Engine and Transmission

From Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission Rating:

The Elantra GT is a front-wheel-drive hatchback, motivated solely by a 161-hp 2.0-liter inline-four that pairs with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic. It was the slowest in our acceleration tests, but it still felt peppy around town and competent on the highway.

Unlike many competitors that have switched to smaller engines with turbocharging, the GT makes power with a larger engine but no turbo. The GT Sport version (reviewed separately) is different. Fitted with a 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four, the hotter GT Sport hatch zipped from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, while the mild standard GT took 8.0 seconds. Still, the 2.0-liter had substantial pull at low revs. We even squawked the front tires after matting the accelerator at an intersection. However, its responsiveness plateaus at higher rpm, where coarse engine noise also plagues the cabin. While we’ve yet to test it with the manual gearbox, the automatic is amicable but lazy. This transmission includes a Sport mode, which sharpens shifts and improves engine response.

Test Results: Acceleration

Automatic Stop/Start

Manual Shifting Capability

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