One of our favorite affordable hatchbacks is saying goodbye, and we’re not at all ready to see it go. Hyundai will discontinue the Elantra GT in the U.S. after the 2020 model year to focus on its growing crossover lineup.
Hyundai said the decision was “due to [an] expanded SUV lineup that includes Venue and Kona.” It’s a shame that Hyundai is sacrificing the Elantra GT, because we always viewed it as a great crossover alternative thanks to its spacious rear seats, cavernous cargo capacity, and strong visibility. We also love that the hatchback is nimble, relatively quiet, and fun to take around a corner.
This also marks the end of the road for the even-more-entertaining Elantra GT N Line. Along with a more powerful engine making 201 horsepower, this variant offers a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. In a nutshell, it’s a cheaper, and arguably just-as-fun-to-drive Volkswagen GTI alternative. Those looking for spirited performance may want to consider the upcoming Elantra N Line sedan, which looks promising based on early teaser photos. And let’s not forget about the raucous, three-door Hyundai Veloster N, which delivers a standard 275 horsepower for the new model year.
Also ensuring this news stings? We were hoping that the Elantra GT would receive the same upscale treatments as the recently updated i30 hatchback for Europe. This refreshed sister model to the U.S. car features attractively slim headlights and an assertive grille, plus more up-to-date interior tech. But instead of getting some much-needed TLC, the Elantra GT joins the Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf R, and many other delectable hatches in the grave. We will continue to mourn these fine cars felled by taller, less fun, but apparently more popular crossovers and SUVs.
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