2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Overview
Earlier this year, Hyundai debuted its brand-new Elantra GT at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show as the automaker’s headliner in the Windy City. While those in the United States might assume that this sporty compact hatchback is simply a trim of the Elantra sedan, it’s actually an entirely different model known overseas as the i30.
Here’s what the redesigned Elantra GT has to offer for 2018.
Looking Back: Details on last year’s Hyundai Elantra, the first year of its new generation
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What’s New for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT?
The GT arrives with a much-needed exterior redesign that gives the hatchback more defined, confident body lines. Highlights for this new GT includes greater storage volume, Amazon Alexa Blue Link remote start, a new cascading grille design, multi-link independent rear suspension, wraparound rear taillights, standard 8-inch display audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and more.
The highlight, though, is a new Sport powertrain that offers a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Exterior
The Elantra GT is known for one primary feature: its 5-door hatchback. From its front fascia and new grille shape, the latest Elantra GT looks like its counterparts in the Hyundai lineup, but it’s the expanded rear entry and storage area that set it apart. Even with the hatchback, it’s not short in length, measuring 170.9 inches with a 104.3-inch wheelbase. It is short in height, though, measuring 57.7 inches tall.
The half-dozen available body colors include Symphony Air Silver, Black Noir Pearl, and Electric Blue Metallic (easily the most attractive).
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Photos:
Exterior features available on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT
- Base trim: 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45R17 tires, Chrome window belt moldings, Bodycolor door handles, Heated dual-power side mirrors, 2-speed intermittent windshield wipers with mist function, Solar control glass, Projector headlights, Automatic headlight control
- Sport trim: Multi-link independent rear suspension, Larger front and rear brakes, 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/40R18 tires, Side-mirror-mounted turn-signal indicators, Sport badge, Full LED headlights and taillights
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Performance
The 2018 Elantra GT’s base version comes with the model’s standard 2.0-liter GDI 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine with D-CVVT, which is paired to a six-speed manual transmission that can be upgraded to an optional optional six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®. A dependable and efficient combination, this powertrain manages to achieve 161 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque.
New for 2018 is another engine option that comes on the upgraded Sport trim: a 1.6-liter GDI 16-valve inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with D-CVVT. Paired to the same standard six-speed manual transmission or an even better seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters, this small but spunky block reaches 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Efficiency
Designed for a balance of pep and efficiency, the Elantra GT’s standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is estimated to maintain an EPA-calculated 23 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with manual transmission; with the automatic transmission, this increases slightly to 24 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
In spite of its greater potential for power, the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine doesn’t have much lower fuel efficiency, averaging a just-slightly-lower 22 mpg city and 25 mpg highway (manual) or 26 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (dual clutch).
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Interior
The Elantra GT is designed to have small body dimensions without making the cabin feel cramped. It still offers a comfortable 39.1 inches of headroom in the front and 34.8 inches of legroom in the back—enough to fit your friends. Of course, being a hatchback, the GT is intended to have its rear seats folded down to increase cargo space from 24.9 cubic feet to more than double (55.1 cubic feet).
The inside of the basic Elantra GT has the level of quality that you’d expect from Hyundai: nothing exceptional, but durable and comfortable enough cloth materials with plastic cabin panels. With the Sport trim, though, the Elantra GT gets a snazzy upgrade, adding leather seats, a leather steering wheel, an improved display, and red contrast stitching.
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Interior Photos:
Interior features available on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT
- Base trim: Premium cloth seating, 6-way adjustable driver seat including height adjustment and slide/recline, 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, Conventional 3.5-inch mono cluster display, Dual illuminated sun visors with extensions, Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, Fixed armrest storage box, 8-inch display audio system with high-resolution touchscreen, Rearview camera with dynamic parking guidelines, AM/FM/HD Radio™/SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with voice recognition, Supports hands-free Bluetooth® audio streaming, Smartphone/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks, In-glass AM/FM antenna, Roof-mounted SiriusXM antenna, Speed-sensitive automatic volume control, Steering-wheel-mounted audio/cruise / Bluetooth® controls, Maplights with sunglasses holder, dome lamp and cargo lamp
- Sport trim: Leather seating surfaces, Heated front seats, Dual fully automatic temperature control with CleanAir Ionizer and Auto Defogging System, Super vision 4.2-inch TFT cluster display, Leather-wrapped shift knob, Leather-wrapped steering wheel, Sliding armrest, Rear console vent, Electronic Parking Brake, Covered cupholder, Front storage lid cover, Proximity Key entry with electronic push button start
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Safety
The redesigned Elantra GT has not had its crash test results disclosed by the IIHS or NHTSA yet, but Hyundai’s vehicles are known for being safe. While a different generation, last year’s Elantra GT earned 5-star NHTSA scores in eight categories (scoring four stars in the other three).
The Elantra GT offers the bare-bones safety features in its basic edition, but optional packages on the Sport trim can add more high-tech features like Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning.
Standard Safety Features on the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Hillstart Assist Control (HAC)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Rear LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
- Power window lock-out button
- Advanced dual front airbags with Occupant Classification System (OCS)
- Driver and front passenger side-impact airbags; driver’s knee airbag
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DLR)
- Blind Spot Mirror
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
New for 2018 | Exterior | Performance | Efficiency | Interior | Safety
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