Sophisticated and Affordable

Long known for being affordable, basic transportation, the Hyundai Elantra has been getting more sophisticated with every update.
This year it takes a big leap in terms of safety and driving dynamics.
If you buy the SEL trim or above, you’ll now get Hyundai’s SmartSense package of safety and convenience features including forward collision avoidance, lane keep assist, driver attention alert and a new feature called Safe Exit Alert that will sound an alarm if a vehicle is approaching from behind. The goal is to warn you before someone opens the door in front of an oncoming vehicle.
Outside, the Elantra gets a thorough visual refresh for 2019 that includes a new hood, fenders, fascia, grille and headlights, including LEDs applied to the Limited and Sport trims. It also gets a revised look in back and new wheel designs.
The inside is updated with a new instrument cluster in front of the driver and a fresh center stack with revised air vents, audio and temperature controls and a new storage tray that makes a great place to lay your cell phone.
Some of the most interesting changes, though, come to the version I tested — the new Sport trim — which is designed to offer better over-the-road dynamics for people who like the thrill of driving.

Unlike some sedans, the Sport variation isn’t just about interior stitching, badges and a slightly firmer suspension. Hyundai seems to be taking it more seriously by giving the Sport a dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters, its own multi-link rear suspension design and an exclusive 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
It adds some styling upgrades, too, including special door trim, sport seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and other small changes that give it a more aggressive overall look.
The biggest difference is the dual-clutch transmission, which I absolutely loved driving. You can get it with a six-speed manual, something I might love even more, but the fast response and delicious mechanical feedback from the dual-clutch automatic makes the difference negligible. It’s much more rewarding and tactile than the traditional six-speed automatic in other Elantras.
While the other Elantra trims get less powerful engines — either a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder on most versions or the tiny, 1.4-liter turbocharged engine in the fuel-economy-focused Eco model — the 1.6-liter turbo in the Sport trim provides dramatically better acceleration while still delivering decent gas mileage. It’s rated for 201 horsepower, 195 pound-feet of torque and 33 mpg on the highway.

The question, then, becomes who this car is designed for.
Enthusiasts will be more likely to shop for something like the car I drove last week, the Honda Civic Si with its wilder looks and amped-up sensations.
The Elantra Sport feels like it occupies a more sophisticated niche, something odd to say about what used to be a cheap economy car, but it’s the truth. It delivers great performance, reasonable fun in corners and has styling that’s much more mature than the youthful Honda and similar hot hatchbacks.
Pricing starts at $17,200 for the base Elantra SE and ranges up to $23,700 for the Sport model with the dual-clutch transmission.