Overview & Reviews

Most American compact car consumers prefer the more formal look of a sedan body style, but there are those who appreciate the much greater cargo capacity and sporty personality of a small hatchback. For them, the Hyundai Elantra GT is an excellent and affordable choice.

Today's Hyundai Elantra GT is based on the latest Elantra sedan and shares the same basic mechanical underpinnings. But the GT offers a unique body style and cabin design plus a firmer, sport-tuned suspension and driver-adjustable steering calibrations.

Current Hyundai Elantra GT Specs
Introduced for 2013, the Hyundai Elantra GT four-door hatchback comes in a single well-equipped trim level. Standard feature highlights include 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated front seats, Hyundai's BlueLink telematics, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio and a USB/iPod interface. Optional feature highlights include a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, keyless ignition/entry, a navigation system and a rearview camera.

The GT comes with the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine seen in the other Elantras and it makes 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. There's also a PZEV-rated lower-emissions version that makes 145 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission are standard, while a six-speed automatic is an option.

As with its sedan sibling, the Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback offers a stylish cabin with logical controls and an impressive amount of room for four adults. Of course, cargo capacity is where the GT's interior shines brightest, and with the rear seats folded down there are an impressive 51 cubic feet of space available.

In reviews, we've been impressed by the Elantra GT's solid feel on the road. Acceleration is similar to the other Elantras, which is to say adequate but with a somewhat reluctant-to-downshift automatic gearbox that's geared toward maximizing fuel economy. Handling, however, is a bit sharper in the GT thanks to its firmer suspension tuning, and drivers can adjust the level of assist for the electric power steering. The GT's ride is commendable, more like that of a midsize touring car, as it is supple and quiet over both pockmarked city streets and high-speed interstates.

Used Hyundai Elantra GT Models
Although this Elantra GT is a new car in Hyundai's lineup, it is not the first time Hyundai has offered a four-door hatchback version of its Elantra. Most recently, Hyundai sold the Elantra Touring from 2009-'12. Thanks to its more wagonlike shape, the Touring had even more cargo space than the current model.

Prior to this there was a similarly named Elantra GT based on the third-generation Elantra. It was sold from 2001-'06.

User Reviews:

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  Better than Ford Focus - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By justaguy6 - October 7 - 4:55 pm

  Owning a 2012 Ford Focus Titanium hatchback for 5 months, I was in the shop 4 times for transmission issues and once for the nav/audio screen shutting off. All in all, it was a mess. I have purchased a silver elantra gt with tech and style package, manual transmission. Owning it for about a week, I am averaging 37 mpg (not sure where everyone else is driving). Prior to Ford, I was a BMW owner (2003) - fed up with costs to own. Although this is no BMW, this car is a lot of fun. Feel solid and handles pretty well for a car in this segment.

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  GT rocks! - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By capte - September 5 - 6:54 am

  I purchased a 2013 Elantra GT with the 6 speed manual shifter and am more than pleased. After breifly owning a 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback for a week and returning it because of automatic transmission issues, I decided no more automatics in small cars. The manual tranny in the GT is smooth with reasonably short throws. I installed 17 inch wheels with Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires and the improved cornering and traction is noticeable. It now handles as well in the corners as the Focus did, without the reliability issues that Ford has always been known for. The interior quality and noise levels are better in the GT than the Focus and the controls in the GT are much more intuitive.

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  love it except ... - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By sharoniowa - November 8 - 6:56 am

  This car handles well in the snow and ice with impressive lower gears available in the automatic. Its comfortable and attractive.

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  Elantra GT review - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By zaps - October 15 - 9:45 pm

  very bad MPG it is giving 21MPG only as compared to 34MPG on highway and 24 on interior roads. While driving you can feel it is not smooth and can feel the hardness on accelerator. The Dealer says talk to hyundai and hyundai says talk to dealer. This is worst car i had

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  Still an Awesome Elantra - 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By Teresa Aurnou - September 7 - 6:03 pm

  I love this car! I have been driving it since June and still loving it! It is sporty and comfortable and cute. Lots of room with the hatchback and great sound system. I plan on having this car for many years to come!

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  2013 Hyundai GT hatch Auto - 1 month review - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By mergatroid - July 27 - 11:31 pm

  Came from a 2010 Mazda 3. Love this car so far. I am 6 1" tall and have great leg room in front. Back seat is also very spacious. I have the base model but it is very well equipped. So far averaging about 32MPG in about 80% hwy, 20% city driving. On one 60 minute freeway stretch at 65mph I averaged 36mpg. Pleased so far and I am hoping it will improve as time goes on. Keep it in ECO mode all the time. Very quiet car, average acceleration but plenty of power in manual mode. Sport mode in steering my favorite and handles very well, but not quite as good as my Mazda 3. Fantastic dash set up - Bluetooth works great, AC strong, above average stereo - nice bass. Competitors have their work to do.

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  Disappointing fuel economy, but I still LOVE it - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By stephen_b - March 26 - 9:53 am

  What initially drove me to look at the GT was the fuel economy, but what sold me was the sleek styling and comfortable roomy interior. I am 63 and have ample head and leg room. The leather seats are very comfortable. And the car just looks sexy. I got it in red with tan leather and the style package, and its just beautiful. It is visually far more appealing than any other car in its class, imo. The only issue I have with it is the disappointing fuel economy. I have only had it for a little less than a month, but its averaging about 25-26 mpg with a substantial amount of highway driving. Ive only had it for a month, and put about 1k miles on it. I also live in a congested area.

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  It just keeps getting better - 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By craiggb - January 13 - 4:15 pm

  We have a 2006 Elantra GT (and are keeping it for a while longer), which my wife loves to drive, so when it came time to replace our 2006 Sonata (another great car, BTW), we looked at the 2014 Elantra GT. Not only does this years model have 173 HP, but the 6 speed auto is delightful. We got the Pano sunroof, leather (Driver seat is power) and dual zone air. The car is quiet, smooth, darn good power and decent on fuel. a couple of thou on the odo so far, not a single glitch. The styling is great and space is terrific. Bigger than the Mazda 3 and more reliable than the Focus. We wanted power seat and this was the only one that could do it at a decent price.

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  I love it! - 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By Del Scott - December 21 - 6:52 am

  I bought this car and even though I was hesitant because its a hatchback, I still love it!

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  Love this car, but... - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By cafiestase - July 1 - 6:21 am

  This is my second Elantra...wow, what a difference. The other was a 2008 SE. This has more power, ride is much better. My one is a big difference for the and the wife and I fell in love with lines and the "Red", I mean "Red". I am looking for better mileage, but I only have 1,800 miles on the clock. My last car was a 2011 Ford Fiesta W/6-speed trans that need work at 30K, so we traded it for the Elantra GT, even so, when ever I traveled for over 100 miles, I got a min. of 40mpg so where is the 37mpg Hyundai???