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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  Great Car! - 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By mgvh - April 23 - 8:47 am

  With dealer incentives, I was able to get an excellent deal on this base model Elantra GT which was already a good value before the incentives. I only have 100 miles on it so far, so this is more of a first impressions review, and the first thing I note is that I really liked the exterior styling. The Windy Sea Blue is really beautiful in the sunlight. On closer inspection, the fit and finish quality is outstanding. Its a very solid car. Shut a door, and there is a reassuring thud of solidity. Interior controls are a bit busy. Still trying to figure things out, but the voice recognition is very helpful. 29.5mpg so far, but its mostly in-town driving. Fun car to drive, and Im happy!

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  Smile on my face - 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By raiderone2 - February 10 - 6:59 am

  Ive had my GT for about 4 months now. At first the car seemed sluggish, but as I put a few miles on (now 4,000 miles) performance is great and MPG equal to the EPA figure. Couple tricks I learned: When in manual, start in 2nd. Only use sport steering mode on windy days. I use sport most of the time and keep it there. I went from a 2000 Grand Prix thinking there was not going to be enough room for 4 adults in comfort. I was wrong. Took a weekend trip with 4 adults and nobody complained about room plus room for all our luggage. Sometimes going uphill, seems to be searching for the right gear, so I switch to manual mode and works better.

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  A fantastic value, and what a true hatchback should be. - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By throwingshade - January 1 - 3:50 am

  I test drove all available 5 door hatchbacks on the market right now, and ended up with the Elantra GT. It was a toss up between it or the Ford Focus for me. What swayed me was the styling, including the interior. Nice! This car sets the bar for style and good looks. Also the warranties and standard feature set cant be beat. Although I did opt for the touch and go package, which includes keyless entry with push button start, sport suspension and 17 inch wheels. Hyundai has come a long way since the Excel, and I couldnt be happier with my decision. Toyota & Honda better do some homework, especially with their styling. Hyundais are much better looking, inside and out.

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  Pleasantly surprised - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By bigal11 - November 23 - 3:42 am

  This brand has come a long way. Great commuter. Not as refined in suspension as my 12 Jetta TDI but very good. MPG on 2 tanks: 38 and 41, better than the Jetta diesel. Easy 6sp to train newbies. Interior, Bluetooth, infotainment jacks, also surprises me. Nice to know my kid wont be tempted into texting at the wheel. I bought it for my daughter to finish High school and go to University. 100K waranty makes me feel much better about that. I simply cant think of a better choice for my purpose.

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  Just the car I wanted - 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By thedamned475 - July 17 - 8:31 am

  I knew I wanted to buy a 5-door hatchback that could haul large field sampling gear while at the same time being quick, small, nimble and fuel-efficient. This car does all of that. Its agile, comfortable, and all-around smartly designed. I test-drove 16 different models before I settled on this car, and this was hands-down my favorite right from the get-go. I had no brand loyalty to Hyundai whatsoever, but now I think I might. Plus, I still kind of cant believe the price I paid for this car. They were giving a $3,000 rebate on the car, so I paid $2000 less for the car I liked the most than I would have paid for any other competing model. How cool is that?

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  Tall-friendly and Winter Worthy! - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By mushamush - June 30 - 1:19 am

  This car has been incredible so far. Im 63", 175 pounds. I fit comfortably, better yet, I can fit 3 more 6+ people with no problem. Ride quality, engine noise and road noise all exceed my expectations in a very good way. I own a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 as well, the difference is staggering, and I love that car! The attention to detail and material quality really sets it apart from a lot of cars. Nothing feels cheap (and this is a Hyundai! Man, theyve come a long way), nothing creaks or pops going down the road. Im used to these small, 4 cylinder econoboxes being complete rattletraps. Not anymore. And it does well in snow. I couldnt be happier.

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  Its a Love-Hate Relationship - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By nanne8 - May 23 - 8:41 am

  Ive had this car for about six months and have some regrets about buying it. It looks great - both the interior and exterior designs are excellent. And the technology its equipped with (I have the tech/style pkg) beats any other car in its segment. However, there are some major deficiencies: (1) the gas mileage is nowhere near what Hyundai claims. The most Ive ever gotten is 30mpg highway and 27 combined. Thats driving conservatively in eco mode the entire time; (2) the ride is VERY harsh - you feel every (I mean EVERY) bump in the road and forget about going over rough pavement, bumps, or potholes. I feel like Im riding in a school bus. (3) the acceleration/power stinks...badly.

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  So glad I got this car! - 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By Dom - March 28 - 5:07 am

  This car is the jack of all traits. Im never asking more of it. I bought it with XXX,X33 miles on it. Right now I have X44,000 on it. Had it almost two year. Not one issue. Never asking for power. So fun to drive. I have all the features except the automatic transmission. The panorama sunroof is breathtaking. The leather is high grade. The sound system is better than most Ive heard. Im a pretty active 22 year old has great room for my friends and my items. Hyundai made the perfect car! Thank you!!!!

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  The GT is a great little car - 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By brundagefamily@comcast.net - March 15 - 4:22 pm

  Currently our family leases four Hyundais (Sonata Turbo, 2 Elantras and an Elantra GT) with the GT being the newest edition to the stable. We were a bit concerned that the GT would be too small (especially in the cargo area) but have been pleasantly surprised at the cars versatility. With slightly more horsepower than the standard Elantras, the GT is quite peppy around town and on the highway. The driver visibility is great and everyone in the family has enjoyed their turn putting the car through its paces. The fuel economy, as expected, is slightly less than a standard Elantra. Other than that we would certainly give the vehicle high marks for the first month that we have had it.

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  I like the car but am disappointed in the mileage - 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
  By bberszoner - October 14 - 2:34 pm

  I have had the car for a couple of weeks and and like lots of things, but a few negatives stand out: (1) the review of the car say the auto transmission is a little lackluster - that is true; (2) the stated mileage is 28/39, but Im getting 26 with a fair bit of highway driving, so I no longer believe its possible. What else isnt true?