Consumer Reviews
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

sporty economy car

by Hyundai Enthusiast from Minneapolis, MN on September 28, 2012

I have owned my 2013 Elantra GT for 6 weeks and love every minute of driving it. This car has all the styling I wanted coupled with gas economy and the versatility of the hatchback I was looking for. I upgraded to the style package on my GT which included black leather interior (which is so sporty and cool) a panoramic moon-roof, awesome Hyundai sound-system with blue tooth and blue link capabilities. It is so high tech that I have not yet learned how to access all of its features yet. As far as the exterior is concerned it competes with the Mazda 3 and the Ford focus hatch but with sportier lines, 17 inch alloy wheels, tire pressure monitoring and the list goes on....I rarely see another car just like mine this model is so new. When driving this car I have the option of using its ECO drive or normal (which I prefer because I love the performance and speed) This car handles beautifully on corners, has great maneuverability and the turn radius is a breeze.... Need I say more about how much I love this car. I do not think I will ever tire of walking up to it nor driving it. Great Car at a great price!

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

18 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Excellencia!

by Hyundai First-Timer from Niagara Falls, ON on December 13, 2014

I've had my GT for 2.5 years and about 40K km now, owning it since brand new. Love it! To be short: Pros: Excellent fuel economy. Style, comfort and ergonomics throughout. Hatchback versatility. Smooth and peppy ride. Panoramic sunroof that makes convertibles look obsolete. Overall, the value the GT offers for its money is unprecedented. I've checked many of the so-called luxury cars and found that their bells and whistles are very much the same as my GT has. So, what's the use of overpaying $Ks just for a fancy badge on the grill? Cons: The dealer had to deal with the Check Engine light (that went on soon after the purchase), a glitch in the MP3 player, and a jam in the passenger side seat belt. They fixed it all, quickly, competently and with a ton of apologies, offering me a couple of free oil changes for the inconvenience. Nice, eh? Apart from excellent AC performance in hot summer, the GT behaves very well in Canadian winter. Starts with the first turn of the key in any weather, warms up in no time and heated seats are a plus. Handles great even on regular Firestone winter tires. Of course, it was built for smooth flight over the asphalt and not for climbing rocks or exploring the Moon, so I try to avoid harsh terrain and deep snow - and my GT responds gratefully and gracefully. Conclusion: I've driven cars from most of the world's major manufacturers, preferring Japanese. The 2013 Elantra GT is my first Korean-made car - and tops them all. I would seriously consider switching my further preferences to Hyundai. Would recommend it to anybody.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Just getting around

Does recommend this car!!

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Honda and Toyota, eat your hearts out. Seriously.

by Steven from Los Angeles on June 22, 2013

About a month ago, I rented a 2013 Mazda 3 hatch on vacation. I loved the power and responsiveness. The interior, not so much. The Toyota Matrix has a nice shape, but that dash is SO ugly. For me it was a toss up between this and a Ford Focus hatch. This got MAJOR points from me because: Standard heated front seats. And BTW I love that fact they are cloth. Leather can get sticky/sweaty with heated seats sometimes. I was going to go for a fully loaded model BUT; opted for a model with the Touch and Go package. Which adds to the amazing set of standard features: 17' wheels, sport suspension. Leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter. And a proximity key with push button start. The plastics and materials used are top notch and really make it feel much more premium than competition. I didn't even need to think twice. What surprised me, I was able to get the features I wanted without having to spring for some more expensive options. Nice. And the Bluetooth works very well too. I can play my music in the cloud using the audio controls. The phone functions need a bit more polish however. You need to be extremely clear and concise saying commands. The Bluelink function is very cool too. You can have all sorts of fun with it. I downloaded the app and can unlock the car and start it from my phone. Lastly, this car feels just as responsive and eager as the Mazda to me. Looks better too. Very glad that I chose the Elantra GT, it was the best fit for me, and I'm satisfied.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Best hatch for the money

by RoboCop from Peoria, IL on January 14, 2013

I sold Hyundai's...but I'm not bias at all. In fact, most people I worked with would tell you that I love what Ford and Subaru are doing, not to mention the GTI and new Forte 5/cee'd are fantastic. However, what the cars.com review leaves out is that the headroom restraint is for the version with the panoramic roof, not the regular models. And the ala carte term is no longer accurate. Hyundai now offers a "touch and go" package that adds push button start, leather wrapped steering wheel, 17" style wheels, sport suspension, and power driver's seat for $950...which is the perfect version of this car, if you can settle for Black, White, or Silver. I bought the blue for the girlfriend and I was impressed with how roomy, comfortable, stylish, and feature-appointed the car was for under 20k. The Focus' backseat was terrible by comparison, as was the Mazda 3, and neither of those got the same features for near the price. The car is very quiet, quieter than the sedan which really surprised me, it feels lighter than it is, and despite the terrible highway merging (especially for the GT name) it really doesn't matter since it's intended purpose is for mpg and around town driving. Speaking of mpg, with 22 miles on the odometer, driving though an ice storm, the wipers turning into ice swords and becoming useless, visibility next to zero, going 35 in a 65, and wind blowing the car around the road, it still earned about 28mpg...since all cars require a break-in period and things like cold and wind greatly affect mpg performance, I'd say the car did very well...its crash ratings are high, the 7 airbags makes it very safe, as well as all of the advanced safety features. Simply put this isn't a car you're going to show off to your mustang friend or your camping/extreme sports enthusiast, but it is plenty fun for commuting and I'd gladly show it off to normal car buyers.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Great for the Money and More

by Dick's GT from North Carolina on March 28, 2013

Ist Elantra GT I've owned but had a Santa Fe for over 10 years. Was the best car I've ever owned and the GT should be just as good. If you are a conservative driver the MPG will not disappoint. Have gotten as much as 44 MPG on the highway at 60 MPH for a 40 mile trip on a flat highway using cruise. Overall 34 MPG with a 40/60 city/highway split. A great looking enjoyable car to drive with a really nice interior and well laid out controls. No complaints except the Bluetooth won't take my phone unless I switch carriers. Can use if I dial but not voice command mode. At least that's what service tells me. With a 60,000 bumper to bumper warranty and 100,000/ 10 year drive train warranty this is a great car.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Just getting around

Does recommend this car!!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?

Switch from Maxima to Elantra

by Happy Elantra Owner from Augusta, GA on December 26, 2012

After 8 years my Maxima started to develop issues, caused me to loose confidence in Nissan even though averaging 26 mpg wanted to get something a little more economical. Elantra GTS was half the cost of a replacement Maxima and is getting 38 mpg on my daily 80 mile commute. Loss of power is noticeable but does not impact my driving, increased head room is nice and the interior and exterior styling works for me. Nice to have the 100000 mile power train warranty, hopefully will not need to use it.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?

depends on deal you get

by like hatchbacks from on March 13, 2013

I test drove Ford focus, Subaru Impreza and elantra GT looking for a hatchback to replace my GTI. Elantra GT, in my opinion has the best feel and drive, though it feels weak compared to GTI. Nice interior, great options for the price and good gas milage. I do love the panoramic Sunroof. Great deal if you can get it at below invoice.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?

10k in, happier than ever!

by Erdos from Minneapolis, MN on April 1, 2014

This little car has blown me away. I have never owned a small car where engine noise is hushed at cruising speed. It's bizarre! It's gone through one Minnesota winter with no issues. It was a horrendous year for snow and this GT handled it just fine. The side mirrors are heated! Didn't think that'd come in handy, but it does. The interior is top notch, nice materials and a ridiculous amount of passenger space. Seriously, go sit in it. It fits 4 adults better than my full size sedan did. It's incredible. The heater is insanely warm. I turn it just past the middle or I'm roasting. Which I thoroughly enjoyed on those -25F days we had this January. Even in that cold, with fresh air turned on, it heated up quick. I am impressed. Air conditioning is just as impressive, and it doesn't seem to bog the engine down much? I don't see how that's possible, but I don't notice it. My old compact it was like tossing an anchor out the window. I don't have the Navi system, but I do have all my music on a USB stick, which the car integrates. Love this feature. It'll sync to your phone, and play music through bluetooth as well if you'd rather. I ended up with the push-button ignition option, which I didn't want. But even that has been a pleasant surprise. Leaving your keys in a coat pocket is handy. I drive with the eco mode engaged and get slightly over 30 mpg. I drive more city than highway by a longshot, so this is fantastic. This is my first Hyundai, but if this is what I can expect from their vehicles, it will NOT be the last! I am very, very happy I chose this hatchback. This company seems to make all the best features STANDARD. You shouldn't have to pay extra for alloy wheels, cruise, or A/C. Any company that still does this is ridiculous!

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Just getting around

Does recommend this car!!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?

The Best Looking Sibling

by Bransan from Ocala, FL on August 2, 2012

After seeing this car in person, we couldn't get enough of it. Agressive grill, tight lines and an equally great looking rear hatch. Engine has pep behind it, and driving is just fun...especially while saving so much gas. The interior gives off a very high quality feel for this class. Everything is sturdy and smooth, and the doors make a great thunk when closed. The standard sound system sounds great, and satellite radio makes it sound that much better. To us, it is the best looking of the three Elantra models, the hatchback, coupe, and sedan. Completely satisfied. Hyundai has another winner.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Just getting around

Does recommend this car!!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you?

GT is Great Except in High Elevations

by Manual tran junkie from Rural Upper Peninsula, Michigan on October 14, 2012

After driving a Civic coupe for 13 years, the standard features and space inside my new Elantra GT are awesome! Especially nice are the three steering options; sport mode makes for great handling in hairpin mountain turns. But, alas, climbing those mountains has shown the GT's lack-luster performance. Forget 5th and 6th gears! Not an issue for normal driving, thankfully, and gas mileage has exceeded my expectations.

Purchased a New car

Uses car for Commuting

Does recommend this car!!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you?