2012 HYUNDAI Elantra Coupe 1.8L 6MT FWD (148 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Ever since its first generation, the Elantra competed against the Honda Civic, and it couldn’t do that properly without a coupe version on the U.S. market.

After it tried several body versions, the Korean carmaker decided to offer the Elantra as a coupe as well, complementing the five-door hatchback (named i30 on other markets) and the four-door sedan version. The Elantra Coupe was aimed at customers looking for a stylish vehicle on a decent budget but still providing decent performances.

Its front resembled the rest of the range with the signature Cascading Grille front fascia and swept-back headlights design. On its sides, its sculptured doors rear quarter panels, together with the flared wheel arches, created a sporty image for the compact-segment Korean coupe. Hyundai penned the greenhouse as a curved line, with a raked windshield and a sloped windscreen.

Inside, the carmaker carried over the same dashboard as in the sedan version, with curved panels and silver trims edging the center stack. The binocular style dials sported the tachometer and speedometer in the instrument cluster, with an additional LCD placed in the middle. Despite its coupe shape, it offered enough room inside for four passengers. Its main advantage over the Civic was the optional panoramic glass roof.

Under the hood, Hyundai installed its 1.8-liter gasoline unit that provided 140 hp, similar to what the regular Civic coupe offered, but paired with a six-speed manual as standard and a six-speed automatic as an option.