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Hyundai is shedding its bargain bin image quickly, but the quick progression means that some of its vehicles are starting to seem outdated prematurely. The Elantra GT is one such example. It only comes in one trim level and that limits the degree to which you can equip it as a more (or less) premium vehicle according to your preference. Thats a shame because the GT is fun to drive, especially with the six-speed manual model. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine puts 173 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque down and thats plenty for the car. Rowing your own gears is smooth and easy to get used to with a clear engagement point on the clutch, so this would be a good choice for someone learning to handle a manual. Otherwise, getting an automatic transmission adds $1,000 to the price of the vehicle. After a week of driving the manual model I averaged 28 MPG, which is a bit behind rivals from Ford and Mazda but spot on with the officially advertised average. Tipping the scales at 2,855 lbs, the Elantra GT is lighter than the Ford Focus and VW Golf, and less than 100 lbs. heavier than the base Mazda3 hatch. With a relatively light curb weight, the powertrain doesnt feel taxed while accelerating to highway speeds. Unfortunately, wind and road noise are hard to ignore once you reach that clip. |