2019 Hyundai Elantra Preview

New vehicles tend to have a shelf life of about four or five years, with a mid-cycle refresh occurring somewhere in the middle. That’s the way things tend to go unless you’re an automaker with a model in a very competitive segment. In that case, you need to be on top of your game and make changes whenever necessary. Take the 2019 Hyundai Elantra for example.

The previous Elantra was redesigned in 2017 and certainly not in need of any dramatic improvements. But, when you’re trying to stay ahead of competitors like the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla, you can’t afford to procrastinate.

A lot will change in the 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The new Elantra is visually different from every other model in the Hyundai lineup starting with the headlights and grill. Perfectly triangular, these headlights give the Elantra a unique visual signature that is actually well executed. Korean and Japanese automakers sometimes overdo it when it comes to design, but in this case it’s just the right amount of different.

From the back it looks sporty and modern, and it’s LED taillights have a sharp look to them.

The 2019 Elantra looks nothing like the current Elantra, but it will drive like it. Few modifications have been made under the hood with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet still powering the compact sedan. A six-speed manual is still standard while a six-speed automatic is still optional. Hyundai continues to resist the move to a CVT automatic gearbox. The Sport still gets its 201-horsepower, turbocharged 1.6-liter engine.

The interior gets a few improvements including a redesigned center console with revised ergonomics and more storage spaces. There are also changes made to the equipment offered in each version.

Hyundai’s SafetySense suite of active safety technologies will also be made available and includes features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Assist and Safe Exit Assist.

Overall, the 2019 Hyundai Elantra looks a lot different than the 2018 model, but it will likely behave the same way on the road. That’s not a bad thing, by the way, as the Hyundai compact is among the overall performers in the segment.