WASHINGTON — All Hyundai Elantras are more stylish than most compact sedans, with curves and interesting angles. They look like more expensive cars than their stickers indicate. I drove the Elantra Limited last year and came away saying it was feature-rich car, but one hwose power seemed just adequate for most situations, and I wished for a little more.
Now the Sport model has been given a new, larger four-cylinder engine for the 2015 model year. The old 1.8 liter four-cylinder was good for 145hp and the 2.0 liter engine has 173hp. I know that 28 more horses doesn’t sound like much, but it really wakes up the Elantra Sport and helps it merge with traffic. You can even choose a manual transmission.
The Elantra Sport is a good, somewhat sporty drive for a compact sedan. With the extra power it felt — dare I say it — quick for a compact sedan. The handling is decent and better than the Limited model, but I did notice a bit of a rougher ride over the bigger bumps and pot holes. Still, this Elantra Sport can be pushed more than the other Elantras in the turn. I was taking on ramps and back roads with a little more gusto than with most compact sedans. It’s also quiet on the highway, even with the large 17-inch wheels.
Usually, choosing the model with more power means you take a hit with gas mileage, but after a week and 150 miles, my tester achieved 28 mpg — just what the sticker says and the same as the lower-horsepower Limited model I tested last year. I like it when it happens that way. So go ahead; choose the Sport modeI. You can see 35 mpg on the highway with the fine 6-speed automatic on my test vehicle.
The loaded Elantra Sport with NAV and a decent sound system isn’t too painful to stomach at $24,735. It comes with many features for the compact sedan class. There are heated leather seats up front with a power driver’s seat with lumbar support — some of the better front seats in the compact sedan class. A power sunroof is standard on the Elantra Sport, along with aluminum pedals that give that sporty look to the interior. Rear-seat legroom is ample for a compact sedan, but the headroom might be lacking for taller riders in the back due to the sloping rear roof line.
The 2015 Elantra Sport finally has an engine to live up to the Sport model — and what a difference 28 horsepower makes to an already solid compact sedan. The Elantra Sport combines a lot of features and a good amount of space with a stylish package and a good warranty. The Elantra is an alternative to the usual suspects in the crowded compact sedan market.
