India-bound 2019 Hyundai Elantra unveiled with aggressive styling updates

-    Is expected to come to India sometime late next year.

-    The mid-life update adds a fresh new design with aggressive styling and added equipment.

-    The mechanical bits remain unchanged.

Hyundai has taken the wraps off the new and updated Elantra which has undergone a comprehensive cosmetic makeover. The executive sedan now gets sharper styling along with added features to stay relevant for another couple of years. 

In terms of design, the Elantra reveals a new take on Hyundai’s cascading grille. The large grille is overshadowed by a sharp set of headlights which get angular LED lighting. The bumper continues the aggressive stance with triangular fog lamps on either side. There are creases on the bonnet which add to the overall drama up front. At the rear, the i30 inspiration is seen in the tail lights which are now more upmarket than before. The silhouette remains the same but the stylish 16-inch (upgradable up to 18-inches) alloy wheels make the Elantra look more European compared to the older car. 

On the inside, the Elantra now comes with a new eight-inch infotainment system with smartphone integration and wireless charging on the top-spec variant. The additional safety features include blind spot monitoring system, collision warning and autonomous braking, lane departure warning along with active lane control and cross-traffic alert system. Another new feature is the Safe Exit Assist which can alert the occupants to any potential dangers before exiting the vehicle.

Things remain unchanged in terms of powertrain. The Korean sedan gets three petrol motors under the hood – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 150bhp, a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol which puts out 128bhp, while a 1.6-litre GDI is good for 205bhp.  Transmission options are either a six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox depending on the trim. We also get a 1.6-litre diesel motor which puts out 125bhp. 

The Korean carmaker is expected to bring the refreshed Elantra to India sometime late next year. It will continue to rival against the likes of Toyota Corolla Altis and Skoda Octavia in the D-segment apart from the upcoming Honda Civic.