Skip to main content

2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT drive impressions

Elantra GT front left wheel hyundai whiteIt’s certainly an exciting time for small car enthusiasts. With the recent launch of stylish and fuel efficient cars like the 2013 Dodge Dart, and with gas prices in endless flux, now is as good a time as any to consider a ride that is more about mileage than muscle.

It appears that Hyundai agrees. The Korean automaker is adding two new models to its already fuel frugal lineup. The sporty Elantra Coupe and the 5-door Elantra GT are the newest members of the growing Elentra family and will help Hyundai compete with the likes of the Mazda 3, Ford Focus, as well as the Civic Coupe and sister company Kia’s Forte Koup. (Trust us, we hate the K just as much as you do.)

Recommended Videos

We recently had a chance to take both cars for a spin down the California coast, and let’s just say we were left impressed by how hard Hyundai is working to carve out a space for itself in the small car segment.

Elantra Coupe

We’ll begin with the most straightforward of the bunch, the sporty Elantra Coupe. Unlike the Veloster Turbo Hyundai isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here. Instead, fans of the sharp Elantra sedan will find an almost identical offering in the two-door version.

Sure, you’ll find design cues unique to the Elantra Coupe like 17-inch alloy wheels, blacked out front grille, and dual chrome exhausts tips, but minus those two doors found on the Elantra Sedan, the Coupe remains almost identical. Truth be told, that’s not a bad thing. Overall the Elantra Coupe features just enough design touches to help lend it the sporty credentials we crave.

Elantra GT coupe front left hyundai
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Elantra GT coupe front top red   Elantra GT coupe left side red   Elantra GT coupe back red   Elantra GT coupe engine hood open   Elantra coupe back trunk open red hyundai

Coupes have a tendency to catch a bad rap when it comes to interior space (or lack thereof) where getting in and out of the backseat often requires a gymnast’s flexibility. Thankfully the Elantra Coupe does well to bypass this problem. Climbing in and out of the back proved easy enough and once our rumps hit the seat we found an admirable amount of leg and headroom. The Elantra Coupe also boasts 14.8 cb.ft of trunk space, which gives it the edge over both the 2012 Civic Coupe and 2012 Kia Forte Koup.

Things only got better up front. While more evolution than revolution, the Elantra Coupe features a straightforward cabin layout with standard heated front seats, comfortable driving position, and easy access to the car’s suite of controls.

Elantra GT

Next up, we have the all-new Elantra GT. Hyundai wants both the Coupe and GT to draw in younger buyers, but while the Coupe may attract free-spirited singles or younger couples, the GT’s added space and utility make it ideal for those with tikes, tots, and other real-life responsibilities to consider.

Design-wise, the GT ventures further from the mold than the Coupe, but not so much that it’s unrecognizable as an Elantra. Chrome accents find there way all across the GT and can be found on the car’s 17-inch alloy wheels, beltline molding, and hexagonal grille. Both the Coupe and GT retain Hyundai’s signature fluidic sculpture character lines throughout, lending a racier edge to the GT’s stylings.

Elantra GT coupe right side front white
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Elantra GT coupe front white   Elantra GT coupe left side white   Elantra GT coupe trunk open white   Elantra GT coupe interior inside front seats   Elantra GT coupe left right side closeup white

Unlike bellbottoms, acid-washed jeans, and fanny packs, we’re quite pleased to see hatchbacks experiencing a revival of sorts. Hyundai has done an exceptional job designing the GT, giving it a perfect blend of sport and sass. It’s neither breathtaking nor boring, but deftly dances in between both worlds. For our money though the Mazda 3 remains the best looking hatch of the bunch, but we prefer the Hyundai’s applied aesthetics over the 2012 Ford Focus.

Its insides aren’t too shabby either. Automaker’s love to tout segment-firsts and Hyundai is no different. On top of a class-exclusive panoramic sunroof and driver selectable steering mode — comfort, normal, and sport — the Elantra GT offers a rear-badge-concealed back-up camera, standard Blue Link connectivity, and navigation system among other equally welcome premium features.

As you’d expect in a five-door hatchback, the GT provides ample space for both driver and passengers. Standard storage features include front and rear cupholders, a front console tray with USB and aux inputs, sliding armrest, and front & rear side bottle holders. For those looking to pack their car to the brim, the Elantra GT offers a robust 23 cu.ft of cargo volume, besting both the VW Golf and Mazda 3, while falling short of the 2012 Ford Focus capacity by one cb.ft.

What’s mine is yours

Share and share alike is what we’re told at a young age and both the Elantra Coupe and GT heed those wise words with both models utilizing the same 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine capable of generating 148 hp and 131 lb-ft of torque.

Hyundai has been intently focused on fuel economy and needless to say EPA ratings for both cars are impressive. The Elantra Coupe nets 29 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway with a combined 33 mpg for the manual transmission, while an automatic trans nets 28 mpg city, 39 highway with a combined 32 mpg.

Elantra GT white hyundaiLikewise the Elantra GT nets similar figures with stick shift getting 27 mpg in the city, 39 on the highway, and a combined 31, while an automatic trans setup manages to net one more mpg in city and combined.

While both the Coupe and GT sip gas at a prudent pace, they both suffer when it comes to raw performance. Neither is particularly quick off the blocks, but we did find that the GT’s euro-inspired suspension gave it much more satisfying ride than its sportier sibling.

Keeping it simple and sweet

Like virtually all Hyundai’s vehicles, pricing for both the Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe is competitive. Both cars have rather simple and limited trim levels.

Base price for the Elantra GT starts at $18,395 (excluding a $775 destination charge that applies to all Hyundai vehicles). Customers have the option of two packages: the style package ($2,750) adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a slick panoramic sunroof, and aluminum pedals among other accoutrements. For the technologically inclined a Technology package includes navigation, that nifty concealed backup camera we mentioned earlier, automatic headlights, and dual-zone climate control for an additional $2,350. In total a fully decked out GT with automatic transmission will run you $25,270.

Elantra coupe front left headlight red car hyundaiPricing for the Elantra Coupe GS starts at $17,445 (excluding destination), which includes air conditioning, power windows, locks, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, 16-inch alloy wheels, and heated seats to name a few. The SE model adds leather upholstery, a sunroof, sport-tuned suspension, aluminum pedals, and other sportier design cues littered throughout for $20,520. Like the GT, customers have can opt for a Technology Package ($2,350) that includes navigation with 7-inch screen, rear-view camera, upgraded premium stereo, automatic headlamps, and dual-zone climate control. Gear-shifters take note though; the technology package is only available in SE models with automatic transmission and maxes out the Coupe’s attractive sticker price to $23,095 (sans destination fees).

H for Effort

Hyundai is putting in a Herculean effort with both the Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT. The buzzword around the camp is ‘value’ and its clear Hyundai are trying to win the hearts and minds of consumers with each and every vehicle coming out of its Ulsan plant. Whether the Korean automaker is successful remains to be seen, but with the amount of value packed in both the Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT, it would appear segment rivals better watch their rear ends.

That being said, while both the Elantra Coupe and GT represent a strong showing from Hyundai, neither is bereft of imperfections. We love how spacious and comfortable both vehicles are on the inside, all the technological bells & whistles, and the stellar fuel economy, but we’re left disappointed by both car’s rigid driving dynamics and rather lackadaisical performance. Still, both the Elantra Coupe and GT are solid cars and are welcome additions to the Elantra family.

Amir Iliaifar
Former Associate Automotive Editor
Associate Automotive Section Editor for Digital Trends, Amir Iliaifar covers the ever increasing cross-section between tech…
Topics
The week in EV tech: From sky-high dreams to ground-level drama
tesla robotaxi feud alef in transition flight

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
Buckle up, folks — this week we’re taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let’s bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities.
Even if you’re mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we’re talking about this week’s public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
What does this have to do with EV tech? Well, quite a lot actually. For starters, the technology behind Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) modes may return in the crosshairs of regulators: Despite the names, these are still driver-assist features that require active driver supervision, and until Trump’s election, they had been under heavy scrutiny by safety regulators for several years.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about the driver-assist system's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow.
When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla.
It didn’t help that the Trump administration followed Musk’s recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis.
The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk’s companies, it’s unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it.
Back to the tech
Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology.
For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it’s the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators.
Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon’s upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech.
For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception.
Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo, or compete effectively with Zoox?
We’ll have to wait and see.
Flying cars
In a recent edition, we noted that while consumer confidence about robotaxi technology is on the rise, most people also want more data before they hop into a self-driving vehicle.
What about flying taxis? According to a recent survey by Honeywell, nearly all U.S. airline fliers, or 98%, said they would consider using a so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey.
But while the buzz around flying electric vehicles has mostly focused on air taxis— like Archer Aviation’s Midnight, expected to fly athletes around the 2028 LA Olympics, or Joby’s slick air taxi, backed by Toyota — one California startup is shooting for something a little more... driveable.
Meet Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area company that wants to put the “car” back in “flying car.” This week, Alef announced it has received over 3,400 pre-orders for its electric flying vehicle, the Model A — and get this: it’s not a futuristic prototype gathering dust in a lab. Alef says production could begin by the end of 2025, or early next year.
On the ground, the Model A operates like a low-speed electric car, complete with hub motors in the wheels and—wait for it—a real steering wheel. You can legally drive it at up to 25 mph on public roads, parking it in a normal garage like any other EV. It’s refreshingly manual in an increasingly hands-free world.
But when it's time for lift off, the steering wheel takes a backseat. For vertical takeoff and flight, the Model A transforms into a drone-like aircraft. Its cabin rotates sideways to create lift, and eight electric rotors—controlled by a flight system and joysticks—take over. No pedals, no yoke, just a bit of joystick magic (or autopilot, if you prefer).
The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights.
While the $300,000 price tag won’t fit everyone’s budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don’t have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.

Read more
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more