By Alex Forrest
In recent years, a market has emerged for small cars with just a little extra sparkle.
Not hot hatches – they’ve been around for decades – but warm ones. These are cars that have a bit more sparkle than the base model, but not to the extent of the high-priced pocket rockets that inhabit the hot hatch niche.
The biggest difference between the Elantra SR and its milder brethren is what’s lurking under the bonnet. The Elantra SR has pinched the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the Veloster Turbo, which makes 150kW and 265Nm.
Specific changes for the Elantra SR include shorter intake pipes and an electronic waste gate for more accurate boost control.
That’s not all, though. The torsion beam rear suspension of the regular Elantra has been ditched in favour of a more sophisticated independent multi-link rear end set up, which has been tuned specifically for the Australian market. We haven’t driven a Hyundai that handles better.
The seven-speed twin clutch auto in the test car was generally smooth, although, some surging at low speed is evident – as is typical of a twin clutch ‘box.
In the ADR test, fuel consumption is 7.2L/100km for the Elantra SR auto, and in mostly around-town driving, we achieved pretty close to that, with 7.6L/100km. Impressive for such a sporty thing.
It’s compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and safety kit includes blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert. Autonomous braking is the most obvious omission, and the space-saver spare tyre is also a safety issue in the event you get a flat. It doesn’t have sat nav either.
It does have six airbags and advanced seatbelt reminders on all five seating positions, and provided good passenger protection in ANCAP’s crash tests, which helped the Elantra achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
| Price driveaway (as tested): | from $32,200 drive away |
|---|---|
| Engine: | 1.6-litre turbo petrol |
| Power: | 150kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque: | 265Nm @ 1500-4500rpm |
| Claimed fuel economy: | 7.2L/100km |
| ANCAP Rating: | 5 star |
| CO2 Emissions: | 163g/km |
