2013 Hyundai Elantra GT – Roomy and Quite Agile

The Hyundai Elantra GT is easy to get into and just drive. Visibility is great all around, and I appreciated the large side mirrors and unobstructed rear 3 quarter view.

Hyundai has come a long way since its humble beginnings on North American soil more than 25 years ago. A company that once produced cars only they could love is now one of the most profitable automotive manufacturers in the world; respected and feared by its Japanese and German competition.

We always strive to remain absolutely objective with any car we test drive, but deep down we always knew the Hyundai Elantra GT would be good. Hyundai has been on such a roll in the last couple of years, that we would have been shocked if this car was not a one of the best vehicles in the compact category.

The Hyundai Elantra GT is easy to get into and just drive. Visibility is great all around, and I appreciated the large side mirrors and unobstructed rear 3 quarter view. The compact dimensions and stable yet direct steering make it easy to dart in and out of traffic. The Elantra GT’s 148 horsepower, 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine provides more than enough passing power.

I liked the Elantra GT’s interior from the second I stepped in. The steering wheel’s sporty look and feel, the high-end appearance of the center stack, and the quality of the trims and plastics all contribute to make the Hyundai’s cockpit a pleasing place to be.

The well-bolstered front seats are firm yet supportive, and remain comfortable even after hours of highway driving. The driver’s seat in our GLS model offered 8 way power seating adjustments that made it very easy to find the right driving position. The grey fabric trim is textured and rough, but feels right given the Elantra GT`s sporty pretentions.

There are a lot of buttons on the GT’s console, but everything is well laid out and I was comfortable with the various controls early on. Again, as mentioned earlier, this is an easy car to just get in and go.

The Hyundai Elantra GT is aimed squarely at young, active buyers that need more cargo space than the sedan and coupe Elantra variants can provide. The rear cargo area offers 651 liters of storage space with all seats in place. The rear seats can also fold flat thus increasing cargo capacity to an SUV-like 1444 liters.

I have to say that I would have been very surprised if the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT was not one of the best vehicles in its class. The spacious Elantra was named the best compact car above 21 000$ by the Canadian Association of Automotive Journalists (AJAC) and offers the type of above-average quality that has now become synonymous with Hyundai vehicles. While the previous generation Hyundai Elantra Touring had nothing special to offer, the brand new Elantra GT is a model than can hold its own. It offers a lot more room than can be found inside the Elantra coupe and sedan, as well as a slightly more dynamic personality. If you are in the market for compact hatchback segment, the Hyundai Elantra GT needs to be on your list of vehicles to review.

Contact Harmony today to book your test drive of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra!