Hyundai Elantra Hatchback: Affordable, stylish, roomy

It seems as if every manufacturer is producing a hatchback these days. And one can’t argue with this trend. The general characteristics of these mostly compact vehicles include good storage, spunky performance, fuel efficient, and it sells at a reasonable price.

The 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback certainly belongs in the discussion when car shoppers are out there searching for that just-right hatchback. The Elantra hatchback is an appealing looking vehicle that features good driving dynamics, generous storage capacity, peppy performance, and competitive sticker price.

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

The four-door Elantra hatchback stacks up pretty well against the Ford Focus, Mazda3, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta and Subaru Impreza.

A year ago, the GT hatchback beefed up the engine and there are no significant changes for 2015. Note that the Elantra is not just a hatchback, it comes in a sedan and coupe version as well.

Cargo area is a definite selling point for the Elantra GT hatchback. It has 23 cubic feet of space, which exceeds much of the competition. But the real benefit is when the back seat folds down, the room more than doubles, increasing to 51 cubic feet.

For a compact vehicle, the Elantra hatchback provides plenty of room. The driver and front seat passenger will enjoy head and leg room, plus solid comfort, while the back seat provides adequate room for a compact. The interior is constructed of mostly solid materials, but some cheap plastic is used as well. The design features some nice touches and sensible set up, yet is mostly straightforward and easy to master.

The GT hatchback engine does fine in city driving, although it does labor up hills just a tad. It’s a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder that produces 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed manual transmission comes standard, and a six-speed automatic is an option. The gas mileage is estimated between 24-34 mpg.

Drivers can expect capable acceleration and reasonably good handling with the somewhat sporty Elantra hatchback.

Standard features include foglights; heated mirrors; height-adjustable driver seat; tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity; six-speaker CD player with satellite radio; and USB/iPod input and auxiliary audio jack.

For the starting price – approximately $18,800 – the 2015 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback offers a nice blend of stylish appeal, storage capability, fuel economy, performance and good resale value.

2015 Hyundai Elantra Hatchback

* Performance: 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, 173 horsepower
* Price: $18,800
* Mileage estimate: 24-34 mpg
* Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles; drivetrain 6 years/70,000 miles; corrosion 5 years/unlimited; roadside assistance 4 years/50,000