Facing Fears in The 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT
Many thanks to Drive Shop and Hyundai for providing the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT for my review. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
I’ve had my license for a while, but probably used the privilege five or six times total. Despite me having the ability to purchase or rent a car on my own, I didn’t mainly because of fear. All of that changed when I got the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT.
To get somewhat comfortable in the Hyundai Elantra GT, I just drove around the block to put it in the driveway on my first day. After church, my mother insisted I go back home with my nephews as she waited for a ride with my sister and father. Me, drive home alone with the boys?! It may seem little to some, but it was a HUGE deal for me. Not only did driving the Hyundai Elantra GT give me more independence, but I was also able to face fears that nobody knew I had. After driving to the Philly Cheesesteak Festival, my driving confidence was boosted. Enough about me, let’s talk about the car.
First Impression of the Hyundai Elantra GT
My first impression of the 2016 Elantra GT was ‘it’s itty bitty and Joey-sized’ aka a PERFECT starter car for a single woman like me to get to where she needs to go whether it be the mall, grocery store, a night out with friends or to and from church. I also loved the Windy Sea Blue color. It was definitely something I would pick if I went car shopping.
The majority of me driving the car was on a road trip with my sister and her three oldest children to Philly. The kids sat comfortably in the back seat with no very few complaints of touching, leaning, or being cramped on each other. On my grocery trip with my mother, I was able to hold 5-6 bags of groceries in the trunk with a lot of extra space left. When driving with my nephews alone after church, they immediately used the rear armrest to separate themselves.
Hyundai Elantra GT Safety
As far as safety goes, standard features include driver’s blind spot mirror, traction control system, ABS brakes with brake assist, dual front airbags with occupant classification, remote keyless entry with alarm, power window lock-out button, rear-seat LATCH for child car seats, driver, front passenger side-impact, driver’s knee and side-curtain airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
I was able to see the tire pressure monitoring system in use on one of my last rides after getting a flat in one of the front tires. Thankfully I was able to drive home safely, have my brother change the tire, and get the original fixed at a local tire shop before our road trip. An optional feature that was included in the Elantra GT I received is the rearview camera. Every time I put the car in reverse, the camera activated. This was so helpful for me when pulling out of the driveway since it is between two trees, parking on the street, or backing up in a parking lot.
Audio Console and Navigation on the Hyundai Elantra GT
We’re a music-loving family and needed directions for the trip, so the audio console and navigation system came in handy. The car includes USB and auxiliary input jacks for us to play our own music from our phones or iPads, and an HD radio that plays AM, FM and SiriusXM satellite radio stations with the station ID, song title, and artist name on the display.
Maybe it was because I used it wrong, but I could only play music from my Spotify playlist via Bluetooth, not the input jacks. This made my phone battery die faster and that’s not a good look when you’re on a road trip. It was convenient for me to switch stations and adjust the volume via the steering wheel, keeping me focused on the road. The navigation system gave us the ability to see our route and current traffic conditions while driving and gave optional detours if needed. With kids in the back seat, it was a Godsend finding rest stops for food and bathroom breaks.
I had a great week testing out the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT and know my niece and nephews will ask what happened to the blue car when they come back to visit. The estimated fuel capacity is 24 MPG for the city and 33 MPG on the highway with a 13.2-gallon tank. With a little less than a quarter tank left, I was able to fill up at a little over $18 on our way back from Philly. The starting price of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT is $18,800. You can find more details at a Hyundai dealership near you or on the official Hyundai website.
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