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Comments
This model was a complete base setup, no options at all. Worse, it was white, which means I wasn't going to buy it anyway. The steering was accurate, but didn't have any feel, even when dialed into sport. It had heft, but no feel, definitely 100% disconnected from the road. The suspension felt mostly buttoned down, and not really floaty (thank god), but I could feel the back end not liking some bumps. The disconcerting thing was having to downshift on a 5 degree grade at 35 MPH, it couldn't hold speed in sixth.
I had checked out the rear seat at the NY Auto show, it's about as roomy as the Dart's, give or take, depends on what notch the front seat is on. I found both to be tolerable, but not as roomy as an Impreza. But one thing really bothered me: the highway part of the test drive, I could NOT get the instant MPG meter to show more than 35 MPG, even drafting a semi at 65 MPH. At a steady 70 MPH the engine was turning 2500 RPM, but was showing 33 MPG. After break in it might do better at 65, but people who do 65 on the highways here get nasty looks at best.
I agree, the interior is excellent, though I generally prefer a 3 spoke wheel over a 4 spoke (I'm used to steering from the bottom with my right hand just off center, can't do that on a 4-spoke). The cargo area is why I usually hold out for hatches, the Dart is the first car with a trunk that I've even considered in a long time (not counting the leftover Cruze one dealer tried to throw at me). At least the Dart and Cruze have pretty big trunks but given how short the decklids are I wonder why they bothered, and didn't just make them hatches anyway.
Bottom line, it's a decent car but I don't think it's the right one for me. My next car, I want grins like the ones I had with my old 2004 Mazda3. :shades:
And that surprises you?? I'm amazed the car would even go into 6th gear at 35 mph. Think about it... you wouldn't even TRY to put the car into 6th gear at 35 mph if it were a stick. Fourth probably, maybe 5th depending on the gearing... but 6th? Never.
They can... or actually, you can. It's a shiftable automatic.
But this is one reason I am looking for a 6MT in my next car. Automatics are getting too "smart" in a way. The focus is all on fuel efficiency, not responsiveness. Although I think even on the Elantra's automatic, it's a "learning" box so if you tend to drive more aggressively over time, it will change the shift points. Not sure about that, but I know prior Hyundai automatics were like that. On a short test drive, I doubt the automatic would be able to adapt to the driver.
And of course the MT is more fun, unless one has to fight heavy traffic every day which it seems you do. The Mazda3's 6MT is really sweet. The GT's will need to be pretty great to match it.
The Dart does that too in the DCT, but I'm hoping they remove that "feature." Mazda's SKyActiv tranny just holds at redline, as a just transmission should. I may end up back in a 3 at this rate...and I'll be kicking myself if the engine grenades at 74k just like last time...
Now to find a GT to drive... there don't seem to be any in my area yet. I did see a rare stick Elantra sedan today while scouting the lot of my local Hyundai dealer, and in my fav color for the sedan, Desert Bronze. So those MT Elantras DO exist!
2013 Elantra GT Review
I wish these reviews would spend fewer words on what the car looks like, which is subjective anyway and everyone can see for themselves, and the raw specs of the car, which everyone can read for themselves, and more on what it's like to sit in and drive the car.
I wonder if that 0-60 in "low 7 seconds" was with the as-tested automatic, or a stick? I'd be surprised if it's the automatic.
Bottom line is that it's sportier than a Corolla or Cruze. If that's what they targeted, they did OK. If they were targeting the Focus or Mazda3, they fell well short.
Hyundai's Achilles heel is their steering: it sucks. Yeah, they can make it light or heavy, and they've improved on-center feel, but it's definitely 100% physically disconnected from the road. I don't know how they managed it, torque converter, rubber band, or a lawn-gnome-and-pinion, but the eeriest thing in the world is a car that starts moving sideways on you while the wheel is dead straight and still in your hands.
But if the GT "starts moving sideways on you while the wheel is dead straight and still in your hands", it won't be in my driveway! The Elantra sedan doesn't even do that. Maybe the GT you tested had an alignment problem?
If you also look in that forum, the reviewer also puts up a couple comparisons as well after doing test drives..
I think this car looks fantastic. It just recently one best UK car for Carbuyer.co.uk. Here's their video review of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WDrp-g3bHM
A few questions if you don't mind:
* How's the ride quality, esp. with the 17" wheels (you have those, right?)
* How's the AC? Do you live where it's been really hot of late?
* How's the NVH? How quiet is the interior cruising on the highway? If there's noise, what kind: engine, tires, wind etc.?
* How do you like the Blue Link?
Thanks!
Some of it is tongue-in-cheek.
Jalopnik Online
They had two grey GTs, one base/no options (great, that's what I'd likely get), and one loaded. Both automatics though. OK, no problem. I asked if I could take the base model for a drive, and the sales rep went to find a key. Came back after a few minutes: car wasn't fully PDIed yet, so no one can drive it until Monday.
Interior even in the base model looked well-executed, with a different dash (and high-mounted air vents), door panels, and fabric than the sedan. Kinda dour in black, though--so I think for sure I'd get the tan interior (with red exterior). I thought the car looks better in person than in photos--less weird, more "poised to pounce" or whatever.
So I'll see if I can snag a drive on Monday... if it isn't sold yet!
OK, have all the prospective GT buyers left now???
There's lots to like about this car. First, the interior quality is at or near best in class. Lots of padded surfaces (including door tops, a rarity nowadays), nice-looking plastic bits, smooth switchgear... it looks a class above its price point and puts cars like the Focus, Mazda3, and Impreza to shame.
The driving position was comfortable, with a meaty plastic wheel (leather with packages) and grippy fabric (leather with packages). I felt at ease in the driver's seat, but I'd like to see two improvements: 1) a height adjuster that doesn't tilt the seat bottom forward as it rises (my 2004 GT has two height adjusters), and 2) an adjustable lumbar support (which my 2004 GT has). The telescopic steering column made up for the lack of adjustment on the seat height, although it forced me to move the seat back more and set it lower than I'd prefer--which compromises rear seat leg and foot room behind the driver.
I tried out the adjustable steering and it works as advertised: firms up the feel going from Comfort to Normal to Sport. I tried Comfort briefly, thought "why would anyone want this?", switched to Normal which felt... normal, then to Sport for most of the drive. I'd probably leave it in Sport all the time unless I knew I'd be doing a lot of parallel parking that day. Had a nice heft to it, and the car tracked straight and true on the road w/o the need for constant attention/correction. Not as much "feel" as say the Mazda3 or Golf, but I doubt 99% of owners will notice. Turning circle (tested in the dealer's lot) seems nice and tight.
Ride was actually smoother and quieter than I expected. It had the 16" wheels, and probably provide a cushier ride than the optional 17" wheels and tires. I like that for where I do almost all my driving, in the frost-heaved roads of Minnesnowta. I thought my 2010 Sentra has a smooth and quiet ride for a small car--the GT was quite a notch up from that car. Ride compliance and noise over bumps and tar strips was good for a car of this size and price, I think.
I took a few sharp corners to test the handling, and there was a little lean but the car felt well planted. Again, 99% of owners will probably find the handling to their liking. The optioned-up GT with bigger rubber and adjustable suspension will probably be crisper in the turns. Not a big deal for me, in the flat Midwest.
The car really shines aft of the B pillar. The rear seat has ample thigh support, good headroom (I'm 5'9-1/2"), and adequate leg room for my "sit-behind-me" test. As noted above, I had to move the driver's seat back and down more than I'd prefer to get comfy. The main problem there is it makes toe space marginal under the driver's seat. But it has more room in back than the Focus or Mazda3, about the same as the Impreza (which has the same toe-space problem) and Golf.
The cargo area is nicely designed. First, the rear seat bottoms fold forward to create a perfectly flat load floor--really rare in this class, as usually either the seat backs aren't flat, or there's a step-up between the trunk and rear seat backs. Under the trunk floor there's a small storage compartment on each side, and a large divided compartment in the middle. And, under that, is... (drum roll)... a spare tire! Hyundai must have listened to complaints about no spare on the 2011-12 Elantras.
I reset the mpg meter before my test drive and got 25 mpg for the short (10 miles?) trip. Most of that was in-town driving, in rush hour and construction, several long stops/waits, and only a 2-mile freeway segment (1 mile each way with turn-around). And max AC on. Two people in the car. So not too bad given conditions. I had the instantaneous mpg readout (a bar graph vs. numbers, yuck) visible during the test drive and noticed it was often in the 40-50 mpg range when cruising on a city road or highway (it pegs at 50). My highway speeds were 55-65. Not a good mpg test, but gives me some idea what the car can do.
Power-wise, I thought the car had ample oomph from start, with only light pressure on the gas. But I have a light foot, with gas prices as they are. Going up grades weren't a problem, and I suspect the car downshifted to get up them but the automatic is pretty unobtrusive. I didn't try the manumatic feature.
So a lot to like in this car, with only a few little things I'd like to change (height adjuster, add lumbar adjuster, use numbers for instantaneous mpg readout, make auto-up driver's window standard), but I think the biggest problem with this car is, Hyundai needs to make more of them. The sales rep said they were getting only 5 of them, that was more than any other area dealer, and he thought that was for the YEAR! I suspect he's mistaken about that last part, at least I hope so or it will be hard to find one of these little numbers if I decide to get one when it's New Car time.
That 12:1 compression ratio is enough to give someone a little pause, of course, but it runs so nice, the powertrain difference between the Elantra and the Mazda3 is night and day. Much like the interior design vice versa in fact...except for the design of the slapshifter, which only Mazda, BMW, and Dodge get right. :shades: Seriously, who thought pushing the shifter AWAY from the driver for manual shift mode was the right way to go?
You realize that's a good thing, right? Means there's actual road feel, what you're feeling is the difference in vibration between the chassis and the wheels.
MT First Drive
I am interested in buying a 2013 Elantra GT with A/Trans. , no style or tech. package, and mud flaps, carpeted floor mats, and cargo net.
Can anyone share what they paid for this vehicle or at least give me a idea how much under MSRP would be a great deal ?
Thank you in advance !
Of course, deals vary by local market, but I would think anything around invoice would be doing fine.
Then again, this dealer actually had 6 Velosters on the lot, where some have trouble keeping one. Plus the car was white, always a deal-breaker for me.
$22,000 out the door.
Gregg
So I took a base GT with stick for a test drive. It was almost exactly as I'd buy one: red base model with a stick, no options except mats. The only thing I'd like different is a tan interior. I was glad to find out that the 6MT on the GT is a pleasure to drive--light, smooth clutch, smooth shifter, very easy to snick through the gears even for someone like me who hasn't driven a stick for awhile. The shift grip was plastic, but that can be remedied easily with one stop at the Hyundai parts counter to order the neat leather/metal grip from upscale GTs.
The rest of the drive was similar to my earlier test drive of an automatic GT. We drove for awhile on an old freeway with many bumps, and the suspension smoothed them out well. I set the steering level on "Sport" and it had a firm feel, tracked straight down the highway. Not much noise inside, nice snarl from the engine when revving. Very comfortable driver's seat, fit me to a T (unlike a Focus I drove earlier today that didn't have enough thigh support).
A couple of niggles: rear seat leg room is much less than on the sedan, but adequate for medium-sized adults like me. Rear headroom is better than the sedan's though. Also, although the rear seat cushion flips forward to allow the rear seatback to lie flat, the load floor has a "step up" behind the rear seat so it's not flat.
Despite those issues, the GT is still on my short list along with the Mazda3 and Golf. Much will depend on what kind of deal I can get when it's time to buy. I can tell you that what the dealer was offering today (a no-haggle dealer), which was no discount other than the $1000 rebate, won't cut it.
STEVE is knowledgeable, and a MAN OF INTEGRITY, who treated me like family.
The dealership he works at is KNAUZ - HYUNDAI, Lake Bluff, Illinois.
This was the best new car purchase that I personally have ever had.
The dealership tried to tack $1,495 on to the deal on the back side and we walked out. That night I wrote a letter to the GM and told him how upset I was about them trying to backdoor us.....well he called the next day and took the $1,495 off and sold it to us for the $16,895 we negotiated the day before.
We were going to shoot the moon and get the one we test drove with Nav and sunroof and all the bells and whistles but in the end decided the 5 grand price difference wasn't worth it. The Nav and the camera were the two big things I wanted my wife to have in the higher end model, but after a little research it looks like I can buy one for about $400 and another $100 to have it installed....much cheaper than the package offered through Hyundai.
She can ride in her Hyundai all day long I think I will stick with my Harley...LOL......but all and all she loves her new car and I firmly believe happy wife, happy life!
Still getting used to having to downshift on the freeway when I hit an incline, but otherwise super fun to drive. I had an old Honda Civic, so felt like I could like without the Zoom Zoom of the Mazda and didn't really need AWD. Was set on another Hatchback and didn't like the Fit.
Would love some assurance from other GT owners that I will not regret my decision.
That A-Pillar is a little bit of a pain - but after a few tries of readjusting my seat and "learning" where the spots are, i've made an easy transition... And this transition comes from driving a mid-size SUV so it was definitely different.
Practice makes perfect