On the American market, large sedans still have a place to be. The Elantra sold more than 117,000 copies last year, even if we are far from 240,000 sales in 2015. Appearing among the most stolen models last year in the USA in the context of the “Kia Challenge the Hyundai Elantra, known as the Avante in South Korea, gets a mid-cycle refresh for America with a new design and new technology
A less bizarre front
The most obvious change concerns the new grille, less tortured while keeping a certain dynamism, being divided into two parts while the previous one was rather a kind of huge gaping mouth. The shield also changes, with somewhat Audi-style air intakes, more elegant lights connected to each other by a thin metal bar and which rise less on the hood line, while keeping a fairly sharp expression, a flat badge stainless steel, new front fenders. At the rear, there is a profile reminiscent of a coupe from the C pillar
Several rim options will be available, ranging from 15 to 18 inches, as well as new color choices. Inside, new, softer-touch front door panels, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster, three new USB-C sockets and a redesigned wireless charger should bring a little more refinement to this sedan. 4.65 meters long. New color choices and H-Tex leather seating surfaces in Limited trims will also help make the Elantra a little more luxurious.
On the safety side, new rear side airbags and rear seat belt reminders are now standard on all trims Haptic steering wheel feedback has been added to lane keeping assist, lane warning Blind-Spot Collision and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, to give drivers another clue to what’s going on around them. The Elantra also has the Digital Key feature that allows the driver to use their phone as a car key. For once, if you have your smartphone stolen, the Kia Challenge may be even easier…
Atmo, hybrid, turbo and N to let go
In terms of engines, you have the choice between a 1.6-litre turbo engine with 201 CV, a 1.6-litre hybrid with 139 CV (yes, the power is less on the hybridized 1.6 than on the 1.6 atmo), a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated 147 HP and a 2.0 liter turbocharged 276 HP engine designed specifically for the Elantra N. The Elantra N, a high-performance model, is also affected by restyling with a new grille and fairing, new rocker panels, 19-inch forged alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, dual exhausts, a rear spoiler and other goodies.
