Redesigned Hyundai Elantra boasts sharper looks and more safety tech
The redesigned 2019 Hyundai Elantra sedan has a new look, but it’s what’s underneath the sheet metal that might be more important.
Hyundai has added its SmartSense suite of safety systems to the lineup, which includes forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert and the safe-exit assist (an alert warning not to open a door because of an oncoming vehicle).
Not all features will be available on every model, but in the U.S., Hyundai claims the forwardcollision assist will be available on 75 per cent of Elantra trim lines. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist will remain in the lineup.
Inside, a five-inch infotainment screen is standard, with an eightinch screen and Hyundai’s nextgeneration infotainment system available on higher trims. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available, as is an Infinity eight-speaker sound system, cordless phone charging and other features.
A rear-view camera is standard across the board. And there’s also a new centre cluster, and the general overall design has also been refreshed.
Outside, the Elantra gets a sharper, creased look, with all-new hood, trunk, front fenders, front fascia, grille, headlights, tail lights, and rear fascia. There are new wheel designs and LED headlamps on higher trims.
American models will get the same 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle in-line four-cylinder that Canadians have, but Hyundai will also offer U.S. buyers a 128-hp, 1.4-L engine. There’s no word on whether we will see that north of the border.
We’ll see — and drive — the 2019 Hyundai Elantra sedan later this year, and the Elantra Sport hatchback will also appear later this year. There’s no word on pricing, but the 2018 Elantra starts at $15,999 in Canada, and for it to stay competitive against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, it shouldn’t rise much for 2019.