2019 Hyundai Elantra - Sharper, safer and transformed

Having established its mark in the mid-90s, the Hyundai Elantra has made its presence count ever since. With its sharp looks, neat angles and exquisite character, the sedan is a popular name in the auto market for Filipinos looking to buy a luxurious sedan.

What’s exclusive here is that Hyundai has released a mid-cycle facelift of the Elantra, which is way sharper, meaner and safer. Under the design leadership of Luc Donckerwolke, the sober Fluidic design language has been given a break. A new, striking Elantra is now at your disposal.

But what does the new sedan has to offer in terms of design, engine and safety and how is it different from the older version, let’s find out in this 3-min read.

Design

Unlike earlier, the front profile is a lot sharper. It features striking new triangle-shaped headlamps with projectors on the base variant while LED lighting setup on the higher-end variants. The body lines on the bonnet add to its aggressive front look. The front grille holds its hexagonal shape but is more angular now. The triangular fog lights lower down the bumper get a polygonal housing that complements the overall cuts and creases of the sedan. So, we neither have the sleek headlamps nor the smooth bonnet as seen on the previous Elantra.

The rear section has received significant updates as well. While the license plate has been moved from the boot lid to the bumper, the taillights have been redesigned with L-shaped guide lights. The boot lip is a lot more aggressive than what we have seen on the pre-facelift Elantra. A few touches on its overall design makes it look shorter from the side, which remains more or less like the previous model. The larger 17-inch alloy wheels are, however, new on the side.

Inside

The changes inside are not very radical. What it gets inside is the angular design of the steering wheel matching the AMG-like twin-blade bottom spoke. Modifications have been done to its centre console with AC vents getting a brushed-aluminium look and climate control buttons getting refreshed positions. There is a new instrument cluster that looks appealing from the word go. The storage compartment under the centre console receives a Qi-enabled wireless charging pad, which is, however, limited to certain variants.

Instead of the 7-inch touchscreen display infotainment system, the 2019 Hyundai Elantra facelift features an 8-inch display with a new AVN 5.0 infotainment system. The system gets a pre-loaded navigation software, a seamless interface for a layman to manage and offers support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Engine

As far as engine specs are concerned, the company has remained tight-lipped. FYI, in the US, the Elantra is available in three different petrol engines - out of which two, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre, are turbocharged while the third one is a 2.0-litre power mill.

In the Philippines, Hyundai is expected to continue with the existing 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre gasoline engines that churn out a max power of 127.5 PS and 152 PS respectively along with the transmission options, 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Safety

The safety department has been upgraded appreciably. The new 2019 Hyundai Elantra gets a new Hyundai SmartSense safety suite that includes advanced safety features like driver attention assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, safe exit assist and lane keep assist.

The forward collision-avoidance assist function is an upgrade to the forward collision warning that can turn the front wheels in case of an emergency.

Another useful addition in the safety suite is the safe exit assist function. It warns occupants of a vehicle coming from behind that would not only help them exit the car safely but would help to avoid door-bending accidents.

All of this not only makes driving safer but adds that much-needed sense of satisfaction in the hearts and souls of the buyers who put safety ahead of any other possible aspect of the car.