Hyundai i30 launched as the Elantra GT in the US market

Hyundai i30 launched as the Elantra GT in the US market

Hyundai has introduced the European market i30 in the US, but the Euro-centric i-prefix name has been swapped for the moniker “Elantra GT”, which identifies the i30 as being part of Hyundai’s C-segment family. So the Yanks have a total of 3 Elantras to pick from now – the sedan, the 2-door coupe as well as this 5-door hatch. Only one engine option so far – the 148 horsepower 1.8 liter 4-pot that they can get in the Elantra sedan, available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

Look after the jump or click the image above for a full gallery.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • LuCaz on Feb 12, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    I’m lovin’ it !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • No rattle! verified! VW and BMW also cant do so..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • ss427 on Feb 13, 2012 at 9:32 am

    Well the new i30 will be launched in SG ard May to June. It will be even better equipped than the already loaded Elantra we have here. There will be standard HIDs and power front seats as shown in these pics.

    The dash is more Euro looking than the US designed Elantra sedan. Very nice looking indeed. :)

    Well.. park this next to the Gen 2… .LOL Enuf said… :D

    To those who still thinks Hyundai/Kia products means lousy products, make a trip to SG and hop on the new i30 wagon taxis from Premier Cabs and see if you can still say the cars are lousy. They used the prev model i30 and its powered by a 1.6L CRDi Euro 5 compliant diesel, and a 6MT. :)

    If Hyundai is that lousy, the taxi companies will have their hands full just trying to battle the never ending mech faults. No taxi companies will want to do that.

    And of cos, we have tons of prev gen YF Sonatas and Kia Magentis as taxis here too

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Hyundai De Junk on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:46 pm

      Wow we have a genius here “Refer to Taxi to identify BEST car”

      Iswara, Saga, Suzuki Avery, Naza Ria, Naza Citra, Waja, Old Sonta, Old Optima & the list go on.

      Some time i wonder is Singapore dropping their standard taking our “Genius” to work.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • kadajawi on Feb 13, 2012 at 3:02 pm

        In Germany Mercedes were used as taxis, as they were extremely reliable. That is one of the reasons why normal people then also bought Mercs.

        Protons are of course popular as taxis here because they are cheap to buy and cheap to run… whatever fails, it can be easily fixed everywhere and for little money. In Germany a Merc is expensive to buy and to fix, but since it doesn’t need to be fixed… Nowadays since Mercs have become more problematic and other brands have caught up (for a lower price) you see other brands too.

        Btw., Europeans also buy Korean cars, perhaps more so than Japanese. They might not be as good as a Conti, but they almost there, at a lower price. I drove the Kia cee’d, and it was better than the Toyota Yaris. Handling, materials, design, refinement (yes, C segment vs B segment, but still).

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • biggbro on Feb 13, 2012 at 2:18 pm

      in sg, hyundai are for losers who cant hv conti or even jpn cars…. nuff said!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • David D on Feb 13, 2012 at 3:18 pm

        In Malaysia, Hyundai are for people who know what cars they really want. They don’t buy a car based solely on badge and resale value, but they buy the car because the like it. Same thing goes for Volkswagen, Mazda, Subaru, Peugeot, Kia, and the list goes on.

        Enough said? Dont try and be a new anti-Korean here, if you dont even have proper facts. And grow up.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
        • kadajawi on Feb 13, 2012 at 6:01 pm

          Well, to be honest buying a Hyundai is a bit stupid here, as it is associated with Sime Darby. Same, unfortunately, goes to Ford. Doesn’t make the car a bad one, it’s just that after sales support is important too, and Sime Darby doesn’t have a good reputation. At all.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • VOLVO FOR LIFE on Feb 13, 2012 at 9:20 pm

      disagree. in malaysia we only won’t buy a hyundai if one hates sime darby. same goes for kia if we hate naza we won’t buy kia. that’s why i bought a volvo.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • wheeler on Feb 13, 2012 at 9:59 am

    Nice..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • I hope Malaysia will also get this model..
    Oh wait..even Inokom Elantra had not been launched yet..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Obama on Feb 13, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Undeniable…really really nice. It just so sad if I put the new Proton P3-21A interior pic side by side.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ahmadjohnson on Feb 13, 2012 at 10:56 am

    looks great, bring to malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Hyundai De Junk on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    Real section Lancer Hatchback copy cat.

    A CHEAP i30 hatchback called GT, i guess for them GT mean Garbage Truck rather than Grand Tourer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • David D on Feb 13, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      Yeah, so shall i call the Lancer Sportback a garbage truck as well? Shut your bloody mouth if you’re trying to be a new anti-Korean who’s desperate for attention. My goodness. Talked like a bloody kid whining over a small issue.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Hyundai De Junk on Feb 13, 2012 at 4:23 pm

        Stupid ! Lancer Sportback never put GT badge on their car, I don’t mind if they name Genesis GT or even Coupe GT, but not this cheap car.

        Maybe their should call Matrix GT & Accent GT so that you can use it in construction site by small boy who talk a lot but still feeding on family support.

        Shut your mouth & start using your brain idiot !!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • You see how fast Hyundai bring different versions (the sedan, the 2-door coupe as well as this 5-door hatch)…a true mark of Global car achievement…how Protongkat gonna beat this Elantra with their hard-luck Tuah soon….????

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  • poor dad rich dad on Feb 13, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    Korean now are not bad , also can be considered as affordable and reliable car these days plus with lots of equipment n lines.

    As the conclusion it depends on the person interest on what they want ,
    want affordable car with lots of equipment n lines (engine not that bad)- go for korean
    want very reliable car with good engine -go for the japs
    want to go for european style with good quality interior and euro spec – go for continental

    most of all, you get what you pay .. more you pay , more you get lahh…
    less money , faham2 sendiri lahhh….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kadajawi on Feb 13, 2012 at 11:48 pm

      I think in terms of equipment it’s hard to beat the Europeans. Several C segment contis have lane assist (warning you of leaving the lane without using the indicators… sure to make many Malaysians go mad, lol), radar assisted cruise control, voice control and many more.

      Also in terms of engines… Japanese cars typically don’t even play in the same league, however they sacrifice performance/fuel consumption and equipment for reliability. It’s hard for a very basic car with tech that has been refined and in use for 20 years to go wrong.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • F Fiesta on Feb 13, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Why we need to buy Hyundai I30 when in Malaysia has Ford Fiesta Hatchback

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kadajawi on Feb 13, 2012 at 11:43 pm

      IIRC the i30 is competing against the Focus, not the Fiesta. The i20 is set against the Fiesta while the i10 is set against the Ford Ka. –> i10 = A segment, i20 = B segment and i30 = C segment.

      So yeah, if you want a bigger car, get the i30. It might also be using higher quality materials (the cee’d being of higher quality inside than the Toyota Yaris/Vios for example).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • protonista on Feb 13, 2012 at 11:47 pm

        I think the i20 is more of a Ford B-Max competitor. The i20 is a “tall” B-segment. hyundai’s fiesta competitor is this – http://paultan.org/2011/07/22/hyundai-grand-avega-hatchback-debuts-at-iims-2011/

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        • kadajawi on Feb 14, 2012 at 1:36 am

          B-Max and Grand Avega are new to me, however the i20 is 1490mm tall, the Fiesta 1481mm. The B-Max with sliding doors seems to be much taller than that, I’d still say Fiesta and i20 are in the same segment, more or less. The Grand Avega is 1455 (latest gen) or 1470 (last gen), so it is further away from the Fiesta than the i20 is.

          B-Max I’d say sits in a category with the Opel Meriva and perhaps the Alza… a small van.

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