2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Same excellent fuel economy with even better packaging, more features and additional safety.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jun 16, 2012

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch – Starting from $18,395 while providing a 28/39 mpgUS city/highway rating.

How do you improve upon one of the best sedans in the C-Segment marketplace? How about offer a "Hot" hatch and a coupe with even more capability. Yeah, that should make competitors once again study Hyundai's moves in order to offer a competitive product and price in 2 + years.

This past Wednesday Hyundai released pricing details for its much awaited all-new 2013 Elantra GT 5-door hatch. The value oriented five-door hatch will have a starting price of $18,395 and include 7-airbags including a driver’s side knee, Bluetooth, heated front seats and a cooled glovebox as standard equipment.

A cooled glove box is standard on all trims.

In addition, the 6-speed manual transmission can finally be optioned up with the works including such niceties as a 7” screened Navi with rear view camera, panoramic roof, leather, 17” alloys and a power drivers seat with lumbar support adjustment.


2013 Elantra GT Hatch Highlights

Just like the 2012 North American Car of the Year in the form of the Elantra sedan, the GT hatch is born from the same DNA. Meaning a similar award winning Fluidic Sculpture design, lightest weight platform in the segment and the same advanced and efficient 148 HP 1.8L I4 with either a six-speed AT or MT.

Up front, Hyundai’s bolder signature hexagonal grille as seen on the 12 Sonata Hybrid and 13 Veloster Turbo presents an even more modern look for Hyundai’s latest creation. The 2-bar grille was chromed for an eve more contemporary appearance.

The large projection lenses form the fender flare outline which transitions into the Hyundai signature deep beltline crease running from stem to stern.

Adding to its futuristic flair, the GT hatch includes a chrome molding at the window sill just above the beltline crease.


Just like all Hyundai’s, the GT hatch will provide its owners with a class above passenger and cargo volume. While being offered in the highly competitive C-Segment, its 96 cu. ft. of interior space and an over the top 23 cu. ft. of cargo capacity with the rear seats UP make it an actual D-segment sized car with more than just room for five but actually “plenty of room for five”. Drop the split fold down rear seats and there is 51 cu. ft. of cargo capacity available to swallow up things such as bicycles, camping gear or even a weekend trip to the Home Depot to complete home projects without having to rent a truck! The perfect

Elantra GT Hatch Details

The Elantra GT comes in three flavors including an exceedingly well-equipped base model, a Style package offering a panoramic sunroof, upgraded wheels, and a Tech package offering navigation system plus much more.

Modifications to the GT from the sedan include higher rear spring rates, improved body motion control thanks to a bevy of suspension changes in the rear. In addition, two suspension packages were developed to optimize tuning for the two different tire sizes. The Elantra GT’s Style package offers a sportier suspension calibration that is optimized for its lower-profile P215/45R17 tire.

Behind the wheel, drivers benefit from Hyundai’s all-new Driver Selectable Steering Mode. With three operating modes to select – Comfort, Normal and Sport – this innovative system allows drivers to adapt Elantra GT steering characteristics to varying driving preferences and road conditions any time they choose. Comfort level offers the greatest ease of steering and is ideal for city and parking environments. Sport is optimized for higher-speed highways or winding roads, while Normal is ideal for a mix of driving conditions. The Driver Selectable Steering Mode not only adjusts power assistance levels in each mode, but also on-center build-up feel and steering build-up curves throughout the steering range, for a very natural, progressive feel.

Elantra GT 5-Door Hatch - Standard and Optional Features

GT 6-speed M/T

• 1.8L I4 Dual CVVT engine
• Six-speed manual transmission
• Driver Selectable Steering Mode
• 16-inch alloy wheels with P205/55R16 tires
• Seven airbags (driver’s knee airbag, front, side & curtain airbags)
• ABS, EBD, four-wheel disc brakes, VSM, ESC and TCS
• Daytime running lights
• Air conditioning with cooled glove box
• AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3 audio system w/ six speakers, iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks
• Power windows, heated mirrors and door locks
• Remote keyless entry system with alarm
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls
• Cruise control
• Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System with voice recognition
• Blue Link Telematics System
• Premium cloth interior w/ cloth door trim
• Dual front illuminated vanity mirrors with sunvisor extensions
• Sliding center armrest
• Heated front seats
• Driver’s seat height adjustment
• Tilt & telescopic steering wheel
• Outside temperature display
• Trip computer
• Metallic inside door handles
• One-touch triple turn signal
• Luggage net hooks and outlet
• Sunglass holder & map lights
• Front and rear map pockets, front seatback pockets
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
• Rear-seat center armrest with cupholders
• Chrome grille
• Front fog lights
• Front variable intermittent wipers
• Bodycolor door handles & mirrors
• Solar glass with windshield shade band
• Rear window wiper and spoiler

GT 6-speed M/T Style Package - $2,750 Option Package MSRP

• 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Panoramic sunroof
• Side mirrors with integrated turn signals
• Leather seating surfaces
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Power driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• Aluminum pedals
• Driver-side auto/up window

GT M/T Technology Package - $2,350 Option Package MSRP (requires Style Package)

• Navigation system with seven-inch screen
• Rearview camera
• Automatic headlamps
• Dual automatic temperature control

GT 6-speed Shiftronic A/T - The Elantra GT A/T has an MSRP of $19,395, excluding $775 freight, and includes all of the GT M/T equipment plus the following features:

• 6-speed AT with Shiftronic
• Active ECO System

GT A/T Style Package - $2,750 Option Package MSRP

• 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/45R17 tires
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Panoramic sunroof
• Side mirrors with integrated turn signals
• Leather seating surfaces
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Power driver’s seat with power lumbar support
• Aluminum pedals
• Driver-side auto/up window

GT A/T Technology Package - $2,350 Option Package MSRP (Requires Style Package)

• Navigation system with seven-inch screen
• Rearview camera
• Automatic headlamps

Early Conclusions

Hyundai’s latest fluidic sculpture design has been improved with a more modern exterior appearance, cargo capacity has been increased massively and the options now available with the 6-speed MT make for a truly exciting offering for those looking within the compact segment offerings. In addition, the overly synthetic EPS system may have been tempered into an excellent feeling steering solution with the three different Driver Selectable Steering Modes. We will have more detail beginning Monday when we actually get behind the wheel of one and I cannot wait :)

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Finally a Manual With Blue Tooth from Hyundai. :)

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Hi Kurz:

My sentiments exactly!

Wayne

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Verrrrry interesting !!

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Nice. Not a "hot hatch" but very nice indeed.

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Price points alone are going to put a lot of pressure on the competition. Where are you getting a car with everything this one comes with, including a back up camera and Nav system for $24,270?

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Very anxious to give the stick version of this car a test drive once it hits the dealer lots. Tested both the Elantra and Veloster in both manual and auto, and the manual versions blew away the automatics as far as indicated fuel economy.

I really didn't care for the upholstery material in the Elantra, nor the lack of space in the Veloster, so this car may solve both of those issues...

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Ok, now we're talking.

Leave everything as it is and throw in an Atkinson engine, electric motor and big 'ol battery and we'll talk turkey.

:)

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Hi Jon:

In my discussions with Hyundai, they are close with actual Blue Drive prototypes on the ground but it is the total cost that is holding the Elantra Hybrid back :(

An atkinsonized 1.8L D-CVVT Nu engine mated to a smaller Blue Drive would be stupidly efficient, wouldn't it ;)

Wayne

Re: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatch Details Released
 

Pricing is exactly where I expected (and feared): just a hair over $19k w/dest, a couple thousand more than the Touring it replaces, thanks in part to more standard equipment. Heated seats are welcome, but I could do without the standard Bluetooth.

And this car will be much more popular than the Touring has been, meaning not much discount off MSRP. Never will you be able to buy a Hyundai 5-door in this class for anywhere near the $15,500 I paid, let alone the $13,300 that they often went on ad for the first couple years they were available. Of course part of the price increase will be justified by reduced fuel costs.

BTW, the AC glovebox (which can also be heated FWIW) is NOT new. My base '11 Elantra Touring has this.

I'm amazed they're shrinking the length by 8" vs. the Touring, yet retaining almost as much cargo cap. Are we getting the "long variant" of the global i30 after all? Cargo capacity has NOT been "increased massively," however ... it is actually down slightly vs. the car it replaces. The current Touring is rated 28cf by the EPA, and 24cf by Hyundai (I suspect the difference is in the under-floor storage), with the new GT rated 23cf by Hyundai.