Good, but not write great
My 2014 Elantra Sport is known as "triple black," that's black paint, seats and interior. Although I don't like black interiors, this one is not as dark and forboding as others I've seen. It actually adds a classy feeling to the tasteful design. Interior fit and finish is on par with the best, although it can be a bit difficult to keep clean because dust is easy to see. I ride with the windows down 99% of the time though, so I'll take the hit for that one.
The controls are well laid out, easy to use, and most importantly, intuitive. The Bluetooth function on the radio works flawlessly and even has voice recognition that didn't require prior setup. The radio needs more power; with the windows down it has to be kept at or near maximum, but at least it's clear. It's "loaded" with all the power goodies including an 8-way power driver's seat and power sunroof, which surprisingly, has a one touch open and close feature. Nice touch!
Once broken in, the engine really livened up; revving freely all the way to redline without sounding harsh or over burdened. The manual transmission is a little clunky and the shift action slightly notchy, but only until you get some miles on it and get used to the action. After that it works smoothly and requires little effort to make it fun to drive.
The suspension corners flat, but the tuning leaves a bit to be desired. Bump steer is evident, even in the front, and suspension travel seems to have been reduced by how much the suspension has been lowered. It only rears its ugly head at higher speeds though, but even then it's manageable. That not withstanding, it still manages a sporty ride with pretty good handling.
Overall the Elantra Sport gives a lot of bang for the buck. A properly tuned suspension and the 1.6 turbo engine mated to a 6 speed manual would be great for 2017.
Recommended
Verified Owner
