PARK CITY, Utah – Most vehicles get a nip and tuck every couple of years to keep them looking fresh. But in a surprise move, Hyundai officials unveiled the ’19 Elantra to reporters here with significantly retooled sheetmetal and a boatload of upgraded advanced driver-assist features.
The car goes on sale in the fall.
In front, exterior design changes include a new hood, front fenders, front fascia, grille and headlights. In back, there is a new decklid, taillight and rear fascia design that give the subcompact a more graceful look. Plus, there are new wheel designs, and LED headlights are available on Limited and Sport trim levels.
The car also has been redone inside with a new center stack, instrument cluster and air vent designs, as well as upscale features such as wireless smartphone charging.
Most importantly, the new Elantra offers a jaw-dropping array of advanced safety features for a vehicle in the affordable subcompact segment. The Elantra has scored well in recent Wards 10 Best User Experience testing because it offers so many ADAS features for the money.
For 2019 it is offering many key features for lower-priced trim levels that cover 75% of the Elantra lineup, including:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (camera-only type) that monitors the vehicle ahead and warns the driver if a collision may be imminent. The system also initiates automatic braking when it detects a slower or stopped vehicle ahead.
- Lane Keep Assist that tracks the lane and steers if the car leaves the lane when vehicle speed is over 40 mph (64 km/h).
- A Driver Attention Alert that warns the driver of tired driving patterns with an audible alert and visual warning displayed on the instrument cluster.
Even more more advanced features are available on the top-level Elantra Limited and Ultimate packages:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection technology that uses both the front forward-facing radar and camera through sensor fusion to help detect a vehicle or pedestrian and warn the driver of a potential collision. If the driver does not react to avoid the impact, the system will apply emergency braking in certain circumstances at up to 50 mph (81 km/h).
- Blindspot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist.
- Safe-Exit Assist that sounds an alert when a vehicle approaches from behind, letting passengers know it may not be safe to open the door to exit the vehicle.
- The ’19 Elantra also debuts with Hyundai’s next-generation 5.0 infotainment system, which has an upgraded processor for greater responsiveness, a bigger display screen compared with the last generation and HERE HD Traffic information that does not require a subscription.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as well, along with an added bird’s-eye view feature for navigation maps and traffic flow and incident data. And none of it requires ever paying for a subscription.
These features put the Elantra on par with many luxury cars costing twice as much.
2019 Elantra debuts with Hyundai’s next-generation 5.0 infotainment system, which has upgraded processor for greater responsiveness and bigger display screen compared with last generation.
