Mark Glover’s AutoGlo
reviews also can be seen on the business page of The Sacramento
Sacramento, California – I’m not usually a guy who goes gaga
over small cars, but this new-for-2013 Elantra GT made me sit up and take
notice.
With a Black Noir Pearl paint scheme and sharp
Batmobile-style sculpting around the edges, this $19,000-and-change, five-door
hatch looked the part of the pocket rocket.
And sure, mine was dressed up to a nearly obscene level with more than
$5,000 in extras.
Can my attention be bought?
Early evidence indicates yes, as I really liked the optional sport-tuned
suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, navigation system, leather appointments and
panoramic sunroof.
Controlling things from the cockpit kept me busy, but
everything was within easy reach and did not take a doctorate degree in
engineering to operate.
On the roll, the Elantra GT was significantly nimble on city
street slaloms, and the steering was firm enough to make me feel like I was not
overdriving the car. Nice touch there.
Alas, with 148 horses coming from the 1.8-liter,
four-cylinder engine, I found myself wanting more in the power department. I really had to mash the accelerator to get
the desired oomph on freeways, and while the car coasted along effortlessly in
the 60- to 65 miles per hour range, I was shy about making quick lane changes
as it took time to get an extra safety cushion in tight traffic.
I made a cargo run out of necessity and was surprised how
much stuff the tester took in once the seats were folded. It handled about 40 percent more than I would
have guessed. That will save you a few
errands.
Gas mileage: Very nice at 28 miles per gallon in the city
and a whopping 39 mpg on the open road.
Hyundai touts the Elantra GT as a competitor against the
Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf, and I can’t argue with that. I’d say each model has its advantages. For performance, I’d probably opt for the
Mazda3. But I might lean toward the
Elantra as a reliable choice for a family member or close friend.
My Elantra experience was rounded off by a lengthy list of
standard safety, comfort and convenience features.
All in all, it’s hard not to like this new Elantra GT. Who am I kidding? I liked it just fine.
If you’re searching for practical-size, affordable,
gas-sipping transportation with modern perks, put this one on your test-drive
list.
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