Hyundai Elantra Sport: Reasons to buy

When Hyundai Malaysia launched the latest version of the Elantra, people were impressed. It’s elegant, feature-laden, and comes with a good engine. However, people who seek more from their family sedan than just commuting to and fro from work, dropping kids to school, and going shopping for groceries, were a bit disappointed. While a number of sedans can fulfil these tasks, only a few can provide what many desire, i.e., a sportier overall experience. This is where the Hyundai Elantra Sport comes in. Hyundai understood the needs of the masses and brought to them the sportier version of the elegant Elantra. So, why should you buy one? Here are a few reasons.

Dynamic exterior design

Hyundai altered a few of the design elements to make Elantra look sporty, dynamic, and lively. At the front, it’s the grille and the aggressive bumper design that gets noticed at first glance. The headlamps feature the same design but get HID projector units and hence enhance the overall sporty character.

We also like how Hyundai has used actual and functional air vents on either side of the front bumper. These vents help to channel the air to the wheel arches and hence improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the car. Then there are the LED daytime running lights that would help you identify this model easily.

Another interesting element of the Elantra Sport is the red highlight inside the headlamp housing. This shows that Hyundai has really worked hard to make things work and has paid attention to such minor detailing. Well done, Hyundai.

Moving to the side profile, the gorgeous, stylish, and attractive 17-inch alloy wheels will make your day. They’re magnificent. Hyundai didn’t want to erase all the elegance from the Elantra, so it provided a subtle yet noticeable chrome window line trim.

The rear end of the Hyundai Elantra Sport features dynamic-looking two-piece LED tail lights which feature triple C-shaped signature LEDs. They will again help you identify the car from behind pretty easily. There is also an integrated spoiler on the boot lid, a functional diffuser, and a twin-pipe exhaust system that adds a hint of sportiness. So, overall all the changes serve their purpose and make the car look sportier than the standard model.

Sporty interior

Hyundai tried to maintain the sporty standard inside as well, just like the one set by its exterior. We would say it did well but could have done better. To start off, the most prominent change is the dual tone color scheme. Irrespective of the color you buy, the interior will always be the same - red and black. We’d have preferred it to be entirely black.

The 3-spoke steering wheel is a sporty one, and it has a few mounted buttons for controlling audio and cruise functions. Also, the flat-bottom design gives a sporty feel when you hold the steering wheel. We also like the alloy paddle shifters. These would come in handy to an enthusiast.

Other than the sporty features, the interior gets a 7-inch infotainment system that supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual zone climate control, a manual handbrake, comfortable seats, and spacious cabin, etc.

Handling

To make the Elantra Sport sportier, Hyundai changed the suspension setup of this car. At the rear, there is a complex multilink suspension which is firmer than the standard model. This would hit the comfortable ride quality of the car but improve the handling. Elantra Sport can take corners with much confidence. Also, the steering delivers just the right amount of feedback.

Engine

The Hyundai Elantra Sport specs are a bit different than that of the usual Elantra. Here we have a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which has been tuned to churn out a max power of 203 PS at 6000 rpm and generate a peak torque of 264 Nm at 1500 rpm. For the transmission, we have a 7-speed double clutch unit which provides high performance and fuel efficiency.

If you are looking to buy a sporty and performance-oriented C-segment sedan, then the Elantra Sport would be your best bet. We have listed some of the key reasons why you should consider this car. Let us know if you think we have missed any reason. The Hyundai Elantra Sport price is a bit higher than the range-topping variant of the normal Elantra. It is set at RM 124,088, but it does make up for the additional cost. As far as color options are concerned, there are 7 of them - Polar White, Phantom Black, Platinum Silver, Iron Grey, Fiery Red, Marina Blue, and Blazing Yellow.