Driving Impressions : Hyundai Elantra GT N Line M/T

By: Mark Moskowitz MD

So a bunch of marketing men (or women or both), some coin counters and a few of those AMG cats that left that German company got together and decided to build a small sports 'sedan/coupe/hatchback' and keep the list price out the door under $25,000. It needed to look like an SUV -big rear space and all- but it didn't have to be. So they took the Elantra GT, best described as a compact or a hatchback but not a grand touring car, and went to work.

They added a few special exterior and interior touches: The black honeycomb grille that seems to define the upper end of each line of Hyundai's is surrounded by a polished metal accent as is the front spoiler and the rear fascia that looks like a diffuser but probably isn't. Handsome alloy wheels are surrounded by 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sports. On the back, they tacked an N Line badge. More polished metal highlights the pedals and footrest.

The rest of the interior is covered with black surfaces. The dash, steering wheel and upper door panels are covered with padded material. The under-dash, the console and the area below the armrest is hard plastic. The black is broken up with red stitched accents around the seats, the steering wheel and shift boot; red surrounds the vents. I wouldn't call it elegant; I would call it purposeful. The (heated) leather seating is comfortable with wide surfaces to support the butt and back; side bolsters are prominent but not a hindrance. Seat adjustment is manual. For those of you who need a lumbar support, it's not there. I enjoy an outstretched arm and foot driving position and without adjustment was still able to position my 5-foot 10-inch self comfortably in the backseat. The roof was 3 inches above my head.

Hyundai makes great use of interior space. The console is wide and low allowing the drivers knees to rest without coming in contact with it and the door panel is rounded outward. There are cupholders in the doors and between the seats. The console has a doored compartment in front where a large cell phone can lay flat. There's an open space for keys, pens and more as well as another closed compartment beneath the armrest. Driving Impressions appreciates that lots of buttons and knobs operate the dual zone A/C. The eight-inch touchscreen sits high on the dash for easy visibility. Behind the monitor is not Hyundai's most sophisticated system but again lots of buttons and knobs make it convenient. There is Apple CarPlay and Android auto. It would be fun to have the N system track apps.

The Drive. Release of the electronic parking brake (toggle actuated) seems to take an eternity. Measured – it takes 1.1 seconds! The clutch is easy. Steering is easy and accurate. There is no sport mode (it's all sport mode – perhaps the reason that the steering feedback seems real and not artificial).

Underway the six speed's shift pattern seems to have a bit longer throw than one might expect in a new sport coupe but it's buttery smooth and accurate going up or down through the gears. Power from the 201 hp turbo comes on slowly somewhere between 2000 and 2500 rpms but the real impressive acceleration begins somewhere between 3500 and 4000 rpms. The Ipad registered a tic under 7 seconds on a 0-60 run – not Veloster N quick but 'sporty'.

Huge mechanical improvements were built into this N Line model. Engine mount, transmission mount and springs were all stiffened. The rear sway bay went from 14 to17 mm. Shocks were specifically tuned and the steering recalibrated. The result: a sophisticated smooth ride around town (and a tight turning radius). Aggressively round a corner and body lean comes on slowly and predictably. Pushed to the limit one feels or induces a bit of oversteer.

The initial paragraph of this tome is my fabrication. Whatever the origin, Hyundai has succeeded in building a practical and inexpensive sports vehicle. If I had to name a direct competitor, it would be the Golf GTI which packs a few more hp and a bit bigger price tag. With excellent storage as noted below, the Hyundai is a practical car around town and on trips; it should 'work' for a small family or a single trying to impress.

Want more: A dual-clutch automatic adds $1100 to the price. I suspect most will opt for the tech package: the $3850 investment adds power, lumbar support and ventilation to the seat, an upgraded stereo, a wireless charger, adaptive cruise control and a host of safety options including lane keep assist.

Add (or subtract) into the formula: function on regular fuel, an outstanding warranty and free maintenance for the earliest of three years or 36000 miles and this sport coupe is worthy of consideration.

Photo credit: Mark Moskowitz MD

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