New-look Hyundai Elantra sedan revealed
BY SPENCER LEECH | 24th Aug 2018
HYUNDAI has revealed a fresh-faced Elantra in the United States (US), with the South Korean car-maker’s local division confirming the updated sedan will arrive Down Under later this year.
Although still too early to confirm Australian pricing, specs and line-up details, the new US-spec model gains tweaked exterior styling, as well as array of new safety and interior tech features.
In the US, the South Korean small car’s bodywork has been significantly overhauled, flaunting a new bonnet, guards, grille, front and rear fascias, as well as updated head- and tail-lights.
Finishing the refreshed exterior design are new alloy wheels and uprated LED headlights for the higher-end variants.
Overseas customers will be able to choose between four grades – SE, SEL, Limited and Sport – which dictate standard equipment levels and powertrain offerings.
Stateside, the Elantra is powered by either a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol or 2.0-litre naturally aspirated unit, but it is expected the smaller displacement engine will remain off the table for Australian consumption.
Locally, the Elantra is currently available in just three trim levels – Active and Elite powered by the 2.0-litre engine, and a sporty 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre SR Turbo – and it is expected that those grades will carry over into the refreshed model.
However, with Hyundai Motor Company Australian (HMCA) recently introducing entry-level Go variants to its Kona small crossover, Tucson medium SUV and i30 small hatchback, the brand could follow suit with the new Elantra and debut the model grade with lower equipment levels to drop the point of entry.
Australia’s Elantra range currently kicks off at $21,950 before on-roads for the manual Active and tops out at $31,290 for the automatic SR Turbo.
The overseas Elantra also gains Hyundai’s SmartSense active safety package, adding standard features including forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist and driver attention warning.
Furthermore, Hyundai's Safe Exit Assist is also offered, which prevents the doors from opening when a pedestrian or cyclist is detected.
Considering the brand's strong focus on safety, these features are expected to carryover to the local market.
Inside, the new Elantra boasts an updated centre cluster with redesigned air vents, new audio and temperature controls, and a new instrument cluster.
A 5.0-inch infotainment display is equipped in the entry-level variant, though an 8.0-inch unit with sat-nav, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality is also offered in higher grades.
HMCA has sold 2651 Elantras in the first seven month of 2018, a 27.7 per cent dip over the same period last year.
Competing in the same sub-$40,000 small car segment as its i30 hatchback sibling, which has massed 17,158 sales year to date, the Elantra is well off the pace of the market-leading Toyota Corolla (21,737) and Mazda3 (19,533).
