[Elantra Sport News]

Automobile editor Jonathon Klein was ready to write off the 2017 Elantra Sport, but he changed his mind after taking it for a drive through the desert and now he describes it as a “cheap, cheerful, and fun compact sedan”.

Starting off the test day was a 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport Premium with a turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 engine that produces 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Mated with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, the shifting was predictable and quick.

The Elantra Sport’s fully independent suspension feels steady at speed, but Klein probably didn’t hit the estimated top speed of 132 mph. The all-season tires are not the best as they could lose traction when pushed too hard into corners and understeer, but luckily the brakes are capable.

For the second half of the day, he was able to test drive the Elantra Sport equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. Manual enthusiasts will find it more engaging, but the car will feel less willing to accelerate. There’s still plenty of fun to be had as the gearbox is not too notchy and not perfectly smooth either.

It may not be a Subaru Impreza WRX, but it’s no standard Elantra and the Sport variant starts at just $21,650.

 

[Dunham]

Alright.. so note to self, swap tires as soon as we pick it up. Really want to take a manual out for a quick test drive though.

 

[KDMSpecial]

Alright.. so note to self, swap tires as soon as we pick it up. Really want to take a manual out for a quick test drive though.

If you have plans to really push it then by all means go ahead and do that but most people getting these, like BRZ and FRS owners, won't be changing the tires.

Just wait and see once we get owners on here, maybe a 1/4 of them will get better tires. It's not nearly as common as with higher segments.

 

[Dunham]

FRS and BRZ owners were changing tires the first chance they got to. Those things came with Prius tires :|

 

[KDMSpecial]

Those tires aren't that bad. It served the purpose it was meant to as the tire itself and for what that's vehicle was meant to do. It's just if you want more out of the vehicle, then changing it is a good idea, most FRS/BRZ's i've seen run the stock setup. Plus buying new tires aren't exactly a cost everyone is willing to absorb.

 

[Dunham]

Our areas are probably different then. Especially with my experiences, they just didn't work. You could spin those cars around from the 1-2 gear change if you weren't holding onto it properly. It's not like you could heat them up either, they're not the types of tires that'll hold heat. I personally drive my vehicles with a good bit of spirit whenever I get the chance to, tires being the only thing between me and the pavement, they better be better than your average. Even cheap tires like the Yoko S-Drives were oodles better.

At the end of the day, I never trust all-season tires regardless.

 

[KDMSpecial]

Part of me hopes the tires are bad enough that I hate them with a passion and pushes me to get some set of wheels and tires that achieve both getting wheels I actually like and tires that do the job I want.... like Genesis Coupe Wheels

 

[Dunham]

Genesis Coupe wheels would look really nice on the ES. Would like to see if someone could render those on there!

And if the tires are bad enough.. gives you a reason to... perhaps burn em' off..

 

[KDMSpecial]

This is one of those situations where I know rendering won't be needed after looking at it a bit more. Plus it helps that these wheels are coming from another Hyundai, the similarities in design from both help in making these wheels work.

 

[EazyG]

Imagining wheels from the same oem manufacturer onto another model isn't that difficult. You'll be able to visualize the minor adjustments. The only time you'll really find major benefit from a rendering is if it's a completely different style of wheel on the vehicle.

 

[KDMSpecial]

Anyone not willing to travel to a dealers that say... far away, might be wise in ordering it online because as soon as you get a scratch, patching it immediately is the best thing you can do, even if the patch look horrible. Horrible temporary patch beats rust!