuit is stuck to your skin and you're trying to take it off but it won't come off. Neoprene It happened every time I turned the wheel, which is frequent, as there are many times you need to make the car turn so you don't hit things.
I had told a friend who works at Hyundai about this, and he insisted that the Elantra Sport would surprise me. "Of course he'll say this," I said to myself. "He works at Hyundai. He's not going to say a negative thing."
Turns out, even though he works at Hyundai, he wasn't shitting me. The Elantra Sport is a genuinely swell car, as long as you know what you're getting. If you get in and expect a C63 AMG or a Focus RS, you'll be disappointed. But if you're shopping for something like a Jetta GLI–a first family sedan that isn't soul crushing–and don't want to be around Volkswagens right now (for various reasons... you watch the news, right?), the Elantra is actually a great choice.
The 201-horsepower turbo four in our test car was linked to a six-speed manual (a dual-clutch is an option). If you're reading this, you want the manual. The throws are pretty short and notchy, and it's well matched to the powertrain. It's actually a pretty good gearbox. Not many automakers are even introducing cars with a manual anymore, so to see one from a brand that isn't necessarily associated with the 'save the manuals' crowd is more than welcome.
The 1.6 liter turbo engine is perky with quick response and little to no turbo lag. The exhaust also makes these great little pops and cracks that don't sound overly fake and produced. Like, y'know, in the F-Type, which sounds more like a fireworks show than a real car.
Ride quality is good too, and it has plenty of grip in the corners (I admittedly didn't push too hard), but the steering lets it down. It's uncommunicative and numb. That's too bad, because you'd love to be able to chuck it into a corner and have faith that the wheel will accurately communicate what's going on with the front end. Not the case here, unfortunately.
Its interior is better than the other Elantras, with a great flat bottom wheel and better seats. It's also better than the last Jetta GLI I drove, which felt too cheap inside for the price VW was asking.
The best part is that at $21,650, the Elantra Sport undercuts the Jetta GLI in price by about $6,000, and I enjoyed driving the Elantra more than I did the Jetta. It does cost more than something like the brilliant Fiesta ST, but I don't really see them as competitors. A Fiesta ST is for someone that's going to autocross it consistently, the Elantra is for someone who might try autocross a couple times.
Don't think of it as a hardcore hot hatch or rally sedan. It doesn't compete with a WRX. The best environment for the Elantra Sport isn't on a track or thrashing through a canyon. It's more for a quick commuter or for someone who wants a fun first family car, or a fun and safe first car.
It's also the best Elantra to get. More power is more better.
Source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/a32894/what-you-learn-after-driving-the-hyundai-elantra-sport/
I wasn't expecting much of the Elantra Sport.
Before the Sport, I had been in a couple other versions of the Elantra. They were fine cars, but they weren't memorable. Usually, a car leaves at least one lasting impression on you, but these cars weren't close.
Wait, no! There was one impression: the material on the steering wheel made this terrible sound when you'd move your hands on it, like when a wetsuit is stuck to your skin and you're trying to take it off but it won't come off. Neoprene It happened every time I turned the wheel, which is frequent, as there are many times you need to make the car turn so you don't hit things.
I had told a friend who works at Hyundai about this, and he insisted that the Elantra Sport would surprise me. "Of course he'll say this," I said to myself. "He works at Hyundai. He's not going to say a negative thing."
Turns out, even though he works at Hyundai, he wasn't shitting me. The Elantra Sport is a genuinely swell car, as long as you know what you're getting. If you get in and expect a C63 AMG or a Focus RS, you'll be disappointed. But if you're shopping for something like a Jetta GLI–a first family sedan that isn't soul crushing–and don't want to be around Volkswagens right now (for various reasons... you watch the news, right?), the Elantra is actually a great choice.
The 201-horsepower turbo four in our test car was linked to a six-speed manual (a dual-clutch is an option). If you're reading this, you want the manual. The throws are pretty short and notchy, and it's well matched to the powertrain. It's actually a pretty good gearbox. Not many automakers are even introducing cars with a manual anymore, so to see one from a brand that isn't necessarily associated with the 'save the manuals' crowd is more than welcome.
The 1.6 liter turbo engine is perky with quick response and little to no turbo lag. The exhaust also makes these great little pops and cracks that don't sound overly fake and produced. Like, y'know, in the F-Type, which sounds more like a fireworks show than a real car.
Ride quality is good too, and it has plenty of grip in the corners (I admittedly didn't push too hard), but the steering lets it down. It's uncommunicative and numb. That's too bad, because you'd love to be able to chuck it into a corner and have faith that the wheel will accurately communicate what's going on with the front end. Not the case here, unfortunately.
Its interior is better than the other Elantras, with a great flat bottom wheel and better seats. It's also better than the last Jetta GLI I drove, which felt too cheap inside for the price VW was asking.
The best part is that at $21,650, the Elantra Sport undercuts the Jetta GLI in price by about $6,000, and I enjoyed driving the Elantra more than I did the Jetta. It does cost more than something like the brilliant Fiesta ST, but I don't really see them as competitors. A Fiesta ST is for someone that's going to autocross it consistently, the Elantra is for someone who might try autocross a couple times.
Don't think of it as a hardcore hot hatch or rally sedan. It doesn't compete with a WRX. The best environment for the Elantra Sport isn't on a track or thrashing through a canyon. It's more for a quick commuter or for someone who wants a fun first family car, or a fun and safe first car.
It's also the best Elantra to get. More power is more better.
Source: http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/a32894/what-you-learn-after-driving-the-hyundai-elantra-sport/
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