Hyundai sells the Elantra as a four-door sedan and as a hatchback. The GT, the latter of the two, largely remains the same for 2019, still offering the extra appeal of a livelier driving experience as well as the extra practicality that naturally comes with a hatchback. The 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT comes in base and Sport trims, and both are front-wheel drive (FWD).
There are two engines available for the Elantra, one for each trim. The base trim gets a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque driving the front wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a conventional 6-speed automatic. True to its name, the Sport trim adds more pep with a turbocharged 4-cylinder good for 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, driving through either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The car’s drive-mode selector offers Normal or Sport modes.
The Elantra GT rides on a slightly shorter wheelbase than the sedan, making it a livelier car to drive with sharp steering response. Fuel economy figures for the base non-turbo trim are 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 27 combined with the automatic. The Sport trim will do 25, 32, 28 with the 7-speed dual-clutch or 23, 30, 26 with the manual.
Inside, the GT largely mirrors the sedan’s SEL trim with a 7.0-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with more active safety features. The Sport trim also gets more deeply bolstered seats as well as some flashier accent interior trim. When it comes to room, the hatchback offers up to 55 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats folded flat.
The car doesn’t come standard with many active safety features, but blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist are available options on the base trim and come standard on the Sport trim. Stepping up to the Sport trim also opens up the availability of forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. The GT hasn't been crash tested, but the sedan has been awarded the highest available Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration gave the Elantra GT an overall score of 4 stars, noting that the side-barrier crash was subpar for rear-seat passengers.
The Elantra GT offers extra driving pleasure and practicality over its sedan counterpart. It’s a tempting choice that could certainly lead some shoppers away from more established names in the hatchback game like the Volkswagen Golf.