2019 Hyundai Elantra

Pros: Generous level of features for the money; simple, logical control interface; refined ride; nimble handling in GT N Line; GT’s generous cargo room

Cons: Cramped rear seat; cabin trim trails best in class; engine grows noisy when accelerating

CG Says: The 2019 Hyundai Elantra hatchback line gains a new GT N Line model that replaces the GT Sport. “N” is the designation for Hyundai’s new performance line. The GT N Line has sport suspension tuning and unique interior and exterior trim. The base Elantra GT is unchanged following last year’s redesign. Elantra GT is the hatchback stablemate of the Elantra compact sedan that gets an exterior-design freshening, a revised interior, and an expanded availability of Hyundai SmartSense safety features. Newly optional on Limited is Safe Exit Assist, a system that detects vehicles approaching from the rear and warns that it may not be safe to open a door. The standard engine on the GT N Line and the sedan’s Sport model is a 201-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automated-manual transmission. The Elantra sedan offers a choice of three engines. A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147-horsepower is in all trims except the previously mentioned Sport and fuel-miser Eco, which is powered by a turbocharged 128-horsepower 1.4-liter four. The base Elantra GT’s engine is a 162-hp version of the 2.0-liter engine. The 2.0-liter is available with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions; the 1.4-liter comes only with a 7-speed automated-manual transmission. Elantra offers many safety and convenience features that are unusual for the class. Among the available features are steering-linked xenon headlights, hands-free trunk opening, heated rear seats, wireless cell-phone charging, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver-attention-alert system, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, and cross-traffic alert. The Elantra sedan doesn’t stand out in any one area. However, it has generous amount of features for the dollar and offers wide range of available equipment. The same can also be said for the Elantra GT, which also has a large cargo capacity that rivals some compact SUVs.