Hyundai Elantra Facelift Spied For The First Time

The Elantra facelift is expected to get subtle aesthetic changes, additional features and mechanical updates

The sixth-generation Hyundai Elantra, currently on sale in India, is set to receive a midlife refresh/facelift soon. Recently, the facelift model was caught testing for the first time in South Korea. Hyundai had unveiled the sixth-gen Elantra in its home market, South Korea (known as the Avante there) initially, before it was debuted internationally at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Pictured: Hyundai Elantra (pre-facelift)

What will be the changes? 

Pictured: Hyundai Verna 

The most obvious one will be the incorporation of Hyundai’s latest cascading grille (check out the picture above) that is also seen on the Verna, the upcoming Creta facelift and the India-bound Tucson facelift, among others. There will be changes to its headlamps as well as suggested by the test mule. Instead of the Jaguar-like DRLs, the updated Elantra will get a sleek strip on the top section of the headlamp clusters. 

Pictured: Hyundai Elantra (pre-facelift)

The Elantra facelift will ride on a new set of wheels. Expect the India-spec model to get 17-inch wheels this time around as the current model gets a size lower. The rear profile will get reworked tail lamps that will feature a Lexus-like sharp horizontal pattern, instead of Hyundai’s triple-split lamp setup.

On the inside, the Elantra could carry forward the current dashboard or get a slightly redesigned version as is the case with the Tucson facelift. Like the pre-facelift Tucson, the Hyundai Elantra currently features a relatively bulky setup where the dashboard’s top layer is wrapped around the infotainment screen. However, with the facelift, the Tucson received a reworked dash with a stand-alone display that makes the entire setup look minimalistic like a majority of newer cars. Hyundai is expected to do the same with the Elantra as well. 

Pictured: Hyundai Tucson facelift 

The Elantra is a well loaded car with features such as an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sunroof, ventilated front seats, hands-free boot release and up to six airbags. The updated model is expected to add a few more features to the already long equipment list. 

Pictured: Hyundai Elantra (pre-facelift)

Mechanical updates

The Elantra is expected to carry forward the same 2.0-litre Nu MPI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine (152PS/192NM) globally. This engine made its debut with the Elantra in 2016 and is also available with the Elantra’s Kia counterpart, the Forte. However, instead of the 6-speed AT, it could borrow Hyundai-Kia’s new IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission): their new CVT that promises subdued rubber-band effect and droning noise. The IVT comes paired with the aforementioned 2.0-litre petrol engine in the new Kia Forte, which might also be headed to India. Besides the 2.0-litre petrol, the updated Elantra is expected to offer the 1.4-litre T-GDi turbo petrol internationally as well. 

As far as the diesel engine option is concerned, Hyundai is likely to ditch the 1.6-litre U2 CRDi (128PS/260Nm) that also does duty on the Creta and the Verna. In place of the U2, the updated Elantra is expected to get the recently revealed, more powerful 1.6-litre U3 CRDi (136PS/320Nm). This will help the updated Elantra to put up a better fight against its prime rival, the Octavia, which packs a 2.0-litre diesel (142PS/320Nm). While the current U2 diesel comes paired with a torque converter 6-speed AT, the new U3 is expected to come coupled with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Octavia diesel, for reference, comes with an optional 6-speed dual-clutch automatic.

When will it arrive in India?

The Elantra went on sale globally in 2016 and was launched in India in the same year on 23 August. So, expect the facelift to go on sale here soon after its international debut (expected later this year), probably in early 2019. The prices of the updated Elantra are expected to remain largely similar to the current model, which is priced in the range of Rs 13.29 lakh to 19.33 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). 

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