Hyundai has launched three cars till now this date which includes the Venue, followed by the Kona and the recently launched Grand i10 Nios. That count is soon set to turn four as Hyundai is now planning to launch the Elantra facelift on our shores soon. According to a report by ACI, the South Korean manufacturer will launch the facelifted version D-segment sedan in India by mid-September. The Elantra facelift has been spied testing on our roads multiple times till date and several details about the car are out.
Speaking of which, the car looks like an all-new model when compared to the ongoing model in India. However, it’s not a generation update. In terms of exterior styling, the Elantra facelift looks quite fresh and ready to take on the competition in India which consists of the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and the Skoda Octavia among others. The front end now looks quite sharp thanks to those triangular headlamps, cascading grille and redesigned bumper design. The bonnet features a bit of sculpting which gives it an elegant but muscular look.
The side profile somewhat matches with the current model but again, it is sharper than the model it is set to replace. The Elantra facelift will run on either 15-inch steel wheels or 16-inch alloys. International markets get bigger rims but the same is not expected to be brought on our shores. The rear end again is quite stylish with a redesigned bumper, new sleek taillights, creased out boot lid and sporty lower bumper design. All this comes together to create a form that is familiar to the ongoing Elantra but much better in terms of aesthetics.
The exteriors are not the only alteration made on the Elantra facelift though as the interiors of the new Elantra are also updated to match the current competition level. the launch of the Octavia and then the Honda Civic recently has certainly upped the ante in the segment and old-timers like Elantra are not faring so well. For the same, the Elantra facelift gets a new cabin layout along with several new features and upgraded kit. This includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity and reverse camera. Hyundai could also introduce the BlueLink smart connectivity feature that made its debut on our shores with the Venue.
Other features on the Elantra facelift include multi-zone climate control, ventilated seats, TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) and leather upholstery among others. Coming to the safety features on offer, they are likely to remain the same as the current model which comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD and vehicle stability control among others.
As for the powertrains, they are likely to remain unchanged. The 2.0-litre petrol engine and the 1.6-litre diesel engine will both continue their duties on the car, although the petrol engine will be presented in its BSVI guise. The diesel unit, on the other hand, will continue in the BSVI guise until the April 2020 deadline after which it may be replaced by a new 1.5-litre turbo unit. The 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic gearbox options will continue to be on offer as well.